Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-12-15
THE EQUALIZATION az SOLDIERS
NOlNTlEN.

Bills are already prepared 10 be
brought before Congress at an early
day. to cqualize the hollniics of sol
dinrs in the late war. This matter is
worthy Of serious and unbiased con-
siaeration. liz policy is questioned by
MANY of the warmest friends of the
class il is proposed TO benefit, The
soldier is entitled 10 all that the coun.
try ranlcgitima,cly concede. hui there
is II limit in one direction and barri-
ers and difficulties in other ways. that
cannot consistently be turned aside.
To rqualizc the soldiers. hounties j.
one ofihcse difficulties. ltwill involve
not less ihan one hundred million
dollars, to be drawn from the people
in taxes: and when collected and
paid. only fractional part of the ag.
oreeatc amour, will reach and hcne.
fit those whom the equalization is in
tended to reward. Again, il the coun.
try. press is rightly Informed, n large
proportion OF the soldiers. who would
lie recipients. are personally opposed
to- the measure on e0nScientiou.
grounds. ft
- W III w NtiI w ~ liz ile bI1I uc'
fore Congress at an early day: bu,
final action should not be taken until
the sentiments of the country are ful.
~ ascertained.-JI ashiagtoa Ghroa.
The manner i'm which soldiers
bonntics have been heretofore grant
ed. has complicated the subject. W.
do not complain. however, of what
has been done. Because we are fully
aware how difficult ii Is 10 secure lii,
passage Of bills. which are free from
defects. The fundamental error was
however. FROM The beginning that nj
soldiers hoporably discharged were
moi given bountics At the rate of SC
much per month for the number oi
months for which they served. III
order 10 do full justice teour soldier:
of the rebellion. this must nj some
time in the future be done. The sole
question now TO be determined. j,
whether this can lie done nj present
without involving such an cXpcndi
ture rs the nation ought not in il,
present financial condition. to make
The law, when made. should pay il
bounties SO much per month for tim,
of service, dcdueiing all former bo,m
Ties. whether paid during The rebel
lion or since. and whether made b,
the nation, The State, or the municip
al authorities. There are hundred
of thousands Ut soldiers who. W,
think a, this time. in the present con
dition OF The country. ought not TO ex
pert further bounties. but there ar,
lens of thousands whom the terms %
Former bounty laws have not reached
and who. comparatively. have recciv
ed no bounty AT all, and they have ;
jnst right TO find some fault. Now i
an equalization bounty law can be :,
framed rs to do justice TO these few
tens of thousands Of soldiers or thcil
widow, or children in case of death
and AT The same time have the TX
penditurc not reach a sum 10 cN
coed, say S3o00O,Oo0. We think such ;
bill ought 10 be passed. BY this. W,
mean that only such law should b'
passed as would do justice 10 thos'
soldiers 10 whom injustice has beer
done by the operation IF former laws
The class to whom we think ant
: know injustice has been done. ar,
among those who served from. "a,
nine months 10 just short Of twenty
f'oHp months. ut