The National tribune., 1900-01-25

Hopkins being in the chair. The bill
being called up, Mr.. Barney, in charge.
made q statement
Mr.. Barney Mr. Chairman, the amount
carried in this bill is S144, ,245 go. about the
same amount that was carried III the pen
sion appropriation bill for the fiscal year
1900, exceeding it, | think, by some S14 eco:
The amount appropriated for the fiscal
year 1899 was S141, ,4S3,S and upon the
hearing before the committee 1t appeared
that of that sum there had been expended
for that fiscal year little less than S14O,-
600, ,000 leaving TO the credit of the fiscal
year 1899 something like million dollars,
which, of course, will remain TO the credit
of the Bureau for two years from the eX-
piration of that fiscal year, and we are III
formed that probably the most of it will be
needed for sums properly chargeable to the
year 1899. The amount of the approprla-
tions for the fiscal year 1900 was S145,-
233,930. Up TO the present time, or rather,
] should say, for the first five months OF the
fiscal year 1900, the sum of S5S, ,462, ,OS3
has been expended, and we are assured
by the Commissioner of Pensions that
doubtless they will keep within the appro-
priation. AS / stated, the amount appro-
priated for the fiscal year 1901 is practl-
cally the same as the amount appropriated
for the fiscal year 1900, and the
amount OF the pension roll growing out
OF the civil war will decrease and be slightly
less perhaps for the year 1901 than
for the fiscal year 1900; but there will
be a considerable increase on account OF
claims growing out OF the Spanish
American war, and he thinks II Is
wise to make the appropriation for pensions
for the coming fiscal year the same as
for the fiscal year 1900. The only
changes which are in this bill from the
bill of last year are for the items OF rent
and clerk hire.
I'D 81,
sion laws were not liberal enough to dis
pense with the Friday night sessions, at
which sessions bills to pension coffee
coolers" and bounty jumpers" were passed.
Mr.. Barney am not in favor of pen
sioning actual deserters and bounty
jumpers, and DO not think any member
on either side of this House is in favor OF
30 doing; neither do | think the present
pension laws are as liberal as they ought TO
be in some particulars.
HOPED FOR LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION
OF LAWS.
After various explanations in answer
to questions Mr.. Curtis (kan., r. arose.
+. He rehearsed the story of pension legisla-
ton and the administration of the Pension
Office under Cleveland and Lochren, and
the consequent passage of bills by Con-
gTess to Offset the unjust treatment OF the
veterans, and the efforts of their enemies
70 DE6NeUl lIl6lluS lIOLu tlIttllSSIy
acting in their defense.
"On the 4th of March, 1897, j" he continued,
sthere was a charge OF Administration, and
the soldiers of this country looked forward
to a new Commissioner of Pensions and a
change in the Bureau of Pensions. They
looked for change in the rules and regu-
lationS; they looked for more liberal con-
struction of the law, but, am sorry to say,
they We're disaI pointed. The Republican
party has always been and still is the
friend of the old soldier. But the new
Commissioner of Pensions, with the eX-
ception of the continuance of the Board OF
Revision, which | believe had completed
fits work, and the consequent stoppage of the
reduction and dropping OF pensioners, con-
tinued the some rules and practices as the
former Administration. He kept up the
same false charges against the pensioners.
He permitted himself to be interviewed and
wrote articles for the press and did other
things to attract the attention of the public
to his Bureau.
81 ask you if the figures contained in his
own report sustain the charges against
the pensioners? Why, in the three years
1897, 1898, and 1899, with the large num-
Der of pensioners ON the roll, as i have
heretofore stated, with $4,000 attorneys
practicing before the Department, with the
great number of witnesses and the large
number of officers in these years, there werC
only $50 indictments and on Y 437 conyic-
tons hadi There were only 20 attorneys
disbarred in 1898 and only 63 in 1899.
IN THE HANDS OF THE ADMINIsTRA
TIoN.
Mr. Bartlett Now, if this is true, and
have no doubt ii is, is not the remedy OF it il
the hands of the Administration? Th,
Grand Army of the Republic has refused
to indorse Mr.. Evans, and the President
either expressly or by permitting him Il
remain, does indorse him.
Mr. Curtis. / do not believe the Presi
dent does indorse him. do not believe the
President knows what is going on i'll tha
Office.
Mr. Gaines. Why does he not have the
courage TO condemn him?
Mr.. Curtis. do not agree with you tina
the President can go down into details anC
examine each and every case.
Mr.. Bartlett. / did not say that.
Mr.. Curtis. The Commissioner says his
policy is all right. II you will allow me,
will touch upon that do not believe tn,
the Commissioner of Pensions, or that h,
would if he knew the truth, because he is
soldier himself, and he is the soldiers friend
Mr.. Gaines. Have you asked the Presi
dent to condemn him?
Mr.. Curtis. Ihave talked with the Presi
dent, and the President said that he woulc
look into the charges that are made.
Mr.. Gaines. Have you been back to se
whether he has done so?
Mr.. Curtis. He has not had time
MIR; Gaines. Have you been dilatOr!
about it?
Mr.. Curtis. No; ! have gone to othe
officers and talked with them about thi
matter.
Mr.. Sims If the gentleman will ALLOW
me, was not the present Commissioner o
Pensions also a soldier in the Union army
A QUARTERMASTER'S CLERK.
Gen. Grosvenor said he had known MI
Evans as private; that in the latter part O
his service he had been detailed as a cler
in the QuartermaSter's Department at Cha,
tanooga, Tenn, and that he had remaine
there after the war.
Mr. Curtis said the law Of 1890 might b
made more explicit and there might be a
improvement regarding widows cases, bu
the law with few exceptions was all right;
was the construction of it that was faulty.
DISABILITIES NOT COMBINED.
Mr.. Curtis. With few exceptions / sa
the law is all right now. The COMMISSIONS
of Pensions said that he does combine dis
abilities, but if any member of Congress
will take the time TO examine the case
which L have, which have been rejected h
will find that the Commissioner does II,
always do so, and if this letter from hin
published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
the great soldier paper of the country, o
the 2Sth Of December, 1899, is tue, lie doe
not do it, Listen: There is nc warrant i
of disabilities; consequently th
rejection of your claim is affirmed" 'rha
letter was dated Dec. 16 and signed by tn
Commissioner himself and unfinished /