Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-13

/
House is asked to recede from this amend.
meut, which reduces the amount express
ed in the Senate bill from 500 per mont
to $50 per month as the allowance for the
widow of Gen. Stannard. 1t is not alone
! because Of the distinguished services Of
this officer, though it must ever remain Il
proud passage in the history of our com
mon country how at Gettysburg, in the
very nick of time, Stannard swung out
/ the "Green Mountain boys upon the
| flank of Plcketts division, changing from;
| forward on the right in the midst of
shot and shell, and thus getting home
/ upon the flank of that advancing col
umn. When close. upon the flank of
| Pickett's force, Stannard's men poured
volley after volley straight into
those brave fellows, who were pressing
/ forward to break through our centre
/ This continuous fire was more than the
| stoutest and best disciplined troops could
endure, and the column fell back in con
/ fusion, and the day was won | say, how
ever, it is not alone bee use of this histoTi-
cal achievement of Stannard that this
/ pension of 500 per month"; as proposed by
! the Senate should be granted yet so dis
tinguished service should receive the at
tention of the House and be properly I'M
/ derstood. | desire to read from the report
| of the committee who favOrHbly reported
this bill portion Of the account of this
attack and repulSe as given by Colonel
! Benedict, the military historian of the
State OF Vermont, who was himself Il par
ticipant in this affair,
Gen. Grout then read various extracts
from vermont at Gettysburg" from
Richmond papers and from the official re
| ports, relating to the decisive effect of the
action of STANDARDS brigade
said it was not alone on account of
STANDARDS bravery and soldiership dis
played at Gettysburg, though they are
worthy OF very great consideration, that
this unusual sum is asked. The distin-
gushing ground upon which the Senate
/ fixed this pension at 500 q month, instead
of $50, the sum generally allowed the
widows of general officers, is based upon
the condition of Gen. STANDARDS widow,
VINO Is confirmed invalid, unable to raise
her hand to her head, and who requires
the constant care Of another person and
more less medical care, while there is au
Invalid daughter, unmarried, who is also
a member OF the family.
Gen. Stannard was wounded on the field
at Gettysburg by the side of Gen. Han
cock near the time the latter was wound
ed land he was wounded five times after
ward, losing his arm at Chapin's farm
Gen. llanCOCk's widow was voted a lump
sum of $1,000 a year and with no evidence
| brought to the attention of the House that
! Mrs. Hancock Is not a person in full pos
session of her physical faculties and in
! every Respect in good health. Therefore,
| say, guided by this precedent it is not
asking too much for us to ask the sum
provided in the Senate bill.
Now, one word as to the action of the
committee on invalid pensions. In accord
ance with the rule they have adopted Of
only allowing $50 to the widows of general
officers, the amount in the Senate bill has
been reduced to that figure, and they now
refuse to reCede from their position. This
/ is an exceptional case in every way, and
/ do not believe the members Of that com
mittee and of this House, touched as you
all must be with generous sympathy for
| this hero and for his invalid family, fail
/ to recognize this as a case where you may
well cease to longer insist upon that rule,
/ but that on the facts as stated a different
rule may properly be adopted by the House
and this larger sum be granted.
Mr.. Matson, Democrat, of Indiana, OPP
posed the motion, declaring that though
he admired Stannard as modest hero, he
would not vote to establish such pre-
cedent, which would return to plague
Congress and he would not concede that
Mrs. Stannard's condition made any rea-
son for allowing her more pension than
the sum heretofore allowed to the widows
of general officers.
The House refused to agree to Gen.
CIRCUITS motion, and voted down, 81 to q.
"A second motion made by him to instruct
the conference committee to make the
sum SIS. The result having been reported
in the Senate. that body, rather than have
the bill fail altogether voted, on Mr..
Blair's motion, to recede and agree to the
House amendment So the bill passed at
$50 month, and went to the president.
We understand that it was accompanied
by letter from Collector Smalley ad-
dressed to President Cleveland, urging
him to approve the bill. A line from Gen.
Grout, of August 4, informs us that it
was the belief of those best situated to
know that the president would approve
the bill and it is probable that it has al
ready become law.
Senator Edmunds and congressman
Grout and Stewart did all that men could
do to secure the passage of the bill at the
larger sum. AS the House is constituted
this was an impossibility. The sum given,
though inadequate to her proper support,
will be IA great help to her, and all Yer
monters will rejoice that she is to have it.