Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-17
rRIpurn O sENAroR prroNr.

TTNDER The caption Of "A Disgrace to Congress-
~ the Louisville ourier-Journa, pays the follow
ing CLOWNS tribute to United States Senator Henry
DUPONT for the splendid work he did In the Senate
IN behalf on the widow OF General Fitz John Porter.
Woe TO him who has a claim against the Govern
mcni OF the United States Uncle Sam is poor pay
master aud neglcctful debtor TO get dollar out
of the Treasury requires Act OF Congress- and,
whilst graft and grafters find il easy enough by pork
barrel process to draw millions honest men are elt
siarYc hey cool their heels ia the corridors and
antc-rooms of expectancy.
Tho proposal of an increased pension for the widow
OF Con ritz ohm Porter is a current case in point
and "A most striking example is of Justice retarded
by Congressional delinquency Gen. Porter was
His innocence AFTER twenty-five years. established
and he rcinstated- His widow is now receiving
a pension OF Si2 month to support herself and an un-
married daughter fhe bill 90 increase her penson TO
$50 month has been passed by the Senate after
many years delay. but the House failed to act ON it,
fairness by waiting until the widow dead and the
daughter too old 70 take notice before il cnacs
the bin into law That is the with Congress and
Congressman. 10 there is nothing in i for us there
Is nothing in 1t
The Senator from Delaware. Mr.. DUPONT has done
ycomans service i'm pressing this bill for Mrs Por-
tcr's relief soldier himself being graduate of the
West Point Military Academy Col. dupont has especial
reason for synrpahizng with the family of brave and
accomplished officer deeply wronged and long suffer-
ing Tho story of Gen. Fitz John Porter is indeed
sad one He was distinguished soldier of the regular
of Grant and Lee Sherman and Thomas his service
ncluding both the Mexican and sectional wars During
the former war he wounded in the heroic assault
upon the Belcn Cate oe the City OF Mexico. I'm the
latter he served with gaantry until the autumn
of 1862. when he was dismissed from the army
result OF unjust accusations that he had not done his
fun duty in the second battle Of Bull Run, where the
Fifth corps lost i'm single hours time quite two
thousand men, -third of its entire force The
spracy. for IL nothing less TO make Fiz John por
ter the scapegoat WAS successful although his com
radcs and the Confederate officers who opposed him
bore witness that his conduct had been above re-
proach
President Harrison. who also soldier and a
Just instituted searching Investigation into the
facts. and Gen Porter was finally and completely vim
dicatcd lie restoryi to rank by Congress- but tho
back pat. amounting TO more than $4,000, which had
accumulated while he was under a cloud. was not
awarded to him and has not been paid to this day
Senator Gallinger, of the Old Granite State thus
summarizes the
Gen. Fz John Porter New Hampshire man
At The time when passions heated there many
people I'm Now Hampshire who believed that Gen
Porter had not done his entire duty as officer OF
tho army OF the United States That time has passed
monument has been erected in the city of Ports
mouth 10 the memory OF Gen. Porter. had had som,
doubts myself but speech made by Reprcsentatv,
from New Hampshire. who served under Gen Porter
has convinced of Gen. Porter's loyalty and eallan
try. To my mind IL lis extraordinary that any mem
her of the Committee Pensions should haeglc abou
increasing his Widows pension. Il Is simply ac
OF tardy Justice"
There is no gainsayius this But as we have said
Congress end Justice have rarely speaking acquaint
anco All honor to Senator dupont All honor to Sen
relief In sight for the widow and daughter OF the gal
liant and ill-uscd Ftz John Porter.
II assurodly unfortunate that bill for whicl
Senator DUPONT abored so periodically and enectycl!
in the Senate received such consideration in thu
House AS the CouriorJournal suggests if the bill ha
had less merit it doubtless would have received NOR
attention in the lower chamber