The National tribune., 1884-11-13
orally ON THE CENTER


which passed the Senate at the last session
of Congress, but which was hung up" in the
House by the filibustering of its opponents
1t still remains on the House calendar, how.
ever, ready to be called up at any time after
Congress reassembles next month.
Nothing demands so much earnest atten-
ton by the ex-soldiers of the country as
they concentrate all their energies upon
securing its passage at the earliest moment
1t viii not do to waste any time or energy
in suggesting and framing new pension bills.
and pressing them upon the attention OF
Congress. Such course would be foolish
beyond degree, and infallibly result in de-
feat. The coming session is the "short
session. of Congress. 1t will have not to
exceed 10 working weeks. Little new legis-
lation viii be permitted to be introduced,
and, still less have any chance of successful
action. Almost certainly none Of so much
Importance as new pension bills will have
any hope of success.
Therefore, every hope Of having any de-
sirable pension legislation this Winter is
based upon securing the passage by the
House of this bill-known rs the Amend
mcnts to the Mexican Pension Bill" Hav-
ing already passed the Senate, the work on it
is much more than half done. Its success
will require inconceivably less effort than
any other scheme that can be presented to
Congress.
1t is the bill to carry out certain of the
recommendations of the National Encamp-
ment Of the GAR and Of leading soldiers
all over the country. If it is not all that
every comrade wants, it is, nevertheless, all
that can be hoped for at this session, and
the wisest possible thing to do is to con-
centrate all efforts on securing its passage
now, trusting to amendments to it in the
next session for whatever more may be
desired. But here is the text Of the amend
ments to the bill:
SECS That every person specified in the several
classes enumerated in section forty-six hundred
and ninety three OF the Revised Statutes of the
served in the military or naval service, as men-
toned in said section, for the period of three
months during che of the rebellion. and has an
honorable discharge thereirou. and who is or shall
become disabled from any cause not the result of
his own gross care.essuess, dIsrepu;abie conduct,
or vicious habits. and shall also be dependent
upon his own labor for support. shall, upon
making due proof of the facts under such regu-
latiaus as may be prescribed by the proper an
thoTity, be placed upon the list of Pensioners OF
the United States. aud be entitled to receive
pension during the continuance of such disability
al rate proporiionaie 10 the degree thereof: and
such pension shall commence at the date of filing
application therefor The highest rate of PEN
sion granted under this section, which shall be for
total ii,capacity to perform any manual labor, shall
he twenty-four dollars which Is hereby made divis-
ibie upon that basis for any less degree of disability
Prortded, That person entitled to receiving an
Invalid pension Under existing laws. such as may
be hereafter enacted granting pensions for disabiii
ties contracted IN the military or naval service Of
the United Siates and in line of duty, greater than
that provided for herein, shall receive the benefits
of this act but any applicant for stich invalid pen
sion having an application therefor pending or
who shall hereafter file his application for such
pension, may by declaration over his own sigma
ture AT any tine eject to prosecute his said claim
under this act under the general laws and his
pension, when allowed, If prosecuted under this
act shall commence from the date Of such election.
SEC 3. That all widows minor children of SOL
diers and sailors who such receiving.
under existing laws, general opspeciai the sum Of
eight dollars per month"; by reason of the death of
such soldiers and sailors in service or from dis
ability contracted in the military naval service
Of the United States and in line Of duy, shall from
and after this date. be entitled to and the
rate of twelve dollars per month an lieu of said rate
of eight dollars; and all such widows minor chill
dTen whoshall hereafter lie found to be entitled
tafi
laws shall he entitled to and receive the rate of
twelve dollars in lieu OF said rate of eight dollars
SIC. 10. That If any invalid pensioarr pensoned
for disability contracted in the military naval
service OF the United States and in the line of duty
hes died or shall hereafter die, leaving widow
minor child under sixteen years of age. or BOTH at
the date OF the death OF such pensioner such widow
and minor children shall be entitled in the order
of succession named, to an original pension in
their right under existing laws, without being
required 10 prove that tile death of such pensoner
due TO his military naval service Of the
United States and shall receive the rates now al
lowed by law except that such as may be found TO
be entitled to eight dollars per month under exist
ing laws shall receive in lieu thereof dollars
per month.
SEC IL That pensions granted widows on ac-
count of minor children shall be continued without
limit as to age whenever shall appear that such
minors are OF unsound mind or physically helpless
SO as to render them incapable of earning subsss-
enee: Prorihed, Tiat such widow retains the care.
custody, and control of snch minors; and in the
event Of the death or remarriage of such widow,
abandonment by her of such minors, then the
pension and additional pension shall be continued
TO them in their own right without limit as to age,
during the continuance of such disability, payable
20 a duly constituted guardian.
SIC. IL. That in considering the claims OF de-
pendent parents the fact and cause of death and
the fact that the soldier left no widow miner
children having been shown required by law, il
shall be necessary only to show by competent and
sufficient evidence that such dependent parent is
without other present means of comfortable support
than his or her own manual labor. the contribu-
tiors OF others not legally bound for his or her sup
port; and such As may be found to be entitled TO
eight dollars a month under existing laws shall
receive in lieu thereof twelve dollars month from
the date OF this act.
SEE L. That ia all applications under the gen.
eral pension laws, including this act, where it APP
pears 10y record evidence that the applicant was
regularly enlisted and mustered into the service.
that fact shall be priina cie evidence OF soundness
AT the time of his enlistment: but such presump-
ton shall be subject TO rebuttal by record other
competent evidence.
SEc Ia. That person shall be entitled to more
than one pension at the same time under any or all
laws Of the United States. whether such pension
shall saye been already obtained shall be here
after obtained unless the act under which such
pension is claimed shall specially 30 declare.
The passage of this bill and one for the
prompt settlement of pension claims can be
secured beyond doubt, and within very
few weeks after the meeting of Congress, if
soldiers viii set about it properly. The way
to do is for every GAR. Post in the country,
and a group of soldiers in every community
where there does not happen to be any Post,
to write to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE for
blank petition, which we have prepared,
Enclosing a tWo-cent stamn to nav the