Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-19
General News.
New Pension Law.


soldiers an1 sailors or widows of the same
in this County, we publish in full the de-
bate on the Bill in the House of Represen-
tatives. 1t now looks as if Congress would
at last recognize the claims q; these old
veterans and soon recompense them. in
part ut least. Tor the many sacrifices they
made aud hardships they endured. for the
benefit OF the present generation. IL
done at all. 1t must be done at once. as
every year their ranks grow thinner
Most, beside the iniirmities of aye. are
probably suffering for the comforts of life
and few dollars from a graceful country.
would bring satisfaction aud joy To their
declining years.
Our readers will see that our representa-
tive Mr.. Hale has done all in his power to
simplify the law and save these old pcnple
whose papers are 'ost ana whose memories
are impaired. from the expense aud trouble
OF furnishing proof of service Other than
what they have already done
The matter now rests with the senate.
and we hope TO be able to announce that
the bin has become a law. within iew
months.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS or TrE wNH OF
1872.
The SPEAKERS. The regular order Of
business being demanded. the morning
hour commences at twcnty-seyen minutes
after twelve o'clock, and the II use t..
sunes the consideration of the hill N Il.
No. 2iy0) to amend the act entitled AN
act granting pensions to certain soldier.
and sailors of the war of 1872. and the
widows Of deceased soldiers" nDproyc1
February II, 1871, and to restore 70 The
pension-rolls those persons whose names
were stricken thcreirom in consequence OF
disloyalty. reported Yesterday bv The zen
tlcmau from Ohio, MIR. SPRAGUF. from
the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
and War of 1872. and the question Is upon
ordering the bill to be eugros>ed and read
a third time.
MR HOLMAN. hope the bill will be
read.
The bill was again read.
Nix. SPEER. | desire To ask the ecniie
man who has charge OF this bill to strike
out on page 2. line 10. the words land
-hall not have remarked" do not think
that the marriage OF one OF these widow.
should deprive her of the pension provided
for by existing law or by this hin
The bin rs reported from the committee
provides that widow In order To- b- en-
titled Ia the pension shall not have mar.
RED Now hope the gentlemen will allow
me To offer an amendment - strike out
the words land shall not have remarked
80 that those old ladies who were widows
OF soldiers, and who may have since. re.
IN FrieI Eba n IA. .ttsfs1o.l 80
the act. Surely their rcnarriagc should
not be regarded 4, 4 reason for imposing
penalty upon them and depriy.ny them
of the bounty of the Government VIII
the gentleman admit that amendment
Mr. SrR,GrE. must decline to admit
that amendment. lAe principle Of fhi.
bill j. the principle THAI prevails Ia regard
TO all other pensions.
ME. STEER. know that: but the mum.
Der of these persons /. very few. and ii /.
growing less from year to year. Il would
Toe gracious. generous. aud lust act uu
the part OF the Government 4, give them
thu recognition IN their old age.
Mn. Sri;AGtL. The bill &, very liberal
unN.
Mr.. HALE. Of Maine. ask ia, gentle
man tn accept au amendment which viii
Indicate. 1t j. In section }. to make tho
phrase Jos, Of a certificate Of discharge
read lack of a certificate Of discharge.
| will tell the gentleman why / propose
such an amendment. In NV state there
are at present, right about where live
-"fifr tnrrr nuuurel persons. Old mon afI
old women, who are Interested in thi, hiu
The old men were soldiers IN the service
Of the Government when Maine wa- luyaI-
ed IN the last war with England They
were called out AID were In the military
service; that is undisputed. Those iaris
have been established, and they have a.
ceivcd bouniy-land warrants. But In
many cases, think perhaps IN a majority
OF cases. they did not receive a regular
certificate of discharge. being Il pee, for
Kind OF military force. ready for marching
orders. am apprchensiyc that II Tie word
loss i, retained, the Department may
Insist that these persons are cut of from
receiving pension; that they must once
have had a discharge and lost il. hope
the gentleman will not object to sub-titut-
ins the word lack" for loss" because Ii
j. In the spirit and intent OF his bin.
Mr.. sPRAGrE. | am willing 10 insert
AFTER ''loss the words cor lack"
Ma. HALE, Of Maine. That will au-
swer.
The amenl",at u.- l-f,.1t..
MIR. CESSNA. | a>s the gentleman 10
yield 10 me for an amendment which
Will Indicate. IL l. ia the drst section. In
the iitecnth line. to strike out l>1i and iu-
sert 1870, so that it will read such widows
shall have been married prior to $50"
Prom $40 To 1864 j. AN ordinary genera
tlon of life; and it seems To me that if these
old and decrepit and iufrm widows were
married generation or more ago this pen
sion should not be denied them trust
the gentleman will allow that amendment.
so that in all cases where these parties
were married more than generation ago
OF the ordinary life OF man, this allowance
may still be granted to them.
MIR. SrRAGCE. | cannot yield FOR that
amendment We have liberalized the law
as far a we feel justified in doin.
MIR. POLAND. ! ask the gentleman to
permit me to offer an amendment 10 IA.
third section, to adj - !. the following
proviso:
PROVIDED. That when any person ma, been
granted 4 land-warTaui gn-itr any act OF Con
gress Tor aud on ace uu ut -e- re in the var az
d"nee 81 his s"..4se lnI lf-rh.ss., - a. to ru.
uil hin 4 alVe. o.. ing dow 10 h. d. dead 1, q
pension bat snch evidence shall not o.. cynrlu-
-isc, and may be rcUuucd by sideucc thal such /
iand-warrnnt was improperly granted.
These >pl'licrs certainly ought not 10 Be |
compelled To prov. their cases over
again when they have once 50 far estab- 1
iished their services ~ II be entitled 10 /
lanh-w warrants under the act of Congress. /
Mr.. SPgAGCE. Its 50 considered nov |
at the pension ofllcr, understand.
MH- POLAND. Then my amendment |
will do no harm.
Mr. HALE, of Maine. Has the gentle
man any doubt that under his bill such
cases as the amendment Of the gentleman
from Vermont Nix. POLAND provides for
Will he constructed by the Department as
Drimd fdcie cases?
MIR. SPRAGuE. A great many OF these
were obtained on improper or
testimony.
Mr.. POLAND. Ny amendment provides
hat such testimony shall not be conelu-
sive
MR.. SPRAGUE. | know the amendment
S guarded.
Mr.. HALE, of Maine. 1t only consti-
utes priBld tacie evidence. Certainly the
amendment. which is precisely the same
Is bill introduced by me ia the beginning
IF the session, should be adopted, if it is
necessary to cover such cases as have be-
ore named. The safe thing is to adopt it,
Mr.. HAwLEY, OF Illinois. | hope the
amendment DrpuOseu hv tha e.ntl..,,a., !