Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-09-18

girl lost his life BY reason of the service.
That is admitted and verified BY the govern
ment in granting a pension to his widow
after his death. Among q number Of chill
dren that soldier left was one helpless imbecile
who was such from her infancy. The pen
sion is for her benefit She is as much a
child now as she ever was, although she has
passed the age Of l6 years. The reason why
SIS per month Is recommended is because
that sum is not more than sufficient to take
care Of such a helpless person. 1t is pre-
cisely that rate fixed in q case here tonight
for the child of Colonel Murray, of the
Pennsylvania volunteers the rate
as fixed by the committee granting the pen
sion to Mary E. Murray. She was not an
imbecile, but helpless invalid.
Here is q case which certainly appeals to
the sympathy and generosity of this Congress
as strongly as any case could, where, as L
have said, the child now is as much a child
as she ever was, and must remain so as long
as she lives.
The proposition of the bill is to give her a
pension of S18 per month, not more than
enoug to take care Of her during the rest of
her life. Is it not right to do that thing,
when the father, by admissions of the govern
ment, gave his life to his country and is no
longer here to defend his helpless child?"
General Warmers argument against this
poor child of dead soldier is completely
answered as follows, by Colonel Matson, a
Democrat and chairman of the committee on
invalid pensions icon. Record, March s,
1884, page 184S]:
II desire to say once more for the benefit
of the gentlemen from Ohio that neither the
committee on invalid pensions nor the House,
in attempting to determine upon these special
cases, can lay down general rules by which to
be governed. Each case must stand upon its
own merits. 1t is impossible, l repeat, as
my friend from Tennessee suggested while
ago, to lay down any general rule. The very
reason why Congress legislated upon these
cases is because they are special. and no
general rules can be applied by which they
may be adjudged and governed. While We
might in one case refuse pension, in another
case, where the facts were similar but not ex-
actly the same the committee would be in
clined to grant one and so would the House.
Each case must stand or fall upon the facts
it represents, and certainly there are enough
facts here to warrant the granting of this
pension. / want to say one word more in
relation to this. As l said, the widow of
this soldier is remarked; and the govern
ment has not paid q dollar to anybody on
account of this soldier who died on account
of his services to the government. Now the
committee ask $l8 to be given to the help
less imbecile daughter"
In striking contrast to General Warmers
course is that of Col. J. D. Taylor, and
we cite the case of Isabella Palmer in proof
thereof ICON. Record, March 4, 1884, page
1921:
"Mr. Joseph D. Taylor introduced bill
granting pension to Isabella Palmer, blind
daughter Of John A. Palmer, late private in
Co. L, First w. Va. cavalry; which was
read first and second time, referred to the
committee on invalid pensions, and ordered
to be printed"
This is an identical case in principle
with the one that General Warner fought so
vigorously but unsuccessfully. Further
comment il unnecessary.