Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-05
Soldiers Demanding Pensions.

oOlulers demanding PENSIONS.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 24.-The
national convention of soldiers and
sailors met here this afternoon in re-
spouse to call issued by Gen. f. w.
Haskell and General Merrill. Dele
gates were present, representing about
LOO organizations. The object of
the convention is to take action look
ing to secure pensions for all soldiers
and sailors of the late war. Gen.
j. Il. Carnahan was elected chairman
and John o. Hardesty secretary. The
States were called, showing delegates
present from New York, Massachu-
sets, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Ne
braska, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky,
Indiana, Maryland, and the District
of Columbia The call for the conven-
ton was then read, and committee
on resolution appointed, to consist of
one member from each State, with S.
S. Burdette, of the District of Co
lumbia, rs chairman. The follow
ing resolutions were presented by
the committee
We, the ex.soldiers and sailors of
the Union army and navy in the war
of the rebellion Of 1861-1S65, now
in mass-convention assembled, present
to our comrades and our representa-
tives in Congress our views and our
desires on the question of pensions.
Believing that our comrades who are
now suffering from disease of wounds
are entitled to the kindest consideration
at the hands of Congress; therefore be it
Resolued, That we ask the follow
ing amendments to the present pen
sion laws:
/. That every person who served in
the military or naval service of the
United States for the period Of three
months during the war Of the rebel
lion and has been honorably discharg-
ed therefrom, and who is or shall be-
come disabled, and shall also be de-
pendent upon his own labor for sup
port, shall be placed upon the list of
pensioners Of the United States and
be entitled to receive pension during
the continuance of such disability, at
rate proportionate to the degree
thereof
2. That all widows or minor chill
dren of soldiers and sailors who as
such are now receiving under the ex-
isting laws the sum of So per month
be entitled to and receive the sum of
$12 per month, and all such widows
or minor children who shall hereafter
be found to be entitled to the rate of
SO per month under the existing laws
shall be entitled to and receive rate
of SO per month in lieu of said rate
of IS.
3. That if any invalid pensioner
has died or shall hereafter die. leav-
ing widow or minor child under 8
years of age, both of such pensioners,
such widow and such minor child,
shall be entitled, in the order of sue
cession named, to the original pension
in their own name, without being re-
quired to prove that the death Of
such pensioner was due to his military
or naval service for the United States.
4. That the pensions granted wild
ows Oh account of minor children
shall be continued without limit as to
age wherever it shall appear that such
minors are of unsound mind or physi-
cally helpless so rs to render them
incapable Of earning subsistence.
5. 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 chill
dren having been shown, it shall be
necessary only to show that such de-
pendent parent is without other pres
ent means of comfortable support
than his or her own manual labor.
6. That in all applications where it
appears that the applicant was regu-
larly enlisted and mustered into the
service, the fact shall be prima facie
evidence Of soundness at the time Of
his enlistment, but such presumption
shall be subject to rebuttal by record
or other competent evidence.
Believing that the foregoing en-
brace only the just and equitable de-
mands of the veterans of the late war,
and as all legislation to this end must
depend upon the active cooperation
of the legislature and officials 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 candi-
dates as are and ever have been in
favor of such just legislation in the
interest of the men who stood in de-
tense Of the country in the hour of
need.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and Mr.. Burdette, chairman
of the committee, was instructed to
bring the matter to the attention of
G. ongress.-New York Sun.