The Washington times., 1902-04-13
Flags Mr.. Bell for Object
ing to a Pension for
Mrs. Mckinley.
THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Colorado Representative Declares Late
Presidents Widow Does Not Need
Money and Has No Immediate Heirs
His Objection With Precedent.

| When the bill proposing to pay Mrs.
Ida S. Mckinley, widow Of the late Presi-
I dent Mckinley, o pension of S., 900 a year
was called up in the House yesterday, Mr..
Bell of Colorado surprised every mem
Der present by protesting against it. He
did not vote against the measure, how
ever, and after considerable discussion
it was passed unanimously.
Yesterday was private pension day in
the House, and the bill to pension Mrs.
Mckinley passed by the Senate on Janu-
airy % was the last on the calendar. When
it was read, Mr.. Bell asked what prece
dent there was for 1t. Mr.. Grosvenor re-
piled by reading from the report OF the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, showing
that the widows of other Presidents had
received pensions, and that it was a uni
form practice of Congress.
Mr.. Bells Objections.
But this is Else" protested Mr..
Bell, ''wherS that splendid woman. Mrs.
Mckinley, cannot possibly spend the
amount which the bill proposes to allow
her If she had any children or could
spend the money. / would be one of the
first to say she should have ii.
1T is impossible for her TO spend the
income from her estate; she has an indie
pendent estate in her own right, includ-
ing mining interests in Colorado. know
she does not ask for it, and | do not be-
lieve that she wants il. That $1,000 would
pay a pension of IS month to ffty-two
widows of men whose lives were short
ened by reason of fighting for their coun-
try, and who are refused pensions be-
cause they have incomes of $3.50 year.
Now, ] am not going TO object to this
bill. but | say that If there Is precedent
for it, it is a bad precedent. 1t is bad
precedent in a Republic that presumes
that every man is good as his neigh
bor Ii there was any possibility of this
splendid woman needing il, or had she
heirs | would not raise my voice against
it. but she is independent from a financial
standpoint.
We propose to give $1,000 year to
some collateral heirs. instead of devot-
ing IL pay the widows of soldiers of the
Republic, who fought in the bitches for
their country. ! hate TO say this much.
1t is not from judgment. but from senti-
ment that we do this. This is nothing but
a sentimental act. because of the sad, sad
occurrence that took place but short
time ago, but this sentiment should be
directed in other channels.
Given to Collateral Heirs.
'.I want to say to you that we are Civ
ing this pension to collateral heirs. God
knows that l sympathize with this poor
woman as much as any man can, but | am
not willing 10 give my sanction to an alb
soiute wrong because of our sentiment
for the moment.
Il want it understood that / make these
remarks for no other purpose than be-
cause this splendid woman does not ask
for this pension, and because she cannot
use 1t possibly, and it would only be to
pension collateral heirs"
General Grosvenor. in reply, said that
he regretted that anyone should have
taken occasion to make objection to a
measure of the kind under such Circum-
stances. 1t was true Mrs. Mckinley had
never asked for a pension, he said, but
he had never known the widow of any
President to come begging to the doors OF
Congress for a pension.
He thought that the Government was a
little above a coroner's inquest, and should
not stoop to inquire as to whether a wo-
man had children or may have them.
Il leave such matters as that ne said
TO the gentleman from Colorado. know
nothing about any mining property to
which he has referred" said General
Grosvenor. 1T may be valuable, or it
may be worthless. as nine out Of every
ten of the Colorado mines are.
This woman stands todav. the object
Of the sentiment. the love. and affection Of
the American people. and / do not be
lieve that in the State Of Colorado there |
can be found three widows OF honorably |
discharged soldiers who would counte-
nance the remarks made by the gentle |
man from Colorado.
Sentiments of a Shylock.
1T is the first time in the history of /
legislation of this character that there |
was ever found a man with the sentiment |
Of Shylock to stand up and make an
OF the amount of property
woman has"
Continuing General Grosyenor said the
pension was not to be made on the basis
II pasperism: It was made because of
he love and esteem which the American
sf,,.a ,,.rtl