The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-25
FOR THE SOLDIERS BENEFIT.
Veterans in Convention to Recommend
Changes in the Pension System.
lions Referred to Their National Com
mittees by the Association.

There were 100 organizations of Union
soldiers represented in the convention which
assembled in the Park Theater yesterday after
noon in response to the call to the Union veter-
of the late war; issued the LIST instant by F.
W. HASKELL of Maine for united action in urging
upon Congress the enactment of law granting
service pensions to all Union soldiers and sailors,
and there were eighteen Northern States repre-
sented among the delegates in attendance at the
convention. The call was issued by Mr. Haskell
upon the authority of the Boston veterans com
mittee, and, considering the fact that the conven-
ton was held with less than thT weeks notice the
attendance was quite large Among the States
represented were New York Massachusetts,
Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, and the
District of Columbia. The convention was called
to order at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and Gen
eral Jas. R. Carnahan elected chairman, and
John O. Hardesty was chosen secretary, The
call was read, together with the correspondence
between Major Haskell and the Republican
national committee. He reported that he had
brought the subject of service pensions to the
notice of the national committees of both the
great parties. In response he received the fol-
lowing letter from the Republican national com
mittee
Major F. w. Haskell, wateryllIe Me.
Dear Sir-The Republican national committee
have directed us to in reply to your letter of the
18th inst that the Republican party favors to-day;
in the past full and substantial justice and hberaity
to the men who, by their sufferings and sacrifice,
saved the Union, and point with pride to the fact
that it was the Republican party which sustained you
while in the field and which has provided literally
for the families of those who fell. The national com
mittee not able to say that the party will favor the
indiscrimnate pensioning of all the survivors the
same basis, without regard to the character of the
service rendered time of service its effect upon
| them But we do feel authorized to say that when
ever the authorized representatives of the soldiers
shall have matured plan by which pensions may be
given to all who rendered adequate service, are
now in need the past record of the Republican party
is ample assurance that such will have its
unquallhed support Respectfully,
B. F. JONES, Chairman.
| SAMUEL FREssENDEN Secretary
Mr.. Haskell reported that General Butler, the
candidate of the Peoples party, had already
publicly expressed himself in favor of a gener-
GUS policy in relation to the pensioning of sol
diers.
At the conclusion of the reading of the call
and the correspondence, General George F. Nc
Ginnis requested that the answer received from
the Democratic national committee should be
read.
Major Haskell replied that he had found the
Democratic committee unwilling to make of
fetal declaration in regard to the matter and
that no written reply had been received.
Upon the motion of Thomas Bisby, a commit
tee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of
the following members:
District of Columbia-S S. Burdette
New York;. Ellis.
observation-disclosures Merrill.
Vermont-C n. Russell.
Mane-F w. Haskell.
Pennsylvania-B. f. Smith.
Ohio-Thomas Bishop.
Wisconsin-E. Howard Irwin.
Michigan-Norman Johnson.
Iowa-Isaac High.
Illinois-Thomas X Miller.
Kansas. B. Dawes.
Missouri-Jacob A. Roof.
Kentucky-L. NJ Drye
lndiana-Gen. Geo. F. McGnnis
Maryand-Thomas Hit.
The committee on resolutions retired, and
while they were preparing their report the
vention occupied the time enjoyably in singing
Marching Thro Georgia. and other songs VIII
G. David, by request recited ''SheridanS Ride,
Corporal Joe" and ''Tigheman joy and 10
seph r. Perry related an amusing incident in his
army experience, while others were called out to
contribute to the entertainment of the conven-
ton until the committee returned and pre-
sented the following report:
I'VE, the ex-solders and sailors of the Union army
and navyin the of the rebellion 1861 1865 now
in convention assembled do present to
comrades and our representatives in Congress our
views and our desires on the question of pensions.
Believing that our comrades who now suffering
from disease or wounds entitled to the kindest
consideration at the hands of Congress, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That we ask the following amendments
to the present pension laws:
'First-That every person who served in the military
or naval of the United States for the period Of
three months during the of the rebellion and has
honorable discharge therefrom and who is shall
become disabled, and shall also be dependent upon
his own labor for support shall be placed upon the
list of pensioners of the United States and be entitled
to receive pension during the continuance of such
disability at rate proportionate to the degree thereof
"Second-That all widows minor children of sol
diers and sailors who, such, receiving,
under existing laws the sum of So per month, be
titled to and receive the sum of $l2 per month, and
all such widows, minor children, who shall here
after be found to be entitled to the rate of SO per
month under existing laws, shall be entitled to and
receive the rate of l2 in lieu of said rate of So
"Third-That if any invalid pensoner have died, or
shall hereafter die. leaving widow or minor child
date of the death of such pensioner, such
widow and minor children shall be entitled in
the order of succession named to original pension in
their own name, without being required to prove that
the death of such pensoner due to his military
naval service of the United States
"Fourth-That pensions granted widows account
of minor children shall be continued without limit
to age wherever it shall appear that such minors
of unsound mind or physically helpless, as to
render them incapable of earning subsistence.
'Fifth-That in considering the claims of dependent
the fact and cause Of death and the fact that
the soldier left widow minor children having
been shown it shall he necessary only to show that
such dependent parent is without other present
of comfortable support than his or her manual
labor
"Sixth-That in all applications where it appears
that the applicant regularly enlisted and mustered
into service that fact shall be prma tace evidence of
soundness at the time Of his enstment but such pre-
sumption shall be subject to rebuttal by record
other competent evidence.
Believing that the foregoing embraces only the just
and equitable demands of the veterans of the late war
and all legislation to this end must depend upon the
active cooperation of the legislative and executive
officials of the country, earnestly urge upon the
soldiers and sailors of the against the rebellion
to give their support the polls only to such party or
candidates and ever have been in favor Of such
just legislation in the interest of the who stood
in defense of the country in the hour of need"
The resolutions were adopted, and an attempt
by man named Smith, from Benton county to
raise a political discussion was promptly sup
pressed by General Carnahan, who said that the
meeting was one of soldiers, and that no partisan
questions should be brought up in discussing the
resolutions.
8 Ri1rdatta nf Wnshi,,rtor, Ia oh