Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-03-08
THE PENSION LAWS.

During the discussion IN congress,
on Feb. 25th, on the bill granting an
increase and arrears of pension to the
widow of the late General Alexander
Hays, of Franklin, Pa, the Hon. s.
Fl. Miller, member from this district,
made the following remarks on the
subject of pensions to soldiers and pen
sion legislation in general. His
views will be generally approved, and
were as follows:
Mr.. Miller-I made the inquiry, Mr..
Chairman, which perhaps led in part
to this discussion. / did not do so be-
cause / desired to antagonize this bill
for the reason that it grants pension
of $50 per month to the widow of a
gallant soldier of two wars. or because
it grants her arrears of pension not
covered by the original act. / have
never been of those who denounced the
legislation known as the pension
act. / believe the great error in that
act is that it limits the arrears to those
who filed their applications by or prior
to the lst day of July, 1880 Why
should the soldier who, for any cause,
has deferred fling his application until
to day be only entitled to receive a
pension from the date of such appli-
cation rather than from the date of his
disability !? I am free to say, sir. that
if bill was before this House to grant
arrears of pension to all those entitled
thereto | would freely support such an
act. / assert that the Government of
the United States made a solemn con-
tract to pay pensions to all those who
were wounded or disabled in the SER
vice, and to the widows and orphans
of such as fell in battle, or died from
disease contracted in the service, as it
did to pay the soldier his wages. 1t
was clearly part of the original con-
tract, and if the soldier saw fit to delay
asking the Government to fulfill its
part as to pension, why should it not
pay the principal? The interest is not
demanded. 1t is the duty of the Gov
ernment to pay to every man Who was
disabled in the service and to the les al
representatives of those who died from
wounds or disease contracted during
their service pension not only from
the date of application but from the
date the disability was incurred.
But, sir, there is one feature of this
bill that do not fully indorse. The
act under which this pension was
originally granted by the Pension De-
partment limited the pension..to $50 per
month. That is all the pensioner could
receive by the general law, and more
than the widow OF the private soldier
could obtain. / contend that all the
soldiers of the country living and the
widows and orphans of those dead
should stand on perfect equality. I
contend that if pension of $50 a
month is enough for the widow Of the
soldier who sacrificed his life fighting
in the ranks, 1t is ample for the widow
of the soldier who gallently wore on
his shoulder the insignia of a colonel
or general that if SIS Is sufficient for
the brave fellow who lost his good
right arm while gallantly carrying a
musket, it is enough for the gallant
Colonel or General who lost his carry
ing sword. Mark, sir, do not say
it is enough in either instance for |
believe that this country can never
pay its wounded and MANNED and dis
abled heroes enough for the service
they rendered or the sacrifices they
made. Let those who murmur and
find fault with Congress for passing
the pension arrears act take time some
day to compute what the cost to this
nation would have been if these pen
sioners had not responded to the call OF
the country in the dark days of 1861 t.,
1865. l contend against making fish
of one and fowl of the other.
1t IS not out of place, therefore,
Mr.. Chairman, that we should inquire
into the necessity of the passage of
snch bills as this when the attention of
Congress is officially called thereto. l
know it IS urged by some that frauds
are practiced under the law There
may have been fraudulent claims pre-
sented and unwittingly granted by the
Department, but is that any argument
against the business of the law? There
is counterfeit silver coin made and cir
culated therefore shall we close our
mints I? There are counterfeit members
Of religious associations; therefore
shall we shut up our churches? By
no means. If there are unjust claims
let them be purged. Permit me to
say. however. that nv nersonal atten-