, 1870-05-09
MRs. LINCOLN's PENSION.
Advorzo Report Of tho Senate Cor
xniIteo on Pensions.

Advorzc Report Of tho Senate Com"
IniItep on Penslonss
WARRINGTON, May 5.-The Senate Go.u1,,it-
tee on Pensions, to whom was referred the
Houee bill granting pension Of e, 900 per
annu1n to Mary Lincoln, cay in their report
made to-day that, although BY the constitn-
made Commande1-in-Chief Of the Army and
Navy, he is = civil and not a military officer.
Tho death OF President Lincoln occurred while
he Was engaged in business Of civil Life. There
waa no principle on which pensions had
hitherto been granted In this country which
bill. No provision OF this nature has ever been
made for the widows OF families Of any ono Of
the Presidents or other civil of1icer1 Of the
United Statea, slthopgh many Of them, like ~.
Lincoln, rendered most exalted service to the
country and two Of the Presidents died While
in Office, and the families OF sonae Of them
we're left in very elender pecuniArJ carcntn-
! stances. There is nothing, 60 far, to hist1n-
| guiah this case from that Of great body Of
| civil officers Of the government who, Of al
grades, from the highest to tho lowest. from
sSsss 81 pfoa nes' oit s pnbe ives Ves
and have left behind them
| widows and orphans in Bereavement, aggrayat'
| ed by poverty and want. Il has not beeu
deemed advisable in free country to provide
permanent emoluments IN favor Of ths faEni
|
countries As when eminent officers end thel
official term they become equl, bit not supe
f:or, members Of society. The committee ar
constrained To find, from tho facts befot'
them, thxt Mrs. Lincoln is mol, in TACT, in tn.
destitute condition which has been represent
sufficient to the Just necessity Of citi1en Q
The United st.tes, either 1T homo or abroad
A recapitu1ation Of her assets sho'
that tic balance of salary 70
was wa eq2, ,ooo, and that on the 18Th Of Novam
ber, 1867, abe received as her share Of the per
eona estate Of President Lincoln, $50, Sc
(tha aAne sum being also given to her miuo
son. Thomss), making her total cash asset
s58, 1850, IN addition to which there is som
unproductiye real estate, Of Which the commit
tee have taken no account. They have 600
reason to believe Ehe also received no incot
, siderable amount OF clothing, plate. house
, hold goods, ETC., tfter tho death Of Nj. LIZ
coin, which, in considering her pecuniary COT
dition, ahos,ld be added to her aboyc-n4me
coin, bnt the committee is not informed ~hi
amount has been realized. Mrs. 1ineol
does not seem to urge her Claim entirely 0
the ground Of tho want OF the comforts
Life. In her petition transmitted from Ftan1
, I fort praying for pension, she rtatea that 81
dnriug the summer, and then 50 to Italy
, but my financial means do not permit me
take advantage Of the urgent ndEice given m
, nor can live in st-lo becoming the widow
the chief magistrate Of great nation, tbou@
! live as economically aa lean" The commute
= dom and European society-this very prob
I b1r is correct but IN . republican countr
I where there is no distinction OF ran
:. and where all duties are 1neasur
a largely by the meanB Of performance, the col
). mittee think fortune Of $50, 900, or even on
= third Of that sum for lady, must tako her Q
( Of the category Of those whose necessities.
5 consequence Of the casualtios Of public &
: vice, give them claim upon the 1teasul
g After other. Arguments, tho committee CO
= clude By saying: "Cudtr the circumstances
!. the case they do not think that either Sen
4 ment or dnty require further provision,
i accordance with tie request Of Mrs. Gnco
q and therefore recommend that the bill be
a definitely postponed" Tho report is sign
!. BY Senators Edmunds, Upton, rratt, srcnc
y Howell, and McCFeery.