The National tribune., 1888-07-19
VIRGINIA.
MASSACHUSETTS
Veterans to Receive Their Dues.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Receiving
your valuable paper last week, | saw your Carl
cature of COmrade Matson asleep, and thought
you would like TO hear from a part of the
country which has not yet gone to sleep and left
their comrades to go to the poOrhOuse without
trying TO give them the helping hand. would
say that the writer of this, with the help of
Comrades Serg't William ii. Marden, of Stone
ham, Mass. who served in the I'd company,
Andrew SharpshoOters. Mass. Vols; William S.
Hixon, of Chelsea, Mass, who served in the
u. S. n. ship Rhode Island, and Corpll F. T.
Hawley of Maiden, Mass, who served in the
Goth Wis, have secured this legislation. We
four presented a bill to the Legislature of Mas
saehusetts nearly like the one which herewith
inclOse copy, which was passed unanimously
through both Houses, and was promptly signed
on the eve before we decorated the graves of
those who had gone before by the Governor Of
our Commonwealth, Oliver Ames
In getting this bill through our State Legis-
lature we did not claim for il that it was their
duty, but felt that we could not afford to wait
for the rich and noble Government to take
out Of the po0rhouse the old soldier or his
widow or minor children who had been left
destitute by the sacrifices he made for his
country, which service had broken him down
OF sent him to an early grave without being
able to provide the means to support his family
after he had passed away, as those did who re-
manned at home.
/ think you would confer a favor on the
comrades in other States by printing the bill
in full that they might be able to present a
similar bill to their Legislatures and have a
bill passed Of the same meaning, so that no
soldier or his widow or minor children should
ever 90 to the poorhOuse; but that they that
helped TO save the Nation should have home
provided for them by the State where they
reside.-N. s. SWEET, Sergeant, I'd company,
Andrew SharpshoOters, Mass. Vols West Med
ford, Mass.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. IN THE
YEAR 1888
AN ACT for the relief in cases of necessity of per-
sons who served in the Army Navy of the
United States during the rebellion, and their de-
pendent families
Be IL enacted By he Senate and House of Representa-
tires in General Court assembled, and bV the authority
! Of the same as fOlJOt0s:
Section /. Whenever person who served In the
army navy of the United States in the war Of
the rebellion. and received an honorable discharge
tberefrom, and who has q legal settlement in q
city or town in this Commonwealth, becomes from
any cause except his criminal willful mis-
conduct poor. and entirely IN part unable 10 pro-
! vide maintenance for himself and dependent fam
lily; or whenever such person has died and left
/ widow minor children without proper means Of
| support, such person or his widow and his minor
children shall be supported wholly or III part, as
/ may be necessary, by the city town in which he
or they have legal settlement, and at his or their
I own homes, at such other place in the Com mon
! OF the poor Of such city or town may deem right
and proper.
! Sec. 2. Whenever person who served in the
army navy OF the United States in the war of
the rebellion TO the credit of this Commonwealth
or Of any city or town thereof, and received an
honorable discharge from such service, but who
has no legal settlement in any city town Of the
4 Commonwealth, becomes from any cause except his
/ own criminal wiilful misconduct, poor and en-
tlrely In part unable to provide maintenance
| himself and dependent family, whenever such a
person has died and left widow miner children
| without proper means of support, such person or
has widow and hls minor children shall be support
/ ed wholly or in part, may be necessary by the
city or town in which he they are then resident
provided such residence has continued for period
Of three years; and such support shall be rendered
at his their own homes at such other place in
/ the Commonwealth, other than an almshouse as
the orerseers OF the poor Of such city or town may
deem right and proper and such city or town shall
be entitled 10 receive from the treasury Of the Com.
1 monwealth all necessary sums which have been
/ actually expended for such support, and which
shall be certified under oath 10 the State Board of
Lunacy and Charity by the oyerseers of the poor Of
any such city town within the first 10 days Of the
month next following that in which the expendi-
I ture j. incurred.
Sec. 3. Cities and towns may raise and appropr!-
ate money for the purpose OF carrying out the pro-
/ visions Of this act.
/ Sec. 4. The State Board of Lunacy and Charity
/ shall examine and audit all claims OF cities and
towns for reimbursement for payments made under
/ section two OF this act. Only such sums shall be
1 allowed and paid from the treasury as the said
be Just and proper in accordance with the require
| meHts Of section 2.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect upon It's passage
| signed by the Governor May %, 1888, 10 D. IN.