The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-29


precipitating these young men into that war
and having them wounded, eminent together
in that line, but not eminent in the line of sol
diery.
a think the bill is right in that view. It
does not provide that Confederate soldiers alone
shall be appointed. 1t does not make any dis
elimination in favor of the Confederate against
the Union soldier. / dare say that when you
go to select men for Office from among those
who were Confederates you shall give the pref
ence, as the Senator himself expressed 1t, all
other things being equal, TO the man who was
wounded or disabled in that war"
The bill went over.
The House considered bills to provide fire.
proof warehouse at the National 8rmory at
Springfield, Mass. and to establish postal tele-
graph, number Of private bills, and the bill
to make eight hours days work for all en-
ployes on Government buildings and works.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH q.
In the Senate the usual number of petitions
were presented FOR prohibition in the District,
for the passage of the per diem pension bill etc,
The consideration of Senator Blairs bill
giving preference to disabled rebel soldiers was
postponed until next Tuesday
Senator Cockrel called UP the bill giving
b0unties to the members of the 4th Iowa, which
was read the third time and passed
The bill granting the State of Oregon five
| Townships Of land around Crater Lake for
public park was taken up, amended, and passed.
The bill 70 raise the pensions of five widows
Of officers who served il the Mexican war from
$50 to So was passed
The Committee on Pensions favorably report
ed the bill for the relief Of women as army
nurses which provides that those who served
SIX months or over shall receive a pension of
SD month. The Committee reported to
amend by making the same $25 month. En-
bodied with the report was a memorial from
the Army Nurses Association, which set forth
I in glowing terms the services and sacrifices of
such women as Susan A. Edison, Mother Bick-
erdyke and Johanna W. Turner and others
who did invaluable service during the war.
Senator Beck called for the yeas and nays.
He was strongly opposed to the bill, which
meant to pension any woman who happened to
be caught inside Of the lines Of the army and
was set to work at S25 q month.
Senator EdmunGs was opposed to the bill.
he would be glad to pension those army nurses
who got Ill or were disabled on account of their
services, but he believed that the best thing,
until we provided for the men who served four
or five years in the heat of battle and were
broken down by peTils, prison life and so on,
was TO let the nurses wait He was friend
of woman's rights, but he thought that in this
case the soldiers had superior claims.
Senator Blair made a strong argument in
favor OF the Dill, III the course of which he read
the following letter from Past COnmander-in-
| Chief Paul Van Der WORT:
WASHINGTON, March I9 1888.
DEAR SIR: have read with great interest your
report on bill 372 Senate file in reference to pen
sion for army nurses. and submit a few reasons
why think il should become law. While Com
nauder-in- thief of the Grand Army OF the Repub-
lie IN 1888 took special interest in hunting up
these cases met them from Maine TO California,
/ finding ia the last-named State Mother BCkerdyRe
almost pennlies5 auG too proud TO ask aid OF the
! old soldiers whom she j. yet trying to help.
1 Many Of these cases have been provided for by
special acts but there still remains small number,
not to exceed at the maximum 1870 IN a the States,
who should be cared FOR 10y the passage %! ts bill.
4 These women were, many OF them. mldiie-agcd
when they ~ this grand service, Il being the
! custom 10 detail only those OF mature age
In Nebraska we have two. Mrs Painter and Mrs.
Howe, both deserving cases. Aud I understand
/ that there Is effort TO cut down the amount
asked FOR to So per month. If this is done il Will
( be a bare piiiance That VIII no more tIan pay
servant to care these aged and enfeebled women,
whom allude TO because they represent the whole
class. Take Clara Barton ior instance, known the
4 world over, who her tender breast the
iron cross Of Germany, bestowed by its last Empe-
/ ror and a dozen other decorations given by the
! crowned heads Of Europe. What has the Govern
meuJ Of this country done TO recognize her, save 20
4 give back mere plttauce of the large she dis
I bursed during the war; She has never asked and
| II has taken loiS ana continued supp4ications TO
win such action II she lived i'm Europe she would
/ be Princess and the chosen companion Of the
creates. and best Of all lands across the water.
] believe these women earned this recognition.
The soldier suffered batteiietds. in hospital and
pris0u-pen, but nave always believed that woman
suffered most. The muses. tOiliBg the field and
in noisome hospital. the mother. wife and sister
picking lint and praying AT home, trembling when
ever they scanned list Of The dead. working ia the
field or shaving 10 Inc dim iamp-llght with the
needle until their aching fingers were worn to the
bone. These are t4e class whose hearts were torn
the most VINO nave fountains oil tears yet unsied,
and whom certain ones who legislation this Nation
I claim should be given more than the mesger
pittauce Of Si2 per month. Nearly all this sanity
band are in the Heaven above where their reward
Is not stinted; and l trust the shattered band on
earth viii be blessed by the passage Of this act.
Afrrr wuUr1 NOT H
PAUL vAy DER yoonT,
Past Comnander-in- Chief Grand Army OF tie Re
public, aud National Honorary Member Woman 6
Senator Beck said that be thought before the
bill was considered further by the Committee
Oh Pensions il should do the Senate the Justice
to call upon the Secretary Of War for inlOrma-
ton as to the number enrolled, so that we
could come within at least million or two
million dollars Of what would have to be paid.
The bill was laid over under objection, and
the Senate took up the bill TO divide a portion
Of the reservation Of the Sioux Nation in Da-
kota, which was considered at length, and ia
conclusion was passed.
The House resumed consideration Of the bill
to adjust the accounts Of laborers and mechan-
les who have been employed by the Govern
ment Of the United States since June =, 1868
when the act constituting eight hours a days
work was passed. ii provides that al such
shall be paid for each eight hours that they
| worked at the rate for 10 hours work.
A long aud earnest discussion took place upon
this. Some Of the speakers denounced it as a
Job to take $lOJO00,1J0 out OF the Treasury,
osteusibly to pay the men who had been already
paid, but which was really in the interest OF
claim agents who had cOneocted the scheme
} The speakers supporting the bill insisted that
! the eight-hour law vas the law Of tile land
} aud justice demanded that the men who had
rendered 10 hours work a day were entitled ID
pay for the difference ia hours, and that it was
Reputation to deny it to them.
The Committee Of the Whole at last rose
without having come TO resolution, and the
House proceeded TO the consideration Of tht
Z bill 10 prevent the products Of convict labor
2 from being furnished 10 or for the use Of any
? Department Of the Government, and TO prevent
S the products Of convict labor being used on
public buildings or any other public works
The bill was amended and passed.
Mr. UNeiu Mo- called up the bill to pre-
vent the employment OF alien labor upon any
7 public works or IN the Departments, which
I was also passed.
Mr. O'Neil called up the bill to establish
q Department Of Labor, TO be considered in Com
o mittee Of the Whole which was done.
THURSDAY MARCH o.
/ In the Senate Mr. Salisbury called up th
I resolution referring TO the Presidents mes
/ sage, and made long speech in support 0
I tie free-trade position taken ID that document
. The bill was passed 10 make the rate of post