The National tribune., 1881-12-17
EQUALIZATION OF BouNTIEs,

EQUALIZATION OF BOUNTIES.
In view of the introduction in the House on
Tuesday of bill to equalize beunties we repro
duce the unanswerable speech delivered in the
Senate upon exactly similar measure by the Late
Senator Oliver P. Norton of Indiana. Mr.. Nor
ton said:
This bill to equalize bOunties, in my opinion,
has been very greatly exaggerated. The amount
required for the equalization of bounties think,
will not be nearly large has been represented
and In fact is commonly understood. / think
have had an exaggerated notion myself upon
that subject
What is the principle of this bill, and when
understood who can resist the Justice of it for
one moment? The Government by three or
four bounty laws established the principle of
paying bOunties at the rate of S1OO wear.
That is the starting point. l wish to state dis
hnctly that the Government established the
principle of paying bOunties at the rate of
500 year $50 for six months, 5000 for two
years, and $500 for three years. But it turned
out that owing to the construction of the laws
and the rules established by the War Depart
ment many honorably discharged soldiers did
not receive their bounty at all. Under the rule
adopted, If the soldier served five months cut of
SIX but was discharged from wounds or other
cause, he lost the bounty So if he served two
years and six months, he only got $500 for the
eihuC OI 9ZoU. IN OCnef WORDS, to get the
bounty ne must serve out the full term. If he
was discharged for misconduct, if he was de-
serter, or II he shrk, the case is different;
but TINS bill only applies to honOrably discharged
soldiers. 1t takes as basis the rate of bounty
provided by law, the rate of 800 year, but pro-
vldeS that he shall be paid by the month and not
by the year, so that if he served two years and
SIX months and was then discharged from sick
ness contracted in the service or on account of
wounds received In battle, he would receive
bounty tor two years and six months and would
not lose the last six months bounty because he
did not serve out the remaining six months.
Now L want to know who can resist the
justice OF that. 1t Is simple question OF abso-
lutte, downright justice. Suppose you hire man
to work on your farm at the rate of 5000 year;
he works for you faithfully for six months and
then dies, perhaps on account of disease cor
tracted IN your service and you should refuse
to pay him the six months he has worked be-
cause he has not worked out the whole term
then yCu have got the case exactly. It ia a
simple proposition to pay bounty for the time
served according to the principle established by
the Government for the full term. The Govern
ment says, We will pay you $100 a year, but
under the construction given to the Law you
must serve the year OUT We say that is net
right. If you serve six months, then you get
SIX months pay, or you become sick fall from
wounds or were killed in battle, you should have
the benefit of it alive or your family if dead.
The principle ef justice is so absolute and down
right, that 1t seems to me that nobody can
resist it.
Mr.. President justice to the soldiers cannot al
ways be deferred. Itmust and will triumph some
time. If it does not come this Congress- is
will come at some other Congress. 1t is a part of
the war debt, as much so as the $50 bonds OF the
lO-40 bonds. 1t is founded On the same princi-
pie OF Justice. 1t is an obligation resting upon
this nation, and fit takes $50 00OO O0O Or OOO-
DO6, can make no difference. 1t is debt this
nation honestly owes and ought to be paid. Ia
other words, let the bounty be equalized; put all
honorably discharged soldiers upon the same
basis; pay them at the same rate. They are en-
titled to it. The justice of it no man can dispute,
and that is all that this bill contemplates | am
or it. I vote for it with all my heart