Year: 1879

is based upon the fact that directs nsw and very
pesve and extraordinary system of procedure outside of
the Pension Bureau am not going % detain the Senate
upon this point. hope the vote viii be taken speedi
~ as possible and when that vote is taken desire Sena-
understand that they vop lar the creation of
least three hundred and in less thai two years will
be five hundred additional Federal officers at very extra
ordinary salaries This provides that the Sece
tary of the interior may appoint without limit to
Der except his judgment surgeons who shall have
certain travelling duties and with each of them shall
go person denomnated pension clerk that according
the description of this amendment shall be learned in
the law and have had practice in his profession and then
the doctor and the lawyer TO be paid $1,000
each for their services 1t is dicult to estimate the
of money that will be required 10 carry this
system. Indeed no estimate be made while the
Der of persons to be appointed is lett AT the discretion
OF Cabinet officer bureau officer but il will be
at once that these Federal officers will constitute very
important class of PERSONS and will be receiving ger
pay believe, than anybody connected with the Pension
Bureau except the Commissioner of Pensions himself
believe there is no class of persons connected with the
discharge of pension duties which is paid as these persons
to be paid


Further this amendment provides for the division of
the United States into various pension districts sup
pose may call them, and post iii each of the pen
sion districts is to be designated by the Commissioner of
Pensions post to which the officers of the Government
shall proceed and there in way not clearly pointed
out in this obtain the attendance of the pension
and such witnesses may be desirable to examine,
and see no provision this measure BY which person
whose claim for pension is being examined compel
the attendance of witnesses him. no provision
of that kind in the but there sort of court
provided for have stated The time and place is to
be fixed by the Commissioner of Pensions, and then





paper and that IS TO affect everybody with notice There
men, Mn. President who have fought well who
do not take newspapers, who not able to take
newspapers who could not read them if they did
take them and there the widows and orphans of those
who died in the service of their country who have not had
the opportunity of education, and who would be pact
caly denied notice under this of the time and
place when and where their vital interests be-
ing passed upon.


ann opposed to this measure because do not think
in practicable beneficial point of view, it is advisable
and think had better address ourselves to making
,,ctIa ne
1t more clerical force is needed let us give it. intro
duced resolution weeks ago that subject, calling
the Secretary of the Interior to tell what additional
clerical force needed in that Office either to prevent


frauds facilitate the transaction of business The
answer came here that they needed who versed
in sitting testimony Very WE'LL there may be something
in that there may be not much in it, but whether there
is not think the place begin reform is in the Office
here instead of covering the whole country with pera
bulating courts if may so designate them
i GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS,
4 Who has had the sole honor of representing three
states-Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri-in the
United States Senate, and who is said to be the
only Union officer who ever whipped Stonewall .
Jackson in the debates amending the arrears
bill proved himself possessed of the fire of youth
when offering bill which would have been curse
to every pensioner in the country. We append a
spicy little debate between him and Senator Ingalls,:


aIr SHIELDS Mr. President, since 1 spoke few
words ON this question while ago have examined the
details of the proposed amendment and submit my
learned and able friend from Kansas, lawyer whether
it is not OF the most singulary loosely worded bills
that into the Senate. Like the Heathen
Chnee. it little peculiar. First the Pension Bureau
the Department of the Interior have many posts
few posts peases in any and every State from
one to thousand with limitation.


Mr. INGALLS, The Senator will allow me to say that
the discretion must be lodged somewhere Of course
Congress cannot prescribe how many pension agents
pension surgeons shall be in any State because they
without the information as to the number Of in the
State There where none would be required,
some where not than two would be required; there
FORE the discretion must be left to the officer having this
system in charge.


Mr. SHIELDS. admit it, but it is discretion that
should have some limitation


Mr.. INGALLS,. 1t has a limitation.


Mr.. SHIELDS. Not here.


Mr.. INGALLS,. The limitation is that they at time
shall exceed sixty


Mr.. SHIELDS. The districts shall exceed sixty, the
amendment says but the posts unlimited The SEN
drafted such bill he has too hiph local ah