The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-03-06
HARRLsON,s PENsTON RTLL

HARRLSOH'S PENSION BILL
A Washington dispatch of the 18th
gives The following synopsis Of an i'm
portant pension bill introduced by Sen
stOr Harrison. OF Indiana:
Senator Harnso1 introduced In the
sekaIe to-day a bill " great importance
70 soldiers and their Widows. Il pro-
vIdes for q pension for all soldiers who
served during the war OF the rebellion
In the military or naval service for .
period Of six months who were honor
ably discharged, provided that they are
now disabled. The bill proceeds upon
the theory that there are many soldiers
and sailors who did not contract dlsabii-
tiles during the war of such Q specific
and well defined nature as 70 enable them
70 make the proofs thereof as required
by the existing laws, but in truth and in
fact they are now broken down in health
by reason OF hardships end exposure
during their service. THIS bill granite
relief TO that class Of soldiers who had
physical strength 10 bear the bur-
dens Of war without receiving hospital
treatment but by reason Of their long
and faithful service they have become
InyaiIds. The highest rate of pensions
granted is tWenty-four dollars, which
Is made variable according to the degree
of actual disability. The bill incrOases
the rate TO twelve dollars Of all widows
OF pensioners who contracted the disA-
bilIty in and since the war Of the rebel
lion and who are now drawing eight
dollars, and hxes the rate of such claim
ants as twelve dollars per month for tu-
ture pensions. 1talso provides pensions
| for the widows Of such soldiers as may
be Pensioned under the first section
of said bill; aad also the widows
| of those who served IN the war
Of the rebellion, and shall obtain
| q pension under the existing lave, for
disability, without the widow being re-
quired 70 prove that death was que 70
service. This does not grant pension
to all widows, but 70 the widows OF sol
diers who are or become pensioners. II
| grants relief 70 many worthy claimants
whose husbands were disabled by their
| military service and were destined 70
die from some specific disease from
which they were suffering. but an accute
disease intervening and causing death
the claimants were declared owing 70
the immediate cause OF death not BENG
due &c service This bill IL the result 81
demands which the government is una
BILE TO meet under existing laws. A sol.
der, for example, who was In every bat
tie from 81 to '65, but who was neither
wounded nor in hospital, now become!
disabled by reason Of disease contracted
while in the service. Under the exist
Ing laws the government cannot helr
such soldier, but this bill proposes NO
only TO pension him, but also to pension
his widow.
Representative Cannon also introduc
ed a bill to simplify the procedure II
pension claims, and to extend the bene
fits OF the pension laws to worthy claim
ants for invalid pensions, and widows
minor children and dependent relatives
of the soldiers and sailors of the late wa
who are unable, by the existing laws, Il
furnish the necessary evidence requIreC
TO connect disability with such servicI
and for other purposes. The bill wa
referred TO the committee on invalid
pensions. Cannon says he will press tn
bill to a favorable consideration. IL
effect will he to render possible tn,
granting Of so 600 pensions, which, unde
the existing laws, cannot be acted upon
and to expedite the granting of 900
more which are now being slowly ex
amined by the special inspector.