The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-24
Says Committee Knows
Little of Cases 1t Re-
ports Favorably.
is A PHYSICAL lMPOSSlBILITY
Members Take Issue With Remarks
Bill to Remove Charge of Desertion
Against Record of Michael Mullet
Voted 0n-No Quorum.

While the House was In Committee OF
the Whole ycsterdf.y considering private
pensions. Representative Loud tRep..
CALI made an onslaught. upon the gen.
eral policy OF pension legislation. He
said that Congress had already gone
too far in granting pensions TO soldiers
who simply did their duty in defending
the nation. and that penison legislation
had become a disgrace to the House.
cri;icising the members of the Com
rnittee On Pensions. Mr.. Loud declared
that not more than one me:Hbe. OF the
committee knew anything about the in
dividrai cases which it acted upon and
favorably reported TO the House. r. was
physical impossibility, he asserted. for
the committee to have given careful
consideration to the 1,l6s cases which
1t had reported to the House during
the last four months.
The medical examiners, he said. would
make favorable recommendation upon
any case which was referred TO them,
If they were directed to do so. regard
less of fits merit
Mr. Robinson lDem.. Ind. interrupt
ing Mr.. Loud, said that IL was easier for
a camel 20 pass through the eve OF a
needle than for an unmeritoriors bIll
to be favorably reported from the con-
mittee. Members on both sides of the
chamber took issue with MIR. Loud.
Nr. Gibson REP, TENN said that
the committee net twice a week FOR
two hours and that at almost any hour
any day members could be found in the
committee room examining pension
cases.
Mr.. Sulzer Dem. X. ". mace
spirited reply 10 Mr.. Loud. He said he
would be false to every principle he held
dear and to his better nature. and to
every sentiment he loved IL he did not
rise in his place and -ebuke the gentle
man from California for his slanderous
attack upon the old soldiers OF the ma
ton.
Mir. Sulzer deprecated the statements
Of Mr.. Loud. and said that they came
with very bad grace.
Il am now. always have been. and
always will be a friend OF the old
soldier" exclaimed Mr.. Sulzer. of the
man who carried our flag through shot
and shell in trial and trouble. In storm
and distress. to victory. Of the men
who preserved the Union in the hour OF
peril.
II is the duty OF the Government |
they saved TO take care Of them in their |
old age. in their days OF want and mis-
cry. and we would be false to ourselves. 1
to our patriotic duty which the people |
send US here TO perform. If We did not |
give them the pensions they are entitled |
TO.
Il believe the old soldiers Of the |
Union are the wards OF the nation. and |
that nine-tenths of the American people |
are in favor of properly caring for
them"
Considerable discussion arose In Com
mittec of the Whole over the bill re-
ported by Mr.. Sulzer TO remove the
charge of desertioD from Michael Null
let, OF the 1Gith New York Volunteers.
and later cf the navy
Mulict WAS wounded In the battle of
Cold Iiarbor. ana II was stated that
while on a furlough he fell in with
some bounty sharks who "shang-
haicd' him. and caused him to have
been enlisted in the navy. telling him
against his protest that he could serve
the country as well in the navy as in
the army. He was honorably discharged
from the navy In 1866, and did not know
until about two years ago that the
charge of dcsertion was against his
record in the army
The committee voted 10 favorabiy re-
pert the bill. but when II came UP later
In the House, Mr.. Hull tRep.. Iowa.
prevented its passage. He demanded a
division on the bill, which showed 81 in
favor Of 1t aud II opposed.
Mr. Hun then raised the point of no
quorum
ThcrcuDon Mr. Richardson dem,
Tenn.j moved an adjournment This
Was carried 10 10 IA.
a number Of bills which had been
'ayorably reported by the committee
were thus left Enacted upon.