The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-17

smeFled powder during the Spanish war,
but who are already clamOring for pen
sions."
Thus began a lively debate. Mr.. Fitz-
j gerald said he knew the law was not
lived up to here in Washington and other
sections of the country. 1t had been
grossly violated during the last campaign
In Ohio, he said when federal office
holders all over the country were appealed
to for funds for that campaign.
"Does the gentleman say that this was
never done under the Cleveland admins
tration?" asked some one on the Repub-
lican side
Never" replied Mr.. Fitzgerald.
HAD SMELLED POWDER.
Mr.. Fitzgerald then indignantly denied
that the Massachusetts regiments mad
never smeiled powder in the Spanish war.
The Second Massachusetts, he said, had
8 men killed, officers and IL men wound
ed in the Santiago campaign. In all the
Second Massachusetts, lost 80 men, the
Fifth Massachusetts, %, the Sixth 10S, the
Eighth 1877 and the Ninth $780,
"What was the cause of their death?''
asked Mr.. Wachter (Rep., Md.
Disease contracted on account Of the
inefficiency of the government" replied
Mr. FITZGERALD holly, amid applause.
rowing story of the return home of the
Massachusetts volunteers, broken and
wrecked by disease. II they had been
rendered incapable of earning a living by
the failure of the government to provide
them with proper care and sustenance,
then said he, they were entitled to PEN
sions.
Mr. Hepburn Rep To- called attention
to the statement made by Mr.. Sims on
ac,ftt or1- Of
eight volunteer regiments in the North
and South. showing that from the for
mer case 1888 pension claims and from
latter 761. Mr.. Sims had attributed the
disparity to the universal pension senti-
ment in the North. Mr.. Hepburn pointed
out that, for the purpose Of comparison,
the tables adduced by Mr.. Sims We're not
alike. He was very caustic in his criti-
cism of Mr.. Sims action.
The latter said he had received the
tables from the pension office. He had
no personal knowledge of the facts. He
admitted some of the tables could not be
prepared, but contended that the main
point he had made was the preponder-
ance of Northern over Southern pension
claims.
MISTAKES OF GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Green (Pa.), who was captain in
q. volunteer regiment during the Spanish
war; and who served at Chickamauga,
said that in the years to come, in consld-
ering pensions for the soldiers of the
Spanish war, the sickness due to malad-
ministration of army affairs would have
to be recognized.
Mr. Cummings Dem, N. Y) paid a
tribute to some of the dead New York
heroes Sergeant Hamilton Fish and VIII
liam Tiffany and to the splendid valor
of Gov. Roosevelt. The mention of Gov
Roosevelt's name brought out round
Of applause.
s'The only objection I have to him.
said Mr. Cummings, sis that he is Re-
publican" Iaughter.)
Mr. Mahon (Rep., Pa.) said 1t was I'M
fortunate the pension question has been
brought up to create partisan rancor.
During the past few years the Democrat
ic opposition to pensions had disappeared.
It should not be revived now. Justice
would be done to the Spanish war SOL
diers, without sectionalsm.
Mr. Gaines (Dem., TENN denied that
the Democrats were opposed to liberal
pensions. They were hostile to unworthy
claims.
Mr. Clayton Dem, N. Y.) who COM
manded troop of cavalry during the
Spanish war, resented the reflections upon
the conduct of the war. Our officers, reg
ular and volunteer. compared fayorably
with those of any country on earth. We
had made fewer mistakes than the British