The National tribune., 1888-07-26
AID TO STATE HOMES.

On FFluay Oh lasG week congressman
Laird, of Nebraska, succeeded in putting
through the House of Representatives the
bill appropriating $25O,o00 to aid State
Homes for veterans of the war; Mr.. Laird
had charge of the measure, having intro
duced the bill and presented the report of
the House Committee. In the hope Of ex-
pediting legislation, Gen. Manderson's bill,
passed by the Senate, was taken up, the
measures being similar; but after all the bill
must go back to the Senate for concurrence
in some minor amendments tackled on to it.
In the House the chief opposition came
from Messrs. Rogers of Arkansas, and Kill
gore, of Texas. The Texan was especially
spiteful in his opposition, taking the stand
that the veterans were properly the charge
of the various States.
Such obnoxious doctrine could not pass
unchallenged, and hot debate ensued. The
fact is that Kilgore is opposed to ali meas
ures for the benefit of the Union vetearns
under whatever guise, and the States rights
humbug simply served his purpose.
The spirit of the bill is to encourage the
States and the Grand Army Departments in
the work of caring for the disabled veterans
by direct aid to the inmates of their institu-
items. rather than to expend vast sums in the
erection of more National Homes, which in
a few years will be practically useless to the
Government. The money is to be disbursed
under the direction of the Board of Govern
ment Of the National Homes, of which Cen
! Franklin is the President, and the plan has
their hearty approval.
All the Governors of the States having
institutions have written to Senator Man
derson cordially approving the plan, ever
Gen. S. B. Buckner, of Kentucky, venturins
the assertion that such persons are pecu
liarly the wards of the Nation, and as sucl
should be literally provided for at TIN
National expense"
| It is the intention of the friends of th
veterans that this shall only be beginning
and that the precedent established shall b.
followed up regularly by annual appropria
tons in future. For the Nation to put OF
| on the States the burden of the care of it
defenders is believed to be bad policy, ant
it is intended to have it rectifed. Th
States to-day have some $60o0,0o0 in tn
aggregate invested in these institutions
which is an insult, or should be, TO til
Congress of the United States In the relic
of veterans and their widows and orphans
Massachusetts alone since the war hs
expended no less than $18,0Oo.oO0 an
Wisconsin ST., 100000
What comment upon a great Govern
ment actually distressed by its wealth.
Thus we see New York, New Jerse!
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Illinoi
Nebraska, California and Vermont,
addition to the conspicuous example
named, doing out charity, because til
Nation proved an migrate as soon as IL
hour of security arrived.
It is no more the duty Of any of thet
States to bear this burden than to pay I'll
, Presidents salary, or appropriate money f
the support of the Army and Navy. I'll
war was not carried on for and by the State
5 but for and by the Federal Government
and the assumption of any of it's cons
| quential charges by any State tends to o.
: scure that fact, and to revive polite
heresy of the past which the war dispose
of for all time.
q It is expected that the Senate viii at on
; concur in the House amendments to its bi
and send the measure to the President f
approval.
INITIATING THE GAR. BADGE.