Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1884-10-25
PENSIONERS.
A Convention of Soldiers
and Sailors.
INCREASED PENSIONS ASKED.
A Large Number of Delegates Pres
ent-A Political Job Probably
at the Bottom of the
Meeting.
PENSIONERS.
INCREASED PENSIONS ASKED

| INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 24.-The National
| Convention of Soldiers and Sailors assembled
here this afternoon, in response to a call is
sued by Gen. +. W. Haskell and Gen. Mer
| rill. Delegates are present representing
about 100 organizations. The object of the
Convention Is to take action looking to Sc.
curing pensions for all the soldiers and sail.
or of the late war. General J. II. Carnahan
was elected Chairman and John o. Hardesty
Secretary. The States were called, showing
delegates present from New York, Massa-
chusetts. Vermont Maine, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska.
Kansas. Missonri, Kentucky, Indiana, Mary
land and the District of Columbia. Ohio.
Indiana and Illinois were largely represented
| II was ordered that all resolutions be re
| ferred to a Committee on Resolutions, with
out reading. The call for the convention
was theu read, and Committee ON ResOlu-
tions was appointed. The committee as
appointed consists of one member from each
State, with 3. 3. Burdette, OF the District of
Columbia, Chairman. The committee re-
Ing time was occupied In listening to remin-
iscences, recitatiOns, etc. When the COM
mittee returned the following resolutions
were read:
1--WE, ex soldiers and sailors of the Union
army and navy in the war of the rebellion,
1861 Go, now In mass convention assembled,
do now present to our comrades and our
representatives in Congress, our views and
our desires on the question of pensions, be-
| lieying that our comrades who are now suf-
fering from disease or wounds are entitled
| to the kindest consideration at the hands of
Congress. Therefore. be 1t
Resoired. That we ask the following
amendments to the present pension laws:
Ffrsf 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 the Rebellion, and has an honor
able discharge therefrom, and who is, or
shall become, disabled and shall be depend
ent upon his labor for support, shall be
placed upon the list Of pensioners of the
United States and be entitled to receive a
pension during the continuance of such dis
ability, at rate proportionate to the degree
thereof.
Second.-That all widows or minor child
ren OF soldiers and sailors who. as such, are
now receiving, under the existing laws, the
sum OF - per month, be entitled to, and re-
eeiye, the sum of $l2 per month: and all
such widows or minor children who shall
hereafter be found to be entitled, at the rate
OF s. per month, under existing laws, shall
be entitled to and receive at the rate Of $40,
In lieu Of said rate Of IS.
Third--That II any invalid pensioners
have died, or shall hereafter die.
leaving a widow or minor children
OF such pensions. such widow and minor
children shall be entitled to the order of
succession named to the original person In
their own name without being required to
prove that the death Of such pensioner was
due to his military or naval services in the
United States forces.
Fourth: That pensions granted to widows
on account OF minor children shall be con-
tinned without limit as TO age wherever II
shall appear that such minors are of I'M
sound mined or physically helpless to rem
der them incapable of earning subsistence
FJfh-That In considering the claims of
dependent parents the fact and cause of
death and the fact that the soldier left no
widow or minor children having been
shown, IL be necessary only to show that
such dependent parent Is without other
present means OF Comfortable support than
his or her own manual labor.
Sfrth-That In all applic atoms where 1t
appears that the applicant was regularly en-
listed and mustered into service the fact
shall be Priini fdcid proof of soundness at
his enlistment, but such presumption shall
be subject TO rebuttal by the record OF other
competent evidence.
Believing that the foregoing embraces
only the Just and equitable demands of the
veterans OF the late war, and as all legisla-
tion TO this end must depend upon the ac-
tive cooperation Of the Legislatures and Off
cials OF the country, we earnestly urge upon
the soldiers and sailors of the war against
the Rebellion to give their support at the
polls only to such party or candidates as are
and ever have been in favor of such just leg
islation In the interest of the men who stood
need
The resolutions were unanimously adopted
and Mr.. Burdette, Chairman OF the Commit
tee, was instructed to bring the matter to the
attention of Congress.
Adjourned.