The National tribune., 1886-06-03
TIE 18TH CONGRESS.
More Talk by the Statesmen About
Pensions.
- 100 nr rrMRs.

IN the Senate Mr Sewell N. J. called UP The
bill lS. 205g 10 amend the pension laws by IN
cneasing the pensions OF soldiers and sailors
who have lost an arm or leg in the service.
Ii proposes that al persons on the pension-rolls
and all persons hereafter granted pensions,
who while in the military or naval service oi
the United States and IN line OF duty, shall
have lost one hand OF one foot or been totally
or permanently disabled in the same, shall re-
oeive a pension Of $50 a month; that all per-
sons now on the pension rolls, and all persons
hereafter granted pensions, who in like man
ner shall have lost either an arm at or above
the elbow or a leg al OF above the knee OF been
totally or permanently disabled in the same,
shall receive pension Of S36 per month; and
that all persons now on the pension rolls, and
all persons hereafter granted pensions VINO ln
like manner shall have lost either an arm at
the shoulder Joint or a. leg at the hip-jont, shall
receive a pension at the rate of S45 per month.
Butnothing herein contained shall be construed
10 repeal section a699 Of the Revised Statutes
of the United States or 10 change the rate of
SIS per month therein mentioned 10 be pro-
portionatey divided for any degree OF disability
established for which section 4695 makes no
provision.
Mr.. sewen made the following statement in
regard TO the bill:
This bill while general In is character is limited
10 the who have lost limbs in the service. The
classification under ihe existing law is
tD For all amputaAlons below the knee or
70, ne enc" nj ,,. a., l,ss ,r 80 W
elbow. ~ uO
t3) Foral amputations al the hip or shoulder
The eonlnfiae Ind a great MANY bills under con-
sideMtion from winch uicy reported this original
bill, preserving the present classification ar have
stated Il ior these injuries, bui increasing the va
class 10 $50 the So class 10 $50, and The class
resolving So 50 10 Sl5.
That increase has been based on a great mass Of
testimony coming from the pensioners themselves
and medical certificates IN connection with their
claims as 10 the incease OF suffering by reason OF
these anpaiallons. As they grow older they be-
come less able TO work and more feeble. and as a
consequence ought 10 he more Of burden on the
generosity of the Government
The number of pensioners and the amount OF
money involved In this bill Is as follows:
The class now receiving 81 peg month numbers
I5f25, tle amount OF money expended 81. .326 9l2.
and tiie increase proposed Is 81 .0ol I2o The class
receiving SO per month consists Of .97 pensioners,
and tic present annual value of their pensions is
s2s53 10, and the proposed increase il S570744 OF
the class now receiving S3 So there are 40 PEN
sioneTs aud The annual value Of their pensions now
4 S2il 800 and the increase proposed by the bill ~
", 800 making the total annual increase by this
bill 81 .69I772
submit AIR President that this Il a well defined
class thai L not capable OF increase that the num-
bcr is diminishing every day. and tllat know
what we are doing when we propose 70 vote for a
be made These are the suffering heroes, ! may
say OF tlle war who carry about with them appar-
eni 10 the eye OF everybody their disabilities and
II there h any class Of pensioners TO whom
ought 10 be liberal, these are ihe ones.
Mr.. Miller n Y.) offered an amendment
which was agreed 10, inserting after the word
"hip-joint the words :" OF so near the joint
rs 10 prevent the use Of an artificial limb The
bill was then passed without dissent and was
sent TO the House for its action.
Mrs. cRAyENs CASE
The House discussed at some length bin TO
increase from $50 10 $50 the pension OF Marie
Louise, widow of Commander 1unis A. M.
Craven. III. S. Navy. The latter lost his life
while commanding the monitor Tecumseh.
leading the attack on the fortifcaiiOns in Mo-
bile Bay. Dir. Green IN. J.) in presenting the
case, said:
Craven. Ia steering 10 attack the Tennessee
crossed the torpedo line, and striking one, IL
ploded under the turrei of the Iecumseh. winch
went down stem first almost ia an instant. carrying
him down with lIer But his death character
lzad by IA incident which should never be foIg0l-
Zen a. loig a. the English Language contains the
words ciisalry and heroism. u is related by the
pilot, Mr. Collins. whose life saved
Al ihe moincBl Of the explosion Craven and the
pilot were m e lrou tower o. pilot house, eiFeotly
over the iusaet There wac no way 81 escape from
their PRISON eaeepi through narrow scuttle open
ine just sufficient for one 10 pas through Seeing te
inevitable ie u tic vessel, iey boih isifnctlrely
made Tor tiiis nHrrow opening A. II Il told when
they reached the place together Craven drew back
y y 2 characteristic way saying Ailsr you, pilot
COllins who fortunately escaped % tell the act Of
hrrcismt says There wac nothing afier me; ]
got oui tle vessel seemed 10 drop from under me"
~ isHelAipl " hr Philip Sidney. 800 ycaTE ago
that when ieing carried wounded and bleeding
from the battlefield 81 Zutplcn 49, comFiaiIlea
fgrev00siy ~ thirst. a bottle of waller wa pro
cured Tor him. As hc pui il 10 hs mouth his eye
caught ile Nisilul gaze OF q mortuily wounded
soldier eagerly watching hls every movement
Taking II uHtsted from hiE lips he sent IL 10 The
dying with the wOrds Tbs necessity II vel
greater tifan mine" be was buried in Old st
i'auis among tiie noble and the great Of England
Although centuries have rolled away. his country
forgeis him not and history still repeating Thy
necessity y set greater tlaIl mine With the iBoi-
dent. ever keeps the name 81 Sidney tire synonym
- % Of sf.lf-
denial.
Noble and ohvalric a. 1t was his was but a tenn
porary rciinquishment of relief from suffering
CFaycn'e After you, pilot c0si iim his life lhe
AlneIlean lasE one oi iis braves and nlosi accom-
piisiea oiBoers, mankind hero. No grand old
cathedral treasures his remains no scuptuned
marble records Ais herOisn he rests in las iron
turreied toiub, oh Fori Morgan, with nauEht hut
The buoy nli4eh swings iO and FRO with te ebb and
food of thr tide III hloic hlny 10 mark fhe scene
~ lis bravery aud hs death.
The c0uniry has hOnOred ihe living: lel not Con
rrest forget tlie sidney 81 the hrncricsan navy
The widow ~ tLie gallant in heT old at.e aud er
necessity appeals Tor tliis increase. hope IL viii
be accorded 70 hor.
Mr Aatsou Ind. D speaking against the biz,
said.
It Il trne Mr Speaker as stated by the gentle
man from Sew Jersey Air. Greeni thai the gen
era "a" hNes 40 distinctive rate oi pension fOr tbe
Nidows o general oflncfs and thai the rate of so
per month applies 10 the widows of al officers Of
tie army including t5e rank OF Lieutenant Colo
mel aud a5oEe that. aud - She widows OF ali on
Gers u tie navy including tie rank Of Captain
and above thai That j. true. bli some vegrs 20
tonRrees. aeelng, ruppose thai there WAS no dis
nueiiyc rat n the laN for the widows 0f general
oeifE. entered upon fiie Increase of tine pnnsions
of tlle NinpHf ~ general officers Of the army and
navy ifuin t3J % 80 I'cF mouth and in every case
Whore tif widow Of general officer has nsl ~
tnoh increase "a hHE been granted bat hs "a the
Ninowt o piiicers Daow TIE riuk 81 general OIL
cnFh tie incTeasc hns generally bcrn refused
Ilirfe AAtt Dennt however some few executions
" the rule. lu few Jlls lInve passssd tbe
House increasing tlie pensions uf widows of ofos,
below tils fnfk ~ general Oicfs from $50 10 $50
inoi&li ara 81 noue iiisianoet from 80 - $40 Ia
thiE case t3ie applicant ls tbe ~ ldow n q Com.
ilnnas'i in ille navy. its q general ofiios
d heotssi5ouaea perhaps 10 the iauk vi a lAeubs,l-
eht-A0ionei ~ tile army. The widow nov ASK
tiil hef i.ilalOIl be increased from 80 a. SO ssr
month. lile eases cited by ny friend from Nc,
JeIhey hif. Green. are d0uhfiois colreGily cited
and the additional ones that hc lrup0ses 10 print
VIII no oofH BE- tHien from tiic reeold bat tliey
~. le e3ot lions, niio tie question Sos this House
~ oecisif y whether n afford enter upon the
iu1ieolliniiiac iucreusr ~ these pensions i have
ainuys believed tat the HOUSE had gone 700 fan ir
uiineftHiuE 90 Increase thc ensiotss 81 tie svid-
oNh al aaig oi4eert from SO a. So q month hnse
hiMhsh bnlipten that $50 q month Was q large
efl"fGh lseIslon tor any widow. aud therefore q
hfA pial,i7fN Aisat lncrcasuH, Tor thc NidORf
81 general oneers
The Iglf. nof of tc committee bot ~ i,c Uot,se
hns een q FeuHf tlc ingresae 20 those WHO s,-rt
not Af widows ~ gfnnInl nilicsrs AND IA t1e in,.
AurEieHs tsfis very J after hld s-aod tIlr ,.-,
aAf, WtH NulHa opHn lu LLis lntiHs on A .srn-ar,d
nns vote ~ iu House Vow the aurs, ioi f.,,
ar ~ determine la, whether flcrc j. anything st
ths osse iliai should make ID cAcegai0nal o. thai
tabiishea ruie 10 refuse tle iuoraase Ia oasos lie
tlis