Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-15
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There seems TO be a general misun.
Outstanding in regard TO the bounty
bill passed by Congress tho last day
OF the session, which grants 500 cx-
ira bounty to three-year soldiers and
$50 to two-ycarmcn By the passage
Of the bill, members of Congress Sc
cured an increase of their own pay
from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum, be-
ginning with the first Monday of De-
cember last. This large increase of
salary they have already received
But when are the soldiers and seamen
to be paid and who is to receive the
increased bounty are questions not
easily answered. The Philadelphia
Telegraph, referring to the false OK
pectations created by the passage of
the bill, remarks:
The evil effects Of the anticipated windfall have
already begun to be visible among those Of the
working classes who expect to receive the money
under the law; and numerous cases have come
under our notice in which steady and industrious
hands have either 50 deported themselves as TO
endangor their places or have thrown up their sit
uations in anticipation. To them we will say q
word, after explaining the bill. The first part to
be noticed is that the $50 section has nothing to
do with the soldiers Of this State. 1t was intro
duccd for the benefit Of the "two-year" regiments
of New York and Indiana. Pennsylvania sent no
two-ycar regiments out. Men from our State who
havd served two years in a three-yoar regiment do
not como under this section, and they take nothing
under the act unless Discharged for rounds.
Soldiers who had enlisted for three years and
have been discharged for disability before their
term Of service had expired, do not fall under the
provisions Of the law. 1t is probable that they
will be attended to next session, but under the
present bounty bill they are not entitled to any
pay. This seems TO hs like injustice. 1t is GER
tainly only fair that men who have expressed de-
sire to serve three years, and who have only been
prevented by their health failing them while stri-
wing to do their duty, should be treated the same
as though they had served out their enlisted time
1t was because Of no fault Of theirs that nature
WAS not sufficiently strong. The spirit indeed was
willing, though the flesh was weak.
Again, veteran volunteers do not come under
the law. They have already received more than
the 500, and this extra bounty is expressly grant
ed only to such as have not received heretofor,
that sum. As the law at present stands, the only
persons clearly entitled are the soldiers Of 1861
1862, 1868, who have served out three years, Of
have been discharged for wounds or the widow
orphan children or parents Of those soldiers who
have died or been killed in service, or have died
Of wounds received or disease contracted 10 th,
service, always providing that the claimant hai
not already received more than 500 government
bounty. We have a few words of advice to add
II viii require months before those who are cnti
tied under the act win be enabled to receive thei
due. A commission has been appointed by thl
War Office to propose plan by which it can b.
carried into effect 1t will require weeks to perfec
a plan. An appropriation must then be made, anC
finally, after ali prcliminaries arranged, il i
probable that the discharges will have to be pre-
sented in order, and thus il may be a year befor,
minus fees to brokers and agents price of stamps
transmission through mails, and the hundred othel
ct ceteras which cause the sum to grow beautifully
less.