The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-05-30
EQUALIZATION OF DoUNTlEs.

EQUALIZATION OF DoUNrlEs.
In the House of Representatives on
Friday, tho 25th inst, Mr.. Schcnck, oil
Ohio, from tho Committee on Military
Affairs, reported back substitute for
the Bounty Bill, md asked the House
to pass it Immediately, appealing to
mcmbor to forego any arguments in it,
favor, and saying that they might have
an opportunity to deliver them some
Saturday, for influence on tho Senate.
He moved the previous question.
Mr.. Banks asked Mr.. Schenck to state
the difference between the substitute and
the original bill.
Mr.. Schcpck made the explanation,
and said tho substitute made no provis'
ion for bounty to substitutes, tho Com
mittcc thinking that as a general thing
they had no proper claim against the
Government. There might be some e1-
ceptions in cases where men from unself'
ish and humane motives went into the
army in the place Of drafted men; but
Congress could only lcsislatc for clussc',
and such exceptio hal cuses could sufeIy
DO loft to the care Of neighborhoodS.
Mr.. Ward, of NJ CIV York, suggested that
as this bill allowed bouuties to colorcd
soldiers, and as under the existing law
the loyal masters Of colored men who had
Joined the army were also allowed bounty,
the effect would DO that double bounties
would be paid in such cases.
Mr.. Schenck admitted that such
might be the case, but that tho difficulty
might DO remedied by repeal Of tho
law in question, or BY an amendment Of
the present bill in the Senate.
Mr.. Banks, Of Massachusetts, under
stood from tho statement Of Mr.. Schcnck
that any State that had paid bounties
up to the amount of three hundred dol.
lars, could got nothing under this bill,
but would DO compelled to assist in pay.
ing bounties in those States which had
not done 80.
Mr.. Schenck believed that thero wcrc
very few cases whcro local bounties had
not been paid to tho amount Of three
hun dred dollars.
Mr.. Banks repeated tho remark, that
States which had paid bountics to their
soldiers would, under this bill, be com.
PEELED to contribute to the payment OF
bounties in States which had not paid
them. Ho believed this to be surprise
on the House, and he therefore moved
to reconsider the vote ordering the main
question, so as to reconsider the vote
adopting the substitute.
On motion of Mr.. Schenck, tho mo-
ton to reconsider was laid on the table,
by a vote Of 70 to GO, and tho ques'
ton REQUIRED on tho passage Of the bill
Tho bill was passed by vote Of 139
to 2.
Dir. Darling, Of New York, called 70,
tho reading Of tho votes in tho negative
Tho Clerk road tho names Of John A.
Nicholson, Of Delaware, and Lawrence s.
Trimble, Of Kentucky.
The following is the bill as passed
30 it enacted, &c., That instead Of
any grant Of land or other bounty, there
shall DO allowed and paid to each and
every soldier, sailor, aud marine who
faithfully served as such in the army,
navy, or marine corps Of the United
States, and who has been or who may
hereafter be honorably discharged from
such service, tho sum of..eight dollars
and third (ss 33s) per monitor al
the rate Of one hundred dollars per
year-aa hereinafter provided, for all the
time during which such soldier, sailor, OF
marine actually 80 served between the
18th day Of April, 1861, and the 18th
day Of April, 1865, and 10 the case Of
any such soldier, sailor, or marine dis
charged from tho service on account Of
wounds received in battle or while en.
gagged in tho line Of bis duty, tho said
allowance Of bounty shall DO computed
and psid up:1to tho end Of the term Of
lSsiryice for which bis enlistment was