McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-02-26
4 v1croRY FOE HAs WICK:
ne Senate Passes Bill Increasing Pensions
to Widosrs Of Soldiers.

to Widosrs of Soldiers.
passed granting q pension to New York
soldiers widow, and the following important
amendment by Senator Van Wyck was adopted:
That all widows or minor children Of soldiers
who, as such, are now receiving under existing
laws, general or special, the sum OF IS per
month, by reason of the death of such soldiers
and sailors In service or from disability con-
tracted in the military or naval service OF the
United States and In line Of duty shall, from
and after this date be entitled to and receive the
rate of $12 per month In lieu OF said rate Of
s.; and all such widows or minor children who
shall hereafter be found to be entitled to the
rate of 50 per month under existing laws, shall
be entitled to and receive the rate Of $40 in
lieu of said rate Of IS.
Mr.. Van Wyck said: "This is precisely the
same language which the senate Incorporated
in the Mexican pension bill, as it is called.
The majority of the senate, no doubt, felt then
as now that If there was any general legisla-
ton to be had it should be to increase the
meagre compensation given to the widows OF
bOlulCIo WIZ Hdu ldiiCu upOu tuC uCiu VI
battle. have felt it my duty to call the at
tention of the senate to the matter by way of
amendment to this bill. 1t is proposed to q
house bill. II the senate adopts it and lIces
1t upon the bill, and the house refuses to on
cur, then we can readily consent that the SEN
ate shall recede from its amendment so as not
to imperil the bill for the relief of the person
now seeking the pension. / am anxious. mas
much as there is no possibility Of legislation
on this branch OF the question unless 1t be
done In this way, that the senate should at
least seek this opportunity to do this act OF
justice.
There is also another provision which covers
the case of dependent parents, which should
be put in. l should have Incorporated that in
the amendment, except that some senator
might fear we were proposing to do too much.
failed to see any force In the suggestion
that we should place the Mexican pension bill
in peril by agreeing to the amendment l pro-
pose. 1t is in peril to day, and it is defeated
substantially. The only question Is whether
we should attempt to do something which
think both branches of the American congress
desire, and which the nation universally de-
sires, to increase the pensions of those whose
pensions are far below what they should be in
the estimation of the nation. The Mexican
pension bill stands defeated, and as far rs the
veterans Of the Mexican war is concerned the
bill is defeated by the action of the senate.
The senate was so unwilling that that meas
ure should stand upon its own merits, that
they placed amendments upon it which they
believed to be just and right. The only prac
tical question which we are to meet to-day
in regard to pensions Is whether We
shall do this act Of stern justice or
refuse to do it and do nothing. Neither the
Mexican soldier nor the other classes who were
considered in the amendments of that bill will
receive any consideration at the hands OF this
congress before the 4th day of March. We
can now save sonnet thing for the most needy OF
all these classes, and that is the widows who
are only receiving So per month, and suggest
to my friend that it puts nothing in peril not
even the bill. If we place this amendment on
the bill and the house refuse to concur, then
shall be willing that the senate recede from our
amendment. We shall have done all in our
power; we shall have satisfied the nation tt at
we are disposed to do justice to those who are
receiving least from its bounty and generosity.
We can come in here specially and give the
widows of some admirals and G, nerals $50 per
month, and of others s., 600 year. That I'M
perils nothing; but when we resolve to take
out of the difficulty in which they are placed
that class which, of all others, is entitled to
relief, we are told we should pause moment
to give the subject consideration; and when q
remedy Is within our reach, as it is now, to
save them and do them justice, it will be no
answer, and my friend from New Hampshire
cannot answer the widows in New Hampshire,
and New England and the United States, who
are receiving this pittance, by saying that it is
sought to do something else, and he fears this
would put something else in peril.