The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-05

10 postpone all piior orders for the purpose Of taking IN
for consideration Senate bill No. 47--a bill which has
been good while before the Senate. II was reported
early the last session Of Congress- and is the second
bill upon the calender Its object is TO revive portion
OF the act granng pensions 10 The widows OF deceased
soldiers
Mr. UNDERWOOD, am afraid that bill will give
raise to debate II rs now two O'clock, and think we
would better call up such House bills as have been less
ed in that body, have been fayoraby reported upon in
this and will pass without objection. | have been
making various efforts TO get up lile bill OF that kind
but have not succeeded sm afraid this bill will give
rise TO debate, as II involves an important principle
Mr. BORLAND. The important principle involved in
il is 10 take care o lew old widows-ihat semnant OF
the widows OF the officers and soldiers that served in the
late with Great Britain, too consider The p.;nc-
ple very important one. will say that the Commit.
tee Pensions reported this bill long ago. have sat
here to-day. and while endeavorng 10 get the floor
have the previous orders postponed aud private bills
taken up tor the relief OF individuals who have spe
cia claim upon the government beyond any others and
hope the Senate will indulge in taking up this
bill, which stands at the head Of the calendar Ii has
now been here for long while 1t Tor The relief Of
very few individuals, who must from necessity be very
old They are the few surviving widows OF the officers
and soldiers OF the last with Great Britain, and Il
proposes to extend some OF the bounty OF the government
70 themsuch as We are daily giving to individuals
tainly no more rneorious. SO lar as regards The re-
mark made by the honorable from Kentucky,
tMr. UNDERwooDl that II will portion Of the
time of the Senate in discussion and therefore ought
10 be taken up al this late hour, can say hope will
give rise TO debate at all for should not expect op
position TO such bill from any quarter.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. this ID public
easurea general law and i, is now towards the close
Of the session for to-day do not know lis provisions
ba, have generally been opposed any great extension
OF the pension system to new class OF cases, and have
taken occasion TO express upon this floor my opposition
embracing any such class of cases. did not know
what were the provisions Of this bill and therefore |
thought, as il was general bill, and as ii getting
late in the day, We would better appropriate the balance
OF the day taking up those House bills that nobody
would have objection and that have been passed favor
ably upon by committees. would be glad to take
Ap nosk kp,,x that haua rJng
objection TO this btll.
The question being taken upon the motion to postpone
the previous orders and take up The bill 1t agreed
and the bill then read for information and considered
as committee of the whole
Mr.. HAMLlN desire to offer amendment, TO that
bill, and trust is one which will give it strength IL
IS to add the following:
ind be further enacted. That the widows OF all Off
GERS, soldiers, mnscians aud prvaes, who married
subsequently, January, A. d. 1900, shall be entitled
pension in the same manner ,hose who were married
prior to that date.
The which design meet is one that is anpsrent
from the amendment have offered desire 10 Stale to
the senate. with respect to the limitation of the period of
time. tina, the widows Of deceased officers and soldiers Of
the revolutionary war were entitled TO peusIon that /
believe BY The first act il confined those who
married prior to 1850. Ii then extended TO 1890
then l794 and subsequently, extended up TO $500
Now by the law, II stands, The widow of deceased
revolutionary soldier, officer commissioned officer,
MUSICIAN, or priyHle was married the second day of
January 1900, she is entitled pension; bu, if she
was married on the last day OF December l799 she would
be entitled 10 pension
Now sir, think there is no good reason for drawing
rigid rule upon particular day, and it is case wherr
II you give pensions 10 widows al all, yoa should give
them to all presented sGndry memorials at the las,
session OF Congress 10 this case and think
committee were favoraby impressed with the evidence
which those memorials placed before them. hope this
amendment which have offered will he adopted, to
put all the WIDOWS on the same ground
ME UNDERWOOD Mr. President, il The frs, pr DIVISION
Of this bill should pass independent OF the amendment
offered by the senator from Maine, Mr. HAMLIN, would
ka To thoo ,l,l
the pensions TO be paid for the intermediate time that
has elapsed after the fret five years up to the
ment Of the operation Of this act
Mr., BORLAND l can answer the senator. drew
up that bull aud reported H. and certainly did not in.
tend. nor do believe the reading OF the ACT will author
ne The payment OF pensions IN the intermediate time. II
certainly wasnot my intention in draughiing il, do
think the words would authorize the Commissioner OF
Pensions to issue pensions for that intermediate time
Mr. UNDERWOOD. think there ought to be some
provision expressly excluding the idea. The general
term. strike me as being perhaps, susceptible OF such
construction.
Mr. BORLAND, Gin his seat) Even III did author
ze that, | would not object 10 IT.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. While upon that subject. will
Just remark that when those five years pension were
hrs passed. II was The design OF Congress TO make
temporary provision Tor the wives and children OF those
officers and soldiers who lett in helpless condl-
uon by the death or disability OF their natural projectors
That was the practice OF The fathers OF the republic in
reference to the war OF 1912 and the previous the
country Many OF these pension laws have been re-
newed time and again ] have called the attention OF
ne oehae 10 lhls suD)ect IN some pretty elaborate
marks which made year or two ago. and in which
referred TO all the different acts upon this subject great
many oil these acts have been renewed from to Time
and the effect OF their renewal has just been hs That
where widow has happened 10 live twenty. thirty, and
oTy years and now living, ba, family is provided for
by these annual allowances OF pensions under this system
oi bounty upon the part OF the government but II the
widow happens 10 die then by her death that family is
deprived OF all aid and assistance, when they stand more
N need oil by the death o both father and mother than
the WIDOW were TO llye and The consequence OF your
Legislation ~ that ampa IN thc
that are less needy than those who have lost both father
and mo'her and these latter have provision ade for
Them at all lhat the practical operation of your bill
Mr. BORLAND. | hope the honorable senator will
permit TO TO him that he has The
bill in particular. The object OF the bill Is 10 provde
only for the widow, and for the children The ae,
which this proposes revive the act Of isls xbich
officers and soldiers who died during the last war or in
consequence OF the wounds they received during the
That act expired hvc years afiefwatds-in ls2l
Now all the minor children would IN that time have
been grown up, at least pretty nearly They certainly
have been grown long ago This act therefore, does
propose 10 provide for the minor chldren for there
none they having all become adult children We do not
provide for the adult children Of soldiers generally, but
there are few old widows remaining who should receive
peoson whereas under the act Of 1870 their pensions
expired in ls2i. few OF them are living now, sup
pose and proposed TO provide Tor The last Years
of their lvesto give them something TO live upon for
the remainder OF their days
Mr. UNDERWOOD | think understand 1T, sir |
once made pretty thorough examination OF the subject
although may not precisely recoect the principle IN re-
gard 10 il; but whether there minor children or not
depends upon the time when the soldier died, how long
he may have died after the war; and whether the various
aJ IN IN he fne