Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-04-18
A Check to Hasty Pension Leg
islatlOn.

The House resolved itself for
several hours yesterday into a
court of pension appeals and pass
ed ffty-four private pension bills.
The occasion was edifying beyond
the.mere spectacle of the interrul-
ton of the legislative process in
order that the laws smight be ig-
nored. 1t showed that if this pro-
ceeding is really necessary it can
be made at least regular in its
course, Mr.. Talbert, of South
Carolina deserves credit for, ,insti-
tuting an important reform in this
process. He has drawn upon him
self the attacks of the special pen
sion Legislators by his persistent
demands for quorum whenever
the House considers this class of
bills. He has even been threat
ened with expulsion from the
House on a partisan vote in the
next Congress under pretense of q
contest, if he should be returned
and the House should be republi-
can. His offense consists in de-
man,iing that the House observe
the rules of order. that it under
stand the bills it passes, thai it
guard this highest privilege of
special pension legislation as jeal-
ously as it guards any other fea-
ture of its work. For this service
Mr. Talbert is entitled to the
thanks not only of those who have
no special interest in the pension
LAWS and their proper administra-
tion yet are concerned for the best
interests of good government, but
of those who are personally friend
ly to the pension system. For
every private bill hastily passed,
bearing taint of suspicion as to
its worth, is a reproach to the en-
tire system. It is another bid
for popular indignation, another
item in the long account which is
rolling up against the abuse of 8
great national charity.
The friarda,<afe. Elaevor uemur at
the demand that the House study,
these bills. Nor should there be
objection to the expenditure of
time involved in a acareful consid-.
Grafton of each measure, not alone
in committee but in the House
itself. An attempt was made yes
terday to bring Mr. Talbert into
ridicule by calculating the cost Of
The time consumed as a result of
mis- opposition to needless legisla-
ton. The House and Senate must
come linaIly to see tLat this bust
ness of violating the statutes in
behalf of particular claimants is |
worthy the exercise of the greatest
caution. When Congress steps
beyond the bounds of law and ad-
ministers charity out of pure SEN
;iment, as yesterday to the help
ess child of a soldier who cannot
possibly be pensioned under the
avs as they read, the situation
;alls for deliberation. Once the
,ates are opened there is no check
ng the food of these bills. Nor
8 it wise to rely too implicitly
lpon the committees. Too often
hese bodies are atle to give the
Eases only psrfunctory examine
ion and the bills are pressed
trough at the instance of men,
'ers who have been prodded by
constituents to the point of de-
handing such fayors.
To prate about the waste of val
liable time does not square with
he doleful waste of which men,
'ers are guilty every day in the
Ielivery of long-winded speeches
esigned solely for the benefit of
usceptible voters in the cam
aigns. The course of honesty and
ood governments calls for even a
reater waste of time over such
matters, which require the keenest
ndgment of which legislator is
apable, regardless of his sympa-
MES or his partisan fears.-Wash-
ogton Evening Star, April 14th.