The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19
An Interestinr situation.

the SENATE 1or several weeks, Oh 1HuIsuisy
last took on a new and very interesting
phase. Mr.. Van Wyck, of Nebraska, had
previously offered, as an amendment, the
Cullom bill as reported from the committee,
the intent of which is: 1st, to pension all
disabled and dependent soldiers and sailors
who served three months and were honor
ably discharged, without requiring proof Of
origin of disability in the service; %, to
Increase the pensions of widows from So to
S12 per month; Sd, to continue pension to
the widow and orphans of pensioner, with
out requiring proof that the latter's death
was due to his service; 4th, to increase the
pensions of dependent parents from s. to
Sc per month and require them simply to
show that they are without other means of
support than their own manual labor or
contributions from persons not legally bound
for their support; and, finally, to abolish
the requirement. under existing law, of evil
dence as to soundness at enlistment, in the
absence of an adverse record.
This amendment, as we have said, was
pending when the Mexican pension bill was
called up, and it had no sooner been read
than it was antagonized on the ground
that it was not germane to the bill and,
If adopted, would not receive the assent
of the House On the other hand it was
as urgently contended, not only that the
amendment was in order, but that its
adoption would increase the chances of
the passage of the bill by the House, where
upon Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, proposed that
another amendment should be adopted en-
bodying the provisions of the bill removing
the charge of desertion from the thousands
of valiant soldiers who after the close of
actual hostilities returned to their homes in
the belief that they had fully performed
their contract with the United States"
This proposition, of course, provoked fresh
discussion, although its merit could not be
denied, and then Mr. ingalls, of Kansas,
coming to the front, offered, as a third
amendment, his own bill-Senate bill No 1,
introduced on the FIRST day of the session
to re-enaet the arrears law, without any
limitation as to date of fling claims 1t
broadly declares:
SEC 2. That all pensions which have been or
which may hereafter be granted il consequence of
death occurring from cause which originated IN
the service since the 9Th day of March 1851 in
consequence OF wounds OF injuries received dis
ease contracted since that date shall commence
from the death or discharge Of the person on whose
account the claim has been is hereafter granted
If the disability occurred prior TO discharge and If
such disability occurred after the discharge, then
from the date Of actual disability from the ter
niination Of the right of the party having prior
title TO such pension and in the consideration Of
any and all claims for pensions in consequence of
4 death from or for disability resulting from disease
contracted in the service during the late civil war
4 the person on whose account the said pension is
claimed shall be oonclusively presumed to have
been sound and free from disease at the date OF
1 entering the service.
Naturally, this produced another sensa-
ton, and in the course of his remarks Mr..
Ingalls, declared that while he had hereto
fore opposed saddling the Mexican pension
bill with amendments, believing that very
large majority Of the members of the Senate
were In favor, as was he, of service-pensions
for the soldiers Of the Mexican war, and thai
if a vote could be taken upon the bill as il
came from the House it would be adopted
with substantial unanimity, it was neverthe-
less the fact that no Senator on his side Of
the chamber could afford at this period o.
the political history Of this country, after
one presidential convention has been held
and while another was shortly to be held, t.
be placed in a position of opposing legisla
ton that is legitimately in favor of the sol
diers of the late war for the Union!
"In ORDER" he continued, to show tht
condition of public opinion on these ques
J tions, wiz read brief extract from lette
that ! received yesterday. A gentleman il
one of the principal cities Of the North witt
whom am not acquainted addressed M
asking my support TO measure to plac
upon the pension-rolls for service, irrespect
! i've of disability, all the surviving soldiers Q
the war for the Union. / wrote him il
reply that in my judgment the period ha,
! not yet arrived at which the precedent
could be applied to The soldiers of the wa
for the Union; i rehearsed to him the laps
Of time that had occurred after each of tn
j preceding wars before the survivors ha
, been pensioned FOR service; and this is hi
= reply:
a. What you say about the length OF time tbs
interyened between the close of the Revoiulionar
r and other wars before service pensions Were grant
! ed only shows the absolute necessity Of our actio
now. There are 10000 Of Us now. We have
powerful organization, and we carry this couI
Try this issue now. If we wait did the vetel
s ans Of the Revolution until we are few and weak
:, we viii be treated as they were. This House {
Representatives viii vote for this bill or the so
Is diers viii eject new House that will This Senai
4 win vote for il or will make Senate that viii
The same with the President. We ara not Dem,
s. Gratis or Republicans. but are soldiers, and W
"a mean business now
n "Inasmuch as this is to be a test, and Q
the leaders ,,,.o,, 7,o+J, c;dac NJ fsa cham ts