New-York tribune., 1901-01-31
A CLASH OVER PENSIONS.
WARM WORDS BETWEEN SECREIAh1
HITCHCOCK AND EX-COM-
MANDER SHAW.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrpuNE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEJ
washington. Jan. 3O.--Tn the House Commit
tee on Invalid Pensions there was sharp clash
to-day between Mr. Hitchcock. the Secretary or
the Interior and Representative Albert ID. Shaw
of the XXIVth District of New-York, formerly
Commander IN Chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic The cause of the trouble was pension
legislation that was being considered by the
committee While Representative Shaw was
the National head of the Grand Army of the
Republic ne and General Sickles. of New-York,
with the assistance of Mr.. Patrick an attorney
of this city, drafted a bill creating a Court of
Pension Appeals. Last year the G. A. r. posts
generally approved this bill by formal action,
Mr. Shaw having travelled extensively over the
country enlisting the interest of the veterans in
the measure At the last session it intro
duced in the House by Mr. Mers. of Indiana,
and in the s ate by Mr.. Turner, of Washington,
both Democrats. but active members of the
Grand Army of the Republic. few days ago
the bill was ordered reported favorably to the
House by the Committee on Invalid Pensions
by vote of TO f. Chairman Suoway, of New
Hampshire. being one of those who voted against
it. Before the introduction of the Miers bill in
the House at the last session Representative
Loudenslager, Of New-Jersey, and Senator Gal
linger. of NewHampshire, presented to their
partment officials which aimed to accomplish
the same expedition of contested pension claims
that sought by the Miers bill. by directing
the Secretary Of the Interior to certify to the
Court of Claims each year not exceeding five
claims pending before him or the Commissioner
of Pensions that may be believed to affect a
class Of claims and 10 involve an important or
difficult question of law arising in the admins
tration OF the pension laws
CHARGES MADE AND DENIED.
When Secretary Hitchcock learned that the
Miers bill had been favorably reported by the
committee he asked that the report be withheld
and that hearing be given to him against that
measure and in of the Departments bill.
His request was granted. and when he appeared
before the committee to-day he found Repre-
sentative Shaw primed for a vigorous defence of
the Miers bill. Some of the statements made
by Mr.. Hitchcock regarding the administration
Of the Pension Bureau sharply contested
by the New-Yorkcr, who even accused the Sec
retary Of inspiring a recent attack on the Miers
bill which appeared In ST. Louis newspaper
MI Hitchcock denied with emphasis and a show
of indignation that he had had anything to do
WITH the publication complained of and on this
point words were multiplied between the Cab
met officer and the former National Commander
in-Chief Of the G. a. r. Then Chairman Sullo-
way charged Mr.. Shaw with having brought un-
due influences 10 bear on Congress in favor of
the Miers bill, and this caused a rather heated
exchange of compliments between these two.
When II seemed that everybody about to
get angry the committee adjourned the further
hearing of the subject until Tomorrow when
General Sickles is expected TO be here To plead
for the Miers bill The General would have
been here to-day if his physician had permitted
him to leave his home in New York Colonel
c. A. r., Judge Leo Rassieur. OF ST Louis. spent
nearly all of last week in Washington in the in
| terest of the Miers bill. behind which he de-
clared, was the whole power and influence of
the G. A. r.
THE PROPOSED COURT OF APPEALS.
The bill. after defining the name and jurisdic-
ton of the court, provides that the President
shall appoint for life or good behavior five law
yers not more than three of whom shall belong
| to the same political party, to sit in Washington
continually Court OF Pension Appeals and
that they shall have the same power and juris-
diction as respects cases and questions arising
under the pension laws that the Circuit Courts
and the Circuit Courts of Appeals now have. It is
provided that the court shall have Jurisdiction
to hear and determine the following matters:
First-An applications under any general or spe-
eial pension law which may be referred to It by
ethfr G & noqse or congress or the Pension Committee
feTred, If admissible under any existing law. the
court shall allow the claim and transmit the same
together with its decision, to the Commissioner OF
Pensions as in cases duly appealed but If so
admissible the court shall find the facts and re-
port the to the house committee by which
the claim application referred 1t. In all
cases referred the house committee shall
transmit to the said court the vouchers papers
proofs and documents pertaining thereto
Secondary question of law that shall affect a
class of under the pension laws which may
be referred II by the Commissioner Of Pensions
Third-The claim application of any person
founded upon arising under any general or spe-
cial pension law of the United States, which may
be appealed to 1t By such claimant applicant
from the decision OF, or which may have been re-
jected in whole or in part by the Secretary of the
Interior the Commissioner Of PensOns and In
the hearing and determination OF such or any case
or question before It the court shall proceed in
summary manner may best tend to the speedy
and expeditions decision thereof. under such rules
and regulations to form and procedure and the
taking of testimony shall be prescribed by the
All cases brought and tried under the provisions
OF this act shall be tried without jury, but the
court may in its discretion, refer to an
auditor for examination and report. and the sew
| eral Judges. under the assignment of the court
but subject to the right of rehearing before the
United States.
| The bill also abolishes the Board of Pension
Appeals and merges the powers of this tribunal
/ IN he new court