National Republican., 1884-10-25
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

They Meet in National Convention
and Resolve TO Ask Congress 20
Amend the Pension Laws In Many
Important Particulars.
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct 2i.-The national
convention of soldiers and sailors assem-
bled hero this afternoon. Tho delegates
present represented about 1,100 organiza-
tions. A roll Of tho states was called and
showed delegates to DO present from Now
York, Massachusetts,, Vermont, Maine,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri,
Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Indiana, Maryland, and the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Tho following resolu-
tions were read and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we ask the following
amendments TO the present pension laws:
/. That every person who served in the
military or naval service of the United
States for the period of throo months
during the war Of the rebellion and has
an honorable discharge therefrom, and
who is or shall become disabled, and shall
also b. dependent upon his own labor for
support, shall be placed upon the list of
pensioners of tho United States, and be
entitled to receive pension during the
continuance of such disability at q rate
proportionate to the degree thereof
g. That all widows or minor children
of soldiers and sailors who as such are
now receiving under tho existing laws
the sum Of S5 per month, bo entitled to
and receive the sum of Sl2 per month,
and all such widows or minor children
who shall hereafter be found to be entitled
to tho ratio Of So per month under the
existing laws shall be entitled to and re-
aitya ha rat nf AIN in lion af aaid at "a
of 50.
3. That If any invalid pensioners have
died, or shall hereafter die, leaving a
widow or minor child under years of age,
in the care of such pensioners, such
widows and minor children shall be en-
titled in the order Of succession named to
the original pension in their own name
without being required to prove that the
death of such pensioner was due to his
military or naval service to the United
States.
4. That pensions granted widows on
account of minor children shall be
continued without limit as to age
wherever it shall appear that such minors
are of unsound mind or physically help
less. SO rs to render them incapable of
earning a subsistence.
8. That, in considering the claims Of
utpcnuohb bho anu thuoO VI
deaf and the fact that the soldier left
no widow or minor children having been
shown, it shall be necessary only to show
that such dependent parent is without
other present means Of comfortable support
than his or her own manual labor.
q. That in all applications whore it ap-
pears that the applicant was regularly
enlisted and mustered into the service,
that fact shall be prima facie evidence of
his soundness at the time Of his enlist
ment; but such presumption shall be sub
ject to rebuttal by the record Of other
competent evidence.
Believing that the foregoing embraces
only just aud equitable demands Of the
veterans Of the lato war, and as all legis-
lation to this end must depend upon the
active cooperation of the legislature and
officials Of tho country, we,earnestly urge
upon the soldiers and sailors of the war
against rebellion to give their support at
the polls only to such party or candidates
as are and ever have been in favor of such
Just legislation in the interest Of men who
stood in defense of their country in her
hour Of need.