Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-10
SSH CONGRESS.
Continued from page H. .

Confederate and an ex-Federal at a Blue
and Gray reunion. where they were felici'
tating themselves on the disappearance
of all hostilfties.
"If there should be another war said
the ex- Federal, 1--WE would stand shoulder
to shoulder under one flag.
1--WE will, but you won't retorted the
ex-Confederate.
"What do you mean? asked the eX.
Federal.
Legally, you are disabled Uaughter)
Allen gave notice that he would Offer
amendments to prohibit the granting OF
a pension to widow whose application
was not filed during the wldowhood. td
prohibit the pension of widows who had
not married prior to the passage OF this
act. and to strike from the rolls the
names of all permanently insane or help
less children who had reached their mt'
jority
McRae. Dem. Ark. advocated as the
first step the transfer of the pension Of
flee to the war department where II
would be out of politics.
w. A. Smith. Rep. Mich. said ne
would make the pension vested right II
he had the power.
Norton. Dem. Ohio. declared that it
was not the Democratic side of the
House which was assaulting the pension
roll. He charged that Commissioner
Evans had advocated law that would
hereafter cut off the widow and the
orphan. He protested his friendship for
the old soldier Bring on your pension
bil' he cried, addressing the Republi-
can side. Raise it as high as you dare
and it will have the vote OF every North
crn Democrat on this side.
Myer Dem. Ind. and Campbell. Dem,
Rep, Ia, replied to some of the criti-
cisms of the pension roll which came
from the other side. He was especially
severe in his condemnation of remark
made by Norton which he characterized
as "monstrous. The statement was
that the regulations of the pension office
compelled most soldiers to stand on the
rejected list or commit moral and legal
perjury to reach these rolls"
Norton disclaimed having used the
word most" With Il passage of that
word. TO many. he said stood by that
statement. The pension office required
testimony which was not in existence.
He stood ready he said to aid in sweep
ing away these senseless regulations.
while your party had the Presidency
and the Senate and House." asked Stone.
Rep. Pa. why did you not remedy some
of the .eVilS?
when God or the country had the mis-
fortune to give us the only Democratic
President we have had since the war"
replied Norton. 1--WE found it too late He
belonged to you and you owned him.
democratic applause.
Remedies don't begin with the Presi-
dent" said Stone. but with Congress,
why did Congress do nothing but reduce
the pension roll. 1t does not lie in your
mouths to complain" Republican APP
plausel.
IF we commit the wrong. why should
you sit by supinely and not seek to cor
rect it, Democratic applause and Re
publican jeers,.
Hepburn denied that he had put any
words in Norton's mouth. He insisted
that he had heard the words most.
that he was cC-roborated by all members
about him and by the official reporters
notes. The gentleman from Ohio. he said,
with all his boasted courage was trying
to run away from the foul Islander he had
uttered.
AT this point the committee rose and
the House adjourned.