Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-11-06
SOLDIERS IN PoLITIcS.

The following is in reply to the
Soldiers League circular, lately
printed:
PnlLADELpnIA, Oct. 20, 1873
Col. RoBERT l. ORR, President Penn
sylvania Soldiers League:
My DEAR COLONEL; have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication Of the 18th inst, IN
which you assert "that all the laws
for the benefit of pensioners have been
passed by Republican Congress" and
that Investigation will convince" me
"that the Democracy have opposed
every measure in their behalf" have
given the subject the investigation you
ask, and you are grossly ignorant of
the matter or have wiliully misrepre-
sented facts find that in every case
the Democratic party have cordially
supported all measures looking to the
welfare of the soldier and the pension
er; as proof, read the following acts
passed by the Democratic Housc Of
Representatives;
Act of jane 20, 1876, to equalize tbe
bounties of soldiers.
Act Of March 3, 1877 and June 10,
1878, TO provide that pensions shall
commence at the date of discharge,
and for the payment Of arrears OF
pensions.
Act of June 10, 1878, to enforce the
will of the people in regard to the dis
abled soldiers.
Act Of May %, 1878, to increase the
pension of all soldiers who have lost
an arm or leg to SPA per month.
Act of April II, 1877, providing that
the Office Of pension agent shall be
filled by wounded or disabled soldiers.
Act of June II, 1878, to increase the
pension Of all persons who have lost
both hands, both feet or both eyes to
s72 per month.
Act of March 8, 1878, to prevent at.
torneys over.charging the pensioners.
Act of June IS, 1873, TO provide
fourteen messengers for the House, at
1920 per annum each, providing that
such messengers shall have served in
the Union army.
Act January II, 1873, to provide for
paying soldiers of the Mexican War
three months extra pay.
Act Of May "a, 1878, to provide that
when the soldiers widow remarries
the pension shall be continued to the
children.
Act of March 0, 1873, to pension all
soldiers Of the War Of 1912 or their
widows.
Act Of February 25, 1873, to pension
all soldiers who have served in the
Mexican or tho Florida wars.
Act Of June IS, 1878, TO increase the
pension of General Shields to s1OO per
month.
In addition to these acts, all Of which
passed the Democratic House of Rep.
rcsentatives, the pension committee re.
ported favorably on two hundred and
seventy seven private pension bills.
In pursuing the investigation still
further, find in the last Congress a
bill was reported "to enable officers Of
the Union army TO recover compens9-
tion for lost horses" This bill was
passed by the Democratic House, but
was killed in the Republican Senate,
but the Democratic House insisted
upon 1t, and the Senate was forced 10
yield, and the act of August Is, 1876
became a law by the obstinacy of the
Democratic House in the interest oil
the Union soldiers.
Now, | have said enough TO convince
you that you made grave mistake
when you asserted that all the laws fr
the benefit Of pensioners were passed
by Republican Legislators. OF all thu
despicable means employed by the
unscrupulous politician 20 benefit his
party, this attempt to influence the