The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-08-05
THE FORTY-DOLLAR BILL.
THE PENSION COMMITTEE REQUESTED
TO REPORT THE MEASURE.
Remarks of Senator Ferry on the Subjects State
ment from Commissioner Dudley Showing the
Cost of Paying This Class OF Pensioners The
Increase Asked For.

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has repeatedly
urged upon the Senate Committee on Pensions
the Importance of reporting the bill granting
an increase of pension to those soldiers who
lost limb or suffered equivalent disability in
the service, before the close of the present ses-
sion, and we are glad to see that Senator Ferry
has supplemented our efforts in that direction,
by the introduction of a resolution in the Sen
ate on Monday last directing the committee to
report the measure to the Senate without fur
ther delay. The detailed proceedings on the
subject will interest large class of our read
ers, and were as follows:
Mr.. FERRY submitted the following resolu-
ton; which was read:
RcSoired, That the Committee ON Persons be di-
rected to report on Senate bill No. 1855 to grant
additional pensions to those who have lost arm
or a leg in the service of the United States.
! The Senate, by unanimous consent proceeded
to consider the resolution.
Mr.. FERRY. Mr. President, on the ID day of
| March, ii was my pleasure to introduce bill
| for the relief of a class of disabled soldiers of
the Union army. 1t grants them additional
| pensions so as to provide for a monthly pay of
$50 to each soldier of the first class; $40 to each
OF the second class; and $50 to each of the third
and fourth classes. The bill is short and sim
| pie 1t makes the first class to consist of the
! men who were SO disabled that no relief can
come to them by artificial means. The second
| class to consist of those who are able TO wear
artificial limbs, and the third and fourth classes
! of those who by paralysis or other disability
from exposures during the war, have sustained
/ the total loss of use of arm or leg. Men who
| have suffered mutilatiOn in such forms as ren-
der it Impossible for art to supply their loss are
! far more than others, clearly ncapacitated for
any kind OF ordinary labor. Many of them
! bearing about in their person Il burden of pain
| and distress which Is gradually but surely I'M
! dcrmininG their constitution and must at no
distant day end life itself re these men the
! bill proposes to pay the sum Of $50 per month
as long as they survive
| Men have suffered from wounds and amputa-
| ton in such forms that while they are seriously
disabled they are yet able to wear artificial
! limbs so improved as to permit the use of the
natural functions in overcoming disability,
! while adding to the comfort and appearance of
the sufferers. To such men the bill proposes to
| pay the sum of $40 per month during life.
There are men who though not mutilated by
amputatiOn. have still lost the entire use of arm
/ or leg as the consequence of exposure in the
service of the country. To them this bill pro-
| poses to pay the sum of $50 per month during
| life. The bill does not undertake to disCrimi
nate more in detail as to the severity of injury
| in each individual case, nor as to the ratio of
pay which such particular scrutiny would de-
mand, since for obvious reasons such legislative
! partcunarity would be impraCticable. Neither
| does it specify the class and line of proofs nee
| essary for the claimant to furnish, because these
| are matters of regulation belonging more prop
| erly to the Pension Office OF the Government,
! to which all claimants under this bill, should
it become law, would of necessity be referred
for classification OF their RESI-" tive classes As
nearly as can be ascertained u existing rec
| ords III the Departments the number of the first
| class could not probably exceed 1,300 men; of
| the second class it could not be more than 1900,
| and of the third class not over $500. In this
connection | submit the following letter from
/ the Commissioner Of Pensions, which covers
| this ground, giving the number Of claims and
the aggregate amount covered by the bill:
DEPARrMEr or THE INTERIOR,
Pension OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, ID. e.. July H. 1882.
| SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter OF the l2h instant, requesting
the number of pensioners referred in Senate bill
No i:-5S and the probable annual cost if such bill
should become law, and i'll reply to state rs fol-
/ lows
The bill proposes to increase certain pensioners
account of loss of limbs to the rates of $50 SO,
! an" $50 per month, determined by the surgical
I point of amputatICu.
The following are believed to be the proportions
Of the classes referred to and the annual value of
the increase of pensions their present value
FIRST CLASS.
Number BI anplt2tlO!lS at anu near SilOultler
Number of ampUtationS ut and hip......... $50
To be increased to so per month
SECOND CLASS.
Number of amputations of hUmCrUs............ 20O
Number of amputatiOns of 100
/ To be increased to SO per month.
THIRD CLASS.
Number of ampUtations of forearm. 200
Number of amputations of 500
To be increased to so per month.
FOURTH CLASS.
! I I,,, Lost ~. f HON fCn
/ or leg UUU
To be increased to $50 per month
The annual increase in value would be as fol-
/ lows:
First class Mt so per month........... .. iO5 600
Second class Mt $40 per so 600
Third class mt $50 per Gpf 500
Fourth class ut $50 per IA coo
Total incrcasc..... 81 $50 go
! am, sir, very respectfully,
". ". DUDLEY,
Commissioner Of Pensions.
Hon. r. W. FERRY,