The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-16
AT The CAPITAL.
Gossip About Pension Business
in Congress.
Always Many More Bills In
PRODUCED Than Passed.
CALDERHEAD'S WORK
Kansas Member Of Committee
on Invalid Pensions.
Tries to Discourage Grist of
Private Measures.

Washington, Dec. 15.-Representa-
tive ". A. Calderhead of the Fifth dis
trict has about all he can do this win
ter as a member of the house Of rep
resentatives committee on invalid pen
sions.
Mr.. Calderhead entered congress in
1895. and save one term has been here
since. He is one of the best authori-
ties in the house of representatives on
pension subjects and legislation. Dur
ing his congressional service he has
been a member of the committee on
invalid pensions.
It is estimated that already more
than 5000 private pension bills have
been introduced in the house represen-
tatives, and have been referred to the
committee on invalid pensions. OF this
number, fully 1900 will go to Mr.. Cal
derhead's subcommittee.
Here is one thing, though. in the
matter of private pension bills: 1t has
grown to be the custom of many mem
bers to introduce every pension bill
that is requested of them; and the
abuse is something frightful. To many
members it matters not that only an in
finitesimal fraction of bills introduced
can become laws; they are willing to
smother their conSciences, and accept
eran who asks for special legislation.
Many others do not even consider
whether the bills they introduce are
possible of passage at all; that is,
whether the cases come under the rules
adopted by the committee setting forth
what cases shall be, and what not, en-
titled to relief by private act of con-
gress.
1t is to the credit of Mr.. Calderhead
that for years he has sought to induce
members not to engage in the whole
sale introduction of bills; but to be
frank and tell the veterans that they
few bills; and that these must be for
the most needy and deserving and suf-
fering veterans, whose cases come
/ clearly within the rules.
| Mr.. Calderhead himself seldom in
| PRODUCES more than five or six bills a
session, which is about all any mem
/ Der of the house can expect to secure
/ the passage of in one session of con-
gress. He has not even introduced this
mum Der as yet this session, waiting to
sift out from among the large number
I of requests he has the very best and
! notwithstanding cases.
/ Mr.. Campbell of the Third district
| seldom introduces more than five bills
a session He, also, has refrained so
far this session from intro duciug any
at ALL. Later, he viii introduce the
number, five, and secure their passage.
Senator Long is careful about this.
dozen of private pension bills. A sen
ator can secure the passage of more
! bills than a representative, but not to
I exceed the number Senator Long has
introduced.
But other members are not so eau
/ tious and wise. For instance, Mr.
Browulow of Tennessee introduced, on
/ the first day of the session, about 400
private pension bills. These he viii
send out to the recipients of his favor
and then, as the session draws to &
close, there will be about 400 unsatiS.
fed applicants who will ask Mr.
BrownloW what has become of theil
bills. He may reply-many members
| do-that the committee on invalid pen
sions is to blame; that the committee
will not report the bill. Then the sol.
: diers will write Mr.. Calderhead, anC
other members of the committee. anC
grow very indignant because the com
mittee has, in their judgment, beer
very lax in its desire to assist the vet
eransl All of this Mr.. Calderh cad an6
the committee on pensions in congress
: has to bear, because of the action o.
mem bers like Mr.. Brownlow.
1t may take nerve" to write a vet
eran in your district or your state anC
: tell him that you cannot aid him b,
special act of congress in his case
when he will likely write back that hi
5 friend in such-and-such a district O.
. state is so aided by his member-bu
: if you write the letter in a full ant
entirely frank manner, Gaining atten
ton to the very many deserving case
+ where. soldiers are destitute and SUI
ferings and ask the veteran If he vii
not admit that such cases should frs
receive relief, the chances are you
correspondent will become modified
in time, and say you have done tn
right thing But if you comply witt
his request, and introduce unlimited
bills thereby, without examination
and, sending each applicant a pr1ntet
copy of his bill let the matter en'
there-then that soldier is likely, afte