The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-12
PENSION LEGISLATION FOR THE COM


|
ING SESSION.
We have many inquiries from comrades
as TO the present status of the Mexican Pen
sion Bill, and whether or not we propose to
advocate its passage this Winter. Those
who make these inquiries misapprehend the
situation. The reason that we did so much
last year to bring about the passage of the
| so-called Mexican Pension Bill and amend
ments was because they embodied about all
the hope that we had of any successful PEN
sion legislation for the soldiers. In the first
session of the 48th Congress there had been
q number of plans introduced for an extern
sion and liberalization of the pension system.
Among these was the bill for pensioning
soldiers of the Mexican war, which was
introduced and supported by the Southern
Members of Congress. A compromise was
finally effected between these gentlemen
and the Northern members, by which there
were eight amendments tackled on to the
Section provided that any soldier or sailor who
served three months during the rebellion was hon
orably discharged, is disabled from some
cause not due to his gross misconduct, and
who is dependent upon his own labor for support,
should receive pension OF s24 month"; where to-
tally disabled for manual labor, and proportion
ately smaller amount where the disability is less
than total.
Section provided that the pensions of widows
should be raised from IS 10 Sl2 a month.
Section 10 provided that upon the death Of any
pensioner his widow and children under 16 should
be entitled to original pension in their own
right, without the necessity of proving that the
husband and father died from causes connected
with his service.
Section II extended the pension 10 such children
Gs may be mentally physically incapable of TAX
ing care of themselves, without limit as TO age.
Section II raised the pension of dependent par
ents to SO month, and hheralized and simpliiied
The rule for granting the same.
Section Is very justly provided that the records
showing that the applicant enlisted and was mus
tered into the service should be primG-facie evil
dence that he sound at the time of enlistment,
and throws the burden of the proof to the contrary
on those who dispute his right to the pension.
In this form the bill passed the Pension
Committee Of the House and passed the
Senate of the United States and we felt, as
we expressed frequently then, that it was
so near law that the best thing that could
be done for the soldiers was to concentrate
all efforts upon getting it through the House,
since its passage would have taken old SOL
diers out of the poorhouse in all parts Of the
country; would have brought needed relief
to thousands of destitute homes; would
have given the widows and orphans every
where a substantial increase in the petty
stipend that is now doled out to them, and
would have done good work Of enormous
proportions while other pension schemes
were maturing The bill came very near
passing, and would have done so had it not
been for the filibustering which its opponents
resorted to to defeat it.
We received good deal Of abuse from
small papers and small men in various parts
of the country who either were opposed to
giving the soldiers anything, or who had not
investigated the subject with sufficient care
to understand the position of affairs. These
now understand how well our course was
planned, and if they are frank at all must
admit that we were entirely right in taking
the course that we did. What we will do
at the coming session of Congress depends
upon circumstances. The Mexican Pension
Bill and its amendments are now dead
by reason of the expiration of the 48th
Congress, in which the bill originated,
and any proposed legislation must
be begun anew. AS soon as the newly
appointed National GAR. Pension Com
mittee comes together, it will begin the
consideration Of bill to be recommended
to Congress which we expect will embody
most of the principles contained in the
amendments to the Mexican Pension Bill,
and to which we expect to give our
earnest and hearty support, as we have in
the past to all other measures recommended
by that Committee. Whether the Pension
Committee will see fit to recommend re-
vival of the Mexican Pension Bill and
amendments, and renew the attempt to Sc
cure their passage in the form presented to
the 4Sth Congress, or whether it will recon-
mend an entirely new bill not associated
with the Mexican Pension Bill or any other,
is question that can not now be answered
but we have no doubt that it will decide
wisely. and its decision will be worthy of
the earnest support of The NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE and all comrades
THE ELECTIONS LAST WEEK.
A summing up of the result of the cleo