The National tribune., 1880-07-01
Merits of the Bill for the Equalization Of Boun
ties.

Y Unlted states Wnen tney READ tnat III is purpOSeu
to equalize the bountes of soldiers who served dur
ing the war ofthe rebellion entertain very imper
feet idea of the scope of the BILL very many of them,
we imagine, believing that ALL soldiers are to be
benefited thereby. This is the gross mistake zoe
wish TO correct. The bill gives bounty at the
rate OF 1888 for each month Of service, deducting
bounty paid by the United States Not only this,
but no bounty will be paid to any one discharged
at his own request the application of parents
or guardians, on the ground of minority who
was captured prisoner of war, at the time of his
enlistment. Who can urge any objection to a meas
ure of this kind Is there a man now living, who
lived during the war, not fully aware that all sol
diers who enlisted were promised bountes? Take
up the recruiting handbills of officers connected
with both the Regular Army and the volunteer
forces and you will find that they ALL promised
on behalf of the Government, ample bounties and
not only bounties but donations of land and other
benefits. Now, these promises have not been full
filed. Fifteen years have rolled by since the close
of the and still this debt is unpaid Not states
man, belonging to either party, but who has ac-
knowledged time and again, that these bounties
ought to be settled that the Government was hon
oraby bound to pay them. AT every session of
Congress this subject is brought up; repeatedly
has an Equalization Bounty Bill passed one House
and been on the of going through the other,
when there came "a hitch !" and for some unexpain-
able reason, the bill fails to go through. Whs is
responsible for this neglect of the soldiers interest
Now it is time that soldiers, who are to be bene-
fitted by this act should take lively, energetic in
terest in its behalf The money that three years
soldier who had received no bounty would receive
would be $500, while those who were in service for
less time would be paid in proportion at the rate
of So. .33 per month. These are of much value
to poor men. With $500, 5000, or 800 great
deal of can be accomplished in the stocking of q
prairie farm, in building on village lot. The
money is ready for the soldier if he will only ask
for it, not feebly, but most emphatcay through his
Representative Every Representative, coming
from States loyal to the Government, during the
war of the rebellion ought to be pledged to voe TO,
this ball Soldiers in every Congressional Distric
should secure in black and white, the promise of
candidate to support this measure and if he failed
or refused to say in advance he would sustain it
let him be black-baled. The Government is nov
abundantly rich in fundss the Treasury is overflow
ing and it secure all the money it may at an,
time need at 81 per cent There never was in every
respect, more favorable time for the payment 0
this debt and if soldiers will only press the matte
constantly and energetcally, we believe it will b
paid before twelve-month rolls over We clos
this article, with extract from the speech of th
:, late Senator Morton---the great war Governor
: Indiana-in regard to to the merits of this meas
ure Can any one gainsay the strength of his al
gument in its favor?
f "Mr MORTON. Mr.. President the bill before th
Senate is bill to equalize bounties. 1t is not
pension bill A bounty is thing and pensio
is another and very distinct thing
1.-The proposition of the Senator from Mississippi
is to attach pension measure to mere bount
Is bill His amendment belongs more properly to
,p bill of different character.
. This bill to equalize bountes in my opinion
q has been very greatly exaggerated The amour
"a required for the equalization of bounties thnl
to will not be nearly SO LARGE as has been renresente