The National tribune., 1883-09-27

" the Robinson bill, we print herewith the

A bill for pensioning prisoners of war who Were
confined in Confederate military prisons during
the late war.
Whereas in May eighteen hundred and sixty
three the cartel was suspended. and many officers
soldiers. and sailors of the Federal army and navy
confined in so-calIed Confederate prisons for
an unusual length of time, suffering great hard
ships and contracting disease hard to prove under
existing pension laws Therefore,
Be Il e1acted bp The Senate and House Of Repre-
sentaiiocs of The United States Of Amsrica in Con-
press assembled That the Secretary of the Interior
be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed TO
place the pension roll the names of such officers
soldiers, sailors and marines who while in the
service of the United States and while in the line
Of their duty. were taken prisoners of war and as
such confined in so-c4lied Confederate prisons
between the first of May, eighteen hundred and
sixty-thFee. and the FIRST OF May. eighteen hundred
and sixty-ive as follows: Ali who We're prisoners
Of war two months and less than six months,
half pension; those who were prisoners of war six
months and less than twelve months, three
fourths pensions and ali such prisoners of
WAR twelve months and more than twelve months,
total pension And. furthermore such surviving
prisoners of shall receive two dollars day for
each day and every days confinement in said Con-
federatc military prisons: PrOUided, That such
pension shall in each case begin from the date of
the passage of this act, and shall be paid ut the
same time and in the same manner other PEN
sions are paid: And rTOvtded further, That
this act shall not entite any person to draw more
than one pension but that such survivors of the
so-called Confederate military prisons ave enti-
tied and receiving pension at the time of the
passage OF this shall be entitled to the increase
OF their pension which this act may grant them.
AS TO the other measures which have been
proposed for the indemnifeation of ex-pris
oners for the physical injuries incurred dur
conditions, they may be divided into three
classes: First, those which seek TO remove
the obstacles in the way of proving ex-pris-
oners' claims to pension under existing laws
and the rules of evidence as applied in the
operations of the Pension Office; second,
those which propose to pension ex-prisoners
without regard TO disability assuming that
every prisoner who was confined for a ceT-
tain period must have sustained injuries
permanently affecting his health; and, third,
those which contemplate the award to each
ex prisoner of lump sum or bounty in
satisfaction of all claims upon the Govern
ment. OF the first class is bill, introduced
| by Representative Thompson, December 13
1881, providing that an applicant for pen
sion, whose disability was incurred during
confinement in rebel prison, shall only be
| required to prove that he was sound at date
of capture and unsound at date of release
OF the second class are the bills introduced
by Representatives Valentine, Mosgrove,
| Williams and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, 1881,
and January, 1e82-which propose a pen
sion of So per month for all prisoners con-
| fined for six months and less than twelve,
and 81 per month additional for each full
month OF such imprisonment in excess of
one year; that introduced by Representa-
Matson-January 8, 1sS2-which proposes
one-half pension for one month up to four
months prisoners, a three fourths' pension
| for four up to eight months prisoners, and q
total pension Tor all who were prisoners for
a longer period, and entities their widows TO
| the same benefits; that of Representative
Bliss-January %, 1S82-which proposes a
pension of s. per month and bounty of 50
a day for each and every day of actual con-
fnement, for all ex-prisoners, without re-
gard to the length of their confinement;
and that Of representative De Motte-April
10, 1882-which proposes a pension of S.
per month for all ex-priseners who we're can
fined ninety days and less than one year,
and 81 per month additional for each month
of confinement in excess of one year, and a
bounty of s. per day for each and every
day of actual confinement. OF the third
class is the bill introduced By Representa-
tive Van Voerhis-January Is, 1882-award-
ing to each ex-prisoner 81 per day for every
day Of actual confinement, and that of Rep
resentative Robinson-January 20, 1888
independent of that previously introduced
by him. awarding to every ex-priseneF {
bounty of S4o0 and 81 per day for every day
from the date of capture to that of release.
The bill adopted by the National Associa
tion belongs, it win be seen, to the second o
these classes, and its special merit is that i
discriminates more closely than the other;
between the various grades of disability
and includes a bounty proposition.
And now, since there is no question as Il
the obligation resting upon the Government
to make suitable provision for the supper
of such Of our ex-prisoners as are debarred
under existing pension laws, from establish
ing claims 10 pensions based upon disabil
3 tiles incurred in rebel prisons, all that re
mains for them to do is TO earnestly supper
, and sustain the National Association in th
e plan of action which it has now determine,
S on.
S Is This Fair Play?
t On September 10th, a little over two week
= AGO, a representative of THE NATIoNA
= TRIBUNE called upon Postmaster Genera
: Gresham and requested an official statemen