The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-12-28
]. M. GUDGERs JR, EXPLAIs
HIS VOTE ON PENSION RTII
Says Many Democrats Voted for the
Sherwood Measure Also Points to
C0mn3&Aoo pov1oA@ - w


Sherwood Measure-Also Points -
Committee Report.
washington, Dec. 21.-Consrass-
man Gudger, Of the Tenth North c.
DINA district, has made public a state
ment Wherein he defends his vote for
the. sherwood pension bill. Mr., Cud-
ger mas been sharply criticised nv
nearly every paper In his state and A.
was generally expected that he wonIS
make ACCOMPLISHMENTS defense of his
action. He says; = --0
The last. democratic platform said. .
we favor a generous pension nolacv
Footh as a matter Of justice to the sur.
WING union veterans and their do
scendants. ,g, tsts;
AT the time Of the adoption of that
| platform the approximation in round
numbers was $160, 100000, The firat
democratic congress elected and con
Vened after that platform ,declaration
appointed ten. leading. democrats. on
the invalid pension cofnmitt ee aSftF that
I- 80 annanamo reported the
Sherwood bill. The democrats who
signed the report of that bill were
isaac r. Sherwood and Carl anderson.
OF Cn1cago; George III. Lindsay, of New
York, and John A. M. Adair, or Indi-
ana; Joseph j.. Russell, OF Missouri:
n. NJ. Jaooway, Of Arkansas; Michael
II. Burke, Of Wisconsin; John M.
hamilton, OF West Virginia, and w j.
Fields, OF Kentucky: George w. Kipp,
OIL pennsylvania, was member of the
committee, but he died last summer.
The BIZ, ~ that this committee
brought out was given right-of-way
over all other bills and placed before
the house for passage. - s.zt- ~,
First the democratic committee. af-
ter a thorough investigation filed a
unanimous. report faYordng the sbill,,-,
Second the: report of the commit
tee was construed as an interDreta-
ton Of the party platform. -.
+ Third, the democratic leaders.
without opposition, obtained the right
| of-way for the bill. 60 "a -.
Fourth, majority of the demo-
Gratis of the house voted for the bill.
1T was supported by the democrae-
ic speaker, Champ Clark, and the
chairman of the democratic congress
sional committee, James T. Lloyd.
The intention of the bill is to
ecualize pensions, which are limited
to $40, $50 and $50 month, according
to term of. services. The amount car
ried by this bilL is greatly exaggar-
gerated in the statement that it will
cost $75 100000. The democratic come
mittee estimates the cost at SGT ,000. =
600, which l assume to be correct, as
1t made an exhaustive investigation
This appropriation will not in
crease total appropriation as a re-
duction will be made along other lines
| without injury.
While my vote is being criticised,
| it will be observed that obaved the
command of the democratic nlatforn,
| followed the leadership of the demo-
cratic speaker, the national demo-
cratic congressional chairman. the
democratic members of the invalid
pensions committee and acted in con-
cert with a majority of the democrats
of the house
: ''The supporters OF this bill are
frank and honest enough to- cencede
to the opposition patriotic honesty of
| conviction. In justice they are en-
titled To the same honesty of purpose
and convictions of fair-minded men.
This statement is made to give the
facts, so that every man may form his
own conclusions as to the wisdom and
| justification of the legislation"