The times., 1898-02-03
.AANNA's new TROUBLES
Southern Republicans Are APP
peaIing to Him for Help.
MIR. GRIFFITH'S PENSION BILL
The Senator Introduces 1t Along
With Two Letters That Will Not
Help the Claimant, Who Makes an
Assault on the1 Southern Metiio-
dist Churches. Xix

Senator Hanna, in addition to the
troubles of his own, isi having thrust
upon him the troubles Of others.
This is the penalty Of greatness.
Not day passes but he receives let
ters from different sections of the
country asking his influence in behalf
of those seeking special legislation AT
the hands of Congress. .Gt This is princi-
pally true of the Southern section OF
the country, where Republican mem
bers of Congress are. yery scarce, and
where the idea appearsyto prevail that
Mr.. Hanna is the power behind the
throne, and is able to accomplish any
thing and everything in connection
with the present administration.
Yesterday Mr. Hanna introduced a
bill granting pension to Amos J..
Griffith, of Peil City, Ala. Accompa-
nying the bill Were two letters, which
Mr. Hanna would have hardly made a
part of the record had he given them
more than a casual peruSal.
Mr.. Griffith appears to have written
to the Senator two letters urging ac-
ton in his case before he was able to
induce the Senator to present his bill,
and these two letters Mr.. Hanna has
possibly inadvertently laid before the
Senate. Mr.. Griffith urges that his
pension be fixed at 81 asday and he in
Inmates that upon that sum he can pos
sibly manage to eke out an existence.
This enterprising applicant for a pen
sion states that he applied for the post
office at Asheyille. Ala, which pays
about $500 year. 1t appears also that
nT e faHo cpl "a 70
publican politician of that town. also
applied for the office in order that he
might have what Mr.. Griffith calls
soft snap.
The ex-Confederate got the Office. and
in the bitterness of his disappointment
Mr.. Griffith writes to Senator Hanna
and charges that Postmaster General
Gary violated the law which declares
that in granting public offices the pref
erence shall be given To ex-Union sol
diers. Mr. Griffith, after setting forth
his tale of woe somewhat in detail.
calls upon Mr.. Hanna to introduce
bill to change the law so as to give
the preference to ex-Confederate sol
diers. so that. as he says. officials who
appoint these officers may not be forced
to swear TO a lie when they give the
offices TO rebels for which Union SOL
dieFs apply"
seems anxious TO give Mr.. Hanna ali
the light possible on the situation in
the South. refers to the bill now pend
ing to- pay the Methodist Church South
for certain damages sustained by the
occupation of it's property by the Fed
eral troops. Mr. Griffith charges that
this religious organization was a hot
bed of secession, and for considerable
period prior To the war, in place Of
disseminating the doctrines Of the gcs-
pei It was sowing the seeds of seces-
sion and breeding traitors to the Gov
ernment Of The United states.
He urges Senator Hanna Ia think Sc
riously over this subject, and while
50 pondeTing To not forget the claims
of loyal Union men, OF which he was
one and to insist that he be granted
the pension which he asks
Mr. Hanna has introduced the pen
sion bill, and it has gone to the com
mittee. Accompanying that bin are the
two letters. Had Mr.. Hanna been less
perfunctory in the presentation of his
case and given some little personal at
tention to the application for pension
and withheld these letters the chances
are that Mr. Griffith would have got
his pension much earlier than now
seems likely.