The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-13
GEN. LOGAN's BILL.


GEN. LOGAN's BILL.
The hostile attitude of many of the leaders
in the House of Representatives to any addi-
tional pension legislation has had the effect so
far to head off the action in the House upon
any bill which would embody the recommen-
dations of the National Pension Committee
of the GAR. Therefore resort has become
necessary to the tactics which were employed
last year in trying to secure the passage of
bin to render substantial justice to the desery-
ing soldiers ofthe country. Itwillbe remem-
bered that at the last session the House passed
Mexican pension bill, but failed to pass such
general bill as was desired for the relief of
the soldiers of the late war. When the
Mexican pension bill went to the Senate the
provisions of the bill desired to be passed
for the Union soldiers were tackled on to it
in the shape Of amendments. The same
thing has been done again. The House has
passed general pension bill for the surviv-
ors Of the Mexican war, which gives PEN
sions to all who so much as enlisted
for that struggle. When this came to the
Senate for concurrence Gen. Logan moved
an amendment, which is described at length
in another column. 1t comprises about all
that can possibly be hoped for at this session
Of Congress; and if it passes, it viii do for
the soldiers of the country even more than
was hoped for last year from the passage
of the amendments to the Mexican pension
bill, for which such an effort was made.
1t goes further than the bill of last ses-
sion in extending the limit for arrears
of per sions to July /, 1888, and in placing
upon the pension roll all who were prisoners
of war for 80 days, and who are now suffer-
ing from disability which can reasonably
be presumed" to result from such imprison-
ment 1t also gives those who were prison
ers for more than 60 days, 81 day for each
day of their confinement, and notably raises
the pensions of all who are suffering loss of
limbs.
The Senate win probably pass the bill in
very nearly its present shape and that at an
early day. As it viii 90 back from the SEN
ate, the House will be required to give it
earlier and more earnest consideration than
il would bill reported from its own COM
mittees, and, therefore, its condition may be
considered as much more hopeful.
The main effort must now be made to
secure its passage by the House, and this is
one which should have the earnest support
of every soldier and friend of the soldier in
the country. The bill ought to become q
law at once, that its provisions may carry
relief TO tens of thousands of destitute homes
and give to the deserving ones Of the Nation
the rights of which they have been 30 long
and unjustly deprived. Its passage can be
secured if the soldiers everywhere viii take
the proper steps to impress upon their Men,
bers Of Congress their earnest wish for its
passage, and their great disappointment if
it should fail to become law.
This is a matter in which no one who has
at heart the doing of justice to soldiers can
fail to be interested in. 1t will come nearer
discharging the honest obligations of the
Government to those who saved its life than
any legislation proposed of late years, and it
should call forth every effort that can be
made by individual comrades, by Posts, De-
partments, or other organizations Of soldiers,
and THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE hopes, with
an earnestness that is beyond expression,
that every one will feel at once moved to aid
in every possible way the accomplishment Of
this object.