The National tribune., 1884-09-18

We are in favor Of q bill granting pensions TO
survivors OF rebel prisons who are suffering from
disability. without compelling them to prove that
such disability arose from said Imprisonment
IAIr. Van Dervoort dissented favoring the Robin
son l5nI
We are in favor OF the extension of the arrears
limit 10 January I, 1880
We are in favor Of giving the widows Of veterans
the increase from IS TO SD per month. We would
eheerlully recommend an even greater increase if
we thought you would grant it.
We are in favor OF the bin which provides that
The fact, shown by The record Of the acceptance
and musier-in Of the soldier aud sailor shall be
received Toy the pension authorities as fIiaa fqcie
evidence that he sound at that tirne-the Gov
ernment not to be debarred from proving that lie
ssas unsound at date Of enlistment, but the oaes Of
The proof to be on the Government
We are IN favor Of bill 10 give the nen who lost
eyes. or arms, OF legs, and leg or disa
biliiy equivalent thereto, 500 per month.
We are Ia favor of increasing the additional
pension for minor children from s2 per month
to - per month aud extending tbe limit for minors
from the age Of IL years 70 IS years and in case
said minor child is insane, idiotic, or otherwise
helpless, that there be limit. Think Of own
children living OF sersn eeats per day.
We are in favor Of the following amount OF pen
sions for the hereinafter specified rates Of disability
Tor aInputation At tae Lip or shoulder Joint, or
50 near thereto as TO prevent wearing artificial
limb $50 per month
For ampusation OF leg or arm, above the knee or
elbow, or IN case or aHnputaticn 20 near the knee
or elbow joint rs TO render the joint useless SO per
month
For alnputaiion below the knee or elbow. SO per
Ne also favor the continuance Of soldiers
pension TO his widow or lis dependent relatives.
regardless Of whether ie dies from effects of
wounds or disease resulting from service or not
We also favor giving pensions to all honorably-
discharged soldiers and sailors who are now dis
abesi aud are dependent upon their own labor for
support CT are 60 yeSs Of age, without compelling
them 10 prove at tf-s date that such disability
actually arose from the service
We believe that a present condition Of physical
inability and dependence upon others than those
legally bound therefor for support and lie iaot
tlsat The soldier sailor left no widow OF minor
child. should alone be required to be shown BY
competent eviacnee 10 entite the names OF depend
enf parents 10 be placed on the pension-roll aud
proof Of dependence Al date Of death OF the SOL
dler should be REQUIRED or necessary and that such
pension should commence at the date OF and con-
tinne during such dependence
We trust also thai this session Of Congress will
not be allowed toezpiTe without the passage Of a
law zin the qualification and status Of claimants
and their agents attorneys-geinedial Of the
present existing anomalous condition thereof
We are IN favor of the passage of bill Tor Just
sHd equitable equalization Of the bounfies paid 10
soldiers by the General Government.
IN conclusion, re beg leave 10 respectfully sub
nsit that i any thinks the foregoing carefully
considered requests make 100 large drafts on the
resources OF the country. that we represent body
Of men whom IA the hoir Of its ircst extremity
the country made drafts Of blood Of limbs suffer-
ing and life. and the Nations DRAFT never went to
protest GEo. : MERRILL.
LoUIs WAGNER,
CHAs H. GRosYExoR.
PAUL gAS DEREooRT,
JANIS TAagER,
Committee
We publish these ROW for several reasons. No
loyal man disputes that Congress owes it to the
country TO do much more than has been done
in the direction Of justice to her soldiers. The
main dispute has been 70 what should be done,
and those who are hostile to giving the soldier
anything hare taken advantage Of this differ
ence Of opinion to prevent anything at all be-
ing done. To secure anything there must be
unity Of effort on the part Of soldiers and their
friends. There must be an agreement as to
what should be asked for. and there must be a
steady insistence upon the demand SO forlnu-
lated. This was the idea in preparing the
/ recommendations and. as re have said before,
they have been generally accepted by the ex-
soldiers aud loyal people Of the country as a
formulation Of just and reasonable demands
upon Congress.
Now, what remains to be done is for soldiers
and their friends everywhere to stubbornly in
sist upon these accommodation being enacted
into laws. TIE NATIONAL TRIBuHE strenu-
ously urged this upon Congress at its last ses-
sion, and held 10 strict accountability every
member Of both Houses and all political parties
who was hostile to these recommendations OF
lukewarm in supporting them. When Con-
gress adjourned without doing anything to
elnboay the recommendations into laws, THE
NATloSAL TRIBUNE denounced by name those
members Who had failed to aid IN doing Justice
to tho soldier.
We repablish these recommendations now ia
refresh the memories Of our readers as to what
is expected Of Congress, and to remind them Of
thenecessity Of concentrating their efforts upon
this wcll-considered scheme. They can gain all
that The Pension Committee has outlined il
they viii everywhere assert themselves as
earnest supporters Of every favorable feature
oft Livery feature IN the whole report can BE-
made a part Of the law of the land this
Winter If soldiers everywhere win insist upon
it and begin 10 insist nop The NATIONAL
TRIBuNn win continue lis vigorous labor in
the old direction, and it hopes to haye The
active assistance Of the entire body Of old sol.
diers.
Congressional candidates arc now in nomina-
tien in nearly every District in the country,