The Portland daily press., 1884-10-30
ASTON Of Union Veterans Con
cerninR the Pension Laws,

A national mass convention of the veterans
| OF the late war assembled at the Park Theatre,
Indianapolis, Indiana, on Friday, Ocl oath, in
Pursuance of call issued by M ojor f. w
Haskell, to consider the question of pensions
Communications had been received from
over eleven hundred different veteran organ
izatlons throughout the country, aud delegates
were present from nearly every State which
sent sodiers into the Union army, from Maine
to Montana, from Vermont to Kentucky. A
letter accompanying the call stated that
communication had been addressed to the
National Committee Of the two leading poiti-
cal parties concerning this question, and that
In response thereto the Democratic committee
expressed itself as "unsilling to make any
official declaration upon the subject
The Republican committee wrote: 1--WE
feel authorized to cay that whenever the au-
thorized representatives of the soldiers and
sailors shall have matured plan by which
pensions may be given to all who rendered
adequate service, or are now in need the past
record of the Republican party Is ample assur-
ance that such measure will have its upouali-
fed support"
The convention was called to order by Major
Haskell, and General James R. Canadian
elected chairman.
A committee of one from each State was
| chosen upon resolutions. of which Col. 8. S.
Da'uo''' "a "aShineeo''' was cnairman'
After session of considerable length the
committea nresantea tho follouina ranor+
| wh;cb ,vos ,no,;.,.,.,.. s...o. ;,
Ay ouopVeu "lniu steaU
ehthusiasm:
We, ex-soldiers and sailors of the Union
Armv aud NAVY in the war of the rehsllion
1S6l-1865. now iu mass convention assembled
do now present to our comrades and our Repre-
sentatlves in Congress, our views aud our de-
sires on the question of pensions. Believing
that our comrades wLo are now 40 fferipe from
disease or wounds are entitled 10 the kindest
consideration at the hands of Congress- there
fore be-
heSotUed That we ask for the following
amendments to the present pension laws: First
that every person who served In the military
or naval service of the United States for a
period of three months, during the war of tho
rebellion and has honorable discharge
therefrom, and who is, or shall become de-
abed and shall aso be dependent upon his
own labor for support shall be placed upon
the list OF pensioners of the United States, and
shall be entitled to peDsion during the cou-
tinusnce OF such disability at a rate propor-
tionate o the degree thereof
Second. That all widows or minor children
OF soldiers and sailors, who, as such, are re-
ceiving under the existing laws the gun of SO
per month, shall be entitled to aud receive the
further sum of $12 per month, and all such
widows and minor children who shall hereafter
Do found to be entitled to TIE rate of $S per
month under the existing law, shall be ell
titled to and receive rate of $12 in lieu of
said rate OF $o.
Inlrd. Inat II any invalid pensioners have
died or shall hereafter die leaving widow or
minor chlld under eight years OF age, both of
such pensioners, such widow and minor chill
dren, shall be entitled in the order of sue
cession named to the original pension ia their
own name, without being required to prove
h;s rai,;t si os'n oi su9h pensloner was que to
States - 'n0 = ni'eu
Fourth. That pensions granted the widows