The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-02-10
Soldiers Duped.


gress by William j. Fields, of Ken
lucky, defending the Committee on
Pensions and the Democratic Con-
gress from attacks, the "cat was let
out of the bag" thereby furnishing
information to soldiers how they have
been deceived by congressman in Of
fering bills to pension while not
intending same to become laws. In
the speech it was shown that bills av-
eraging only NINE were apportioned
to members of the House, and that
many members introduced and had
printed hundreds when they were
aware of the fact that an agreement
was had that they were entitled to
nine only during the term, unless
other members who had no pension
bills to offer would trade "pork"
with them. The nefarious scheme
to introduce these bills and then not
to mark them before the committee
to act upon was done to hoodwink
prospective pensioners for political
reasons. The following excerpts will
prove interesting reading:
MIR. FIELDS. Three hundred and
five members secured the passage of
private pension bills during the Six
tythird Congress, that being 70.11
per cent of the total membership of
the House.
II desire to say that the passage of
any pension bill depends first upon
the evidence submitted in support of
it. A special examiner is detailed
from the Pension Bureau, who exam
ines the evidence submitted in a case
before the case is considered by the
committee, and his approval or dis
approval of the case is placed upon
it and goes on to the committee.
There may be some districts, and
doubtless there are, that have not re-
ceived as many special bills as other
districts with no greater number of
pensioners on account of the failure
of the Member to present to the COM
mittee, evidence sufficient to establish
the merit of their claims for special
act. | have been informed, and
think reliably informed, that one |
Member introduced about 700 private
pension bills during the last session |
of Congress, but submitted evidence |
in only five cases. This Member
knew as we'll as l know, and as well |
as every Member of this House |
knows, that it was necessary for him
10 produce evidence in support of
bill in order to secure its considera-
ion. Then why did he introduce the
595 bills in support of which he sub
nitted no evidence? Was it to de-
,eive those soldiers for whom he in
reduced those bills? Evidently it
vas, for | have been informed, in
directly, though l think reliably that
same Member is writing the pension
IT'S of his district during this session
hat it is useless for him to introduce
,ills for them for the reason that this
Democratic Congress will not consid
II them. l note, however, that that
gentleman secured the passage of
ZACH of the five bills for which he
admitted evidence. If he had the
to warrant the passage of
,ther bills, and did not submit it, it
vas his fault and not the fault of the
committee that he did not secure the
passage of more bills. Or if he fail
ID to advise the claimants as to the
required in support of their
ills, thereby causing their failure to
al To-, To
he fact that more of his soldier con-
did not receive consideration
t the hands of Congress. But that
Gentleman knew when he introduced
90 private pension bills that he
ould not secure the passage of all of
hem or even the passage of one
enth of them. So, why did he pur-
lie such a deceptive course with the
oldiers of his district, and why is
e now resorting to the further de-
option of writing them that he can
lot secure the passage of their bills
ecause this Democratic Congress is
ostile toward them, when he knows,
nd the country knows, and the sol
Ter knows, that this Congress since
{ became Democratic, has been more
LIBERAL to the soldier than it has ever
eretofore been? The answer is clear.
t is a plan of deception for political
but l feel quite sure that
hat gentleman and all others en-
aged in this campaign with him will
earn before the campaign is over
hat the soldiers of our country can
OF be deceived in the manner that
hey are attempting. l want to say,
owever, in justice to the minority as
whole, that l do not believe that
UGH tactics as those to which | have
eferred, which is nothing more than
eanut politics, are reSorted to by all,
r by majority of the minority
LENDERS, or are approved by ma
)rity of them.
81 shall not take the time to read
ne names of all the Members who
ecured the passage of bills, but l no.
ce that the gentleman from Penn
le Sixty-third Congress the passage
f 10 bills; Mr.. Austin, of Tennessee.
bills; Mr.. Anthony, of Kansas, 16
Ills; Mr.. Cramton, of Michigan, 10
Ills; Mr.. Fairchild, of New York, IL
Ills; Mr.. Sells of Tennessee, 10 bills;
II. Fess, of Ohio, IS bills; Mr.. French
Idaho, IA bills; Mr.. j. NJ. C. Smith,
Michigan, 10 bills; Mr.. Lafferty, of
RECON, II bills; Mr.. Mckenzie, of II
nois. 10 bills.
Il understand that charges have
zen made in some southern sections
7 southern Republican Members
lat they could not secure for their
,ldier constituents any considera-
on at the hands of this Congress. If
,1dierS in tho cnuthern districts are