The National tribune., 1881-06-01
Soldiers Gettfts.
NonwALk, O., June 4th, 1881

NORWALk Vs. June 4tn 1851
HdGtor National Tribune
DEAR SIR have read in the May number of The
TRIBUNE the review, criticisms and amendments made
by the G. L.. to the bill which introduced in the
House of Representatives February 16th $780, asking
that pensions be granted to certain Union soldiers and
sailors of the late war of the rebellion who confined
in so-caed Confederate prisons The bill referred to reads
WHEREAS During the late rebellion many soldiers sailors
O the Federal and through IN y%{ ge
TO fae dbli aebimeh m snu & gener g 9d of @
uied satss eS dseya Compress asse"6d the
CURED to Place upon the pension rolls Of the United
ali honorab discharged and Sailors
HG eonned during the period Six months or more
a m iEr nnhoes ss the
late rebellion and who nov @ to
That such pensions shall in such begin from the
military or service states and
%prson%ent 's N @ than
Month Of such Imprisonment year
a sa Dc pa @ oT a 1fa u n m & @ %
be to authorize the reduction the
receive the benefits Of existing pension laws.
G. H. l.. claims and very Justly too, that the bill
should include the commissioned officers who
fined rebel prisons also that the benefits of this bill
should not be restricted to those whose of prson
ment equaled exceeded six months and it indeed
that this restriction would be unjust one for
the experience of great many of the Union prisoners
well as my own has demonstrated most concusvey that
the exposure, hardshps and starvation were COM
peed to undergo In those terrible death pens,
great that confinement in them for much less period
Than six months sufficient TO break down and under
mine the health and in large majority of cases has been
followed by years of suffering and permanent disability;
and think the element of time If considered at ALL should
not exceed one month.
The bin recommended by G. H. l.. reads follows
o e md Hs1ss & q sa q q ,Ss ge
he is s apd
lion and being made the OF the
United states army navy during
used for the prisoner the socaed confeeF
ate authorities during the late rebellion - ,.o
the passage d this act aud dollars
t6ey We're confined IN any Confederate psop;and
phn s h fa' saa Of said military
a IA e be @ e~ Of ay pe paid at the time
the manner as other pensions are now pald
Now while this bill remedies of the defects of the
first vet in one respect would be favorable
many of its benefciares refer to that clause of the bill
which provides that the pension shall in each begin
from the date of the passage q thss act The hrst bill
provides that the pension shall in each begin from
the date of the discharge the soldier sailor from the
military or naval service of the United States, &c
Now there are of soldiers who prisoners
who have not vet succeeded in getting pension although
they have been disabled to greater less extent
they discharged from the service and there
are others who have received pension but who under
Bentleys rulings not received than four
hans six dollars month Now, certainly those who have
been disabled during this time and whose disability is
10 pension for the whole time since their discharge
the wounded man, the man who was In any way dis
abled while in the line of duty but who un-
fortunate as taken prisoner In regard TO that part
of the last bill which provides for the payment of two
dollars per day for each and every days confinement in
prison will say that it would take number of mill
ions of dollars make this payment alone, and this fact
would undoubtedly be used as an argument against the
bill and might be the of killing It at the outset
And while two dollars day would be very small COM
pensaton for the suffering endured by some of SOL
ders while in prison. yet might be claimed that suffer
INC and pain are the ncdentas of soldiers life and
that the wounded soldier might with equal proprety ask
compensation at certain rate per day during the time
he was suffering acute pain from his wounds This the
Government does grant; but it does grant pension
for the disability which the result OF these wounds and
ering and in this pension is paid from the
date of discharge the service lis it not evident then
that the pension of the prisoner who is suffering from
disability incurred while in the line of duty should also
begin at the date of his discharge.
The following bill will, think, remedy the defect of
the first and second:
During the late rebellion many Officers soldiers
Union and through the fortunes
prisoners and We're connnea Ia soeaea Con