The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-16


these Pensices chsEe upon the treasury believed
that the widows and orphans OF soldiers have at least
equal and think could prove higher, claims for such
allowance from the treasury, mainly for the reason
that their compensation is somewhat lower, and they
have opportunity either BY przes OF BY soierng into
other pursuits. 10 leave competence 10 Their widows al
The bill have introduced is prospective in It's opera
ton except in the last section, which provides Tor a
class OF every OF which suppose 10 have been
heretofore provided for by special acts provides for
the widows and orphans OF ofhcers and soldiers who
have died of wounds disease contracte the line of
their duty far back the 7lh OF May 1885, the date
Of the declaration OF war against Mexico. Ii will be re
membered that have had special acts covering these
cases until suppose, there are lew which would be COW
cred by that section which have not been already covered
by special law. II II be an objection in the mind of
any one. quite willing that the last section should
be stricken out The rest OF me law is merely prospsc
tive in its operation to secure 1--WE years pensions the
widows and minor children oil the soldier who dies in the
service do not suppose il is necessary TO go into any
detail to prove to the Senate that the low rate OF
compensation we now give officers and soldiers
cannot enable them to make any provision for their
widows and children ii they die in the service. ltwas
well said by the Duke OF Wellington that in all military
establishments there must be OF two hings--either
low pay. and certain provision for the uture pay su
6cieny large to enable the individual to provide for him
self and for his family. We have adopted the former
course. Our pay is very ow-gieauy below any other
employments in the country II is well known that any
competent officer OF the army can throw up his commls
sion at any time, and get greater pay than he now re-
ceives Still this the with the prvaes. They
for seven, eight and ten dollars per month"; when
the common aborer is receiving from twenty to fifty
dollars presume we do not intend greatly to change
the scale of our compensation, sufficiently TO render
necessary such bill as have presented,
Mr.. HUNTER AS | understand the case OF the
widows and orphans Of naval officers they are paid Out
of fund raised out OF their own pay II is true that
fund dsspated by improvident act OF legislation,
the c0nseq OF which not foreseen al the time
and that having been done without sufficient orehought
the government felt itself bound to make il up That is
what understand 10 be the with reference 10 the
naval department 1t is therefore doing something more
in this case for contributing directly to make
these penslons-whe in the other case we were only
storing fund which, as trustee, we had dssipaied
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi When the fund was ex-
hausted, then called upon to make restoration
but we have nine or ,en and perhaps twenty times over
the same footing excepting the facts have stated which
make the case harder IN the army than IN the navy II
is unjust discrimination, all other things being equal
II ia doubly UNJUST because they are unequal. and the
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. will submit proposition to
Senate upon particular point | perceive from the
reading OF the bill that it provides pensions not only for
the widows and orphans OF those who shall have been
killed in battle who shall have died from wounds
ceived in battle, but also for those who may have died.
or who shall die OF disease contracted in the public
vice. Now, sir, it seems 10 me that this is enlargng
our pension system beyond all reason. am somewhat
opposed, confess, to this enlargement OF the pension
system of the country. do not any very great rsa
why the officers and soldiers of the army and navy
should be Pensoned more than those who have out
their lives in the civil service OF the country We have
members in the legislative department; have
bers ip the Judiciary department. They continue for life
pension is given to them, or to their families after them,
when they die. do not myself the Of this
distinction further than this. According TO my examna
ton OF the subject pensions Were originally given 10
those who were killed. or who died from wounds re-
ceiyed in battle. There may be policy TO influence the
soldier, by providing for him if he loses limb battle.
or providing for his family if he loses his life. But
we must all die OF disease contracted at time or
other the soldier sailor will die OF disease
iraced period, well those in civil life do
not the reason why, when he goes of by consump
ton any other disease, contracted while in service, his
family should receive pension in consequence OF his
losing his life under circumstances OF that kind there
fore move TO strike out that part OF the bill which pro-
vides for pension for the widows and orphans OF those
who die OF disease contracted in the service to leave
the pension to the wldows and orphans OF those only who
die in battle or of wounds received in battle.
The PRESIDENT stated the amendment strike out
in line eight the words. or disease contracted. or in
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi | am sure il the senator
had investigated this subject with the closeness which
he usually gives 10 other subjects he would not have
made his motion. he might well have moved 10
strike out the bill The existing laws merely 10 be
continued from time 10 time 10 all the necessary
purposes. Nor DO think, with the senator's ordinary
amount Of examination he would have attempted TO draw
parallel between the soldier and the civilian. He will
find, If he pusues that parallel in the FIRST place. that the
Judge receives better salary than the soldier; in the
next place, that be has great deal OF time which be can
devote TO other pursuits; and lastly that when in the
due course OF nature he Dies is at place which he
sent from Maine 10 Mexico 10 encounter the yellow fe
ver-not like the soldier who is to climes least suit
ed 10 his constitution and previous habits without re-
gard to the season. and looking only to the interest OF
the service Surely the senator from Kentucky, If he
will enter into the merits OF this question, will not
attempt 10 draw such parallel between the soldier and
civilian, Ii he seeks 10 limit the expenditures
count OF pensions, this is not the way. The road lies
open to him and Others If they will only take il, agree
that the pension list argetoo large But this is not
the way 10 reduce IT. You leave the great evil and only
seek TO stop OF lis eec is II you would reduce the
expenditures on account OF pensions, then restrict your
pension list TO those who pauperso those who have
no income beyond the amount which will TO sup
port them Strike of that long list oil those who have other
right TO live upon the treasury Thus you will reduce your
pension list far more than this provision will do IT, and
without that peculiar hardship which belongs to the
present system. which will continue il the amendment
OF The senator from Kentucky prevails.
feel bound, Mr.. President il this debate TO contin
ne TO 10 what know TO be the desire OF the
tor from Wisconsin, [Mr. WALVERl-to postpone this
subject for the purpose OF taking up the regular order of
business This subject has been already long postponed
For more than twenty years it has been discussed Its
justice has also been established in every debate | did
not seek to enter into discussion OF it, had hoped
il would be passed without question. hope now it
will but II not must agree 10 It's being postponed.
Mr.. WALKER As il is very evident that this
subject will lead TO debate, and have some anxiety
TO conclude my remarks to-day, to postpone i,
until Tomorrow
The motion 10 postpone agreed to-
cEDIso PUBLIC LANDS TO STATES.
The Senate resumed, in committee of The whole
the consideration OF the bill IS So to eede the public
lands OF the United States To the States respectively in
which they situated condition tina, the said States
hall