The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-26
THE SPECIAL PENSION ACTS
Speech Of Congressman Cheadle in OPP
position to Special Legislation.
ination in the Matter Of Pensions. and
Is Unjust to the Private Soldier.
assclal to the 1naIapapolts geurnas


WASHINGTON, April 25.-On Monday, the
House having under consideration the special
persion bill granting to the widow Of General
Ricketts, 500 month, Dir. Chesdle. of the
Ninth Indiana district, said:
THE practical question involved IN the bill
under consideration is, shall the law governing
the granting and rating of pensions be set aside,
and special pension be granted at a rate more
than three times greater than that authorized
by law. There underlies our system of govern
ment principle of vital importance to national
lfe and that is the equality of citizenship under
the laws of the land; and hold that safety
lies In adhering strictly in this class of legislation
to the letter and spirit of the law. The laws
now in force are l think a fair expression OF
the public sentiment of the Nation upon the
question Of pension ratings. The highest rate
authorized by law to be paid soldier is $72
a month. The highest rate authorized to be
paid the widow of officer above the
grade of lenteuart-colonel Is $50 month.
The only way by which we arrive at
cizsion OF the justice of these latter ratings is
10 institute comparison between the rate of
$50 month, $3.50 year allowed the widow of
the officers and the rate allowed the widow of
an enlisted man. The latter is paid only S12 a
month SI44 year. Thus we find that the law
has given to the widow of general officer.
above the grade OF lieutentant-colonel, two and
one-half times more pension than is paid the
widow of the private soldier. This is a liberal
discrimination in their favor quite much So
take it, can be justified under form Of
government, where equality before the law,
and equal rights and privileges, are fundamental
another life, and where caste and class
are not known tolerated at all The distn-
9uished gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.
Randall, aud other gentlemen who favor these
measures tell that this distinction IL not
great enough-that some should have $50
month, others 81, 200 year, and still others
81. 900 year. say, Mr.. Speaker, that this bill,
and all similsr ones, are in direct conflict with
the fundamental PRINCIPLES Of our government,
and that they are dangerous and pernicious in
their tendencies, inimical to the public welfare.
AT ms To he M
and officer below the grade of lieutenant-colonel.
and ought never to have been introduced and
brought here for consideration.
Il grant all that has been said in behalf of
the distinguished services rendered by the hus-
band Of the claimant In the bill under consider
alton These services brought him position,
and honor and the pay aud emoluments of the
rank TO which he attained Grant all that is
claimed, all that can be claimed. and then. Mr.
/, Speaker, see how il all becomes dwarfed into
httleness compared with the claims of the
widow of the private soldier. who. in 81, bid
her goodbye and went down to the front, and
was afterwards killed at .Antietam or Gettys-
burg leaving her to sit amid the desolation of q
broken hons all these intervening years If
the claimant in this bill is entitled to a pension
the distin guished services of her hus-
band, services which brought TO them both
boIOrs rank pay and on the '0laso of
long period of years. what shall the widow be
entitled to whose huband died in war, thus de-
priving her OF his support, companionship, SYM
her perchace to struggle with poverty and
want in order to keep together the children
born TO them. Again, if these special cases are
entitled to 81, 200 So 900 year, what shall be
the measure of tho pension the mother who
gave one. two, three. four. fve and in some in
stances six, sons to DIE that the government
might live2 II these special entitled
TO 81, 200 or So, 900 a year, what shall be the
measure of the widows pension who gave not
only her husband, but in addition thereto, gave
one, two three, and in one case of record four
hons 70 die for their country9
"Mr. Speaker. what greater services
citizen perform for his government than to offer
his life willing sacrifice and die in it's defense2
Take the case of . mother knew. who had three
sons grown TO mans estate, when the war be-
gan-all of whom volunteered early in 1861, all
CT whom gave their lives 1862 had ended,
upon fields of battle. died fighting to preserve
and perpetuate this government of the people,
wherein every citizen is guaranteed the sover-
eighty of equality before the law. If. Mr.
Speaker. the claimant IN this case 10 entitled to
pension of 81, 200 year, who can estimate the
pension, in dollars and cents. to which the
mother refer should be entitled have
made these comparisons to show that there is
not one single reason urged in favor of any one
with ten-fold more force in behalf of some other,
and infinitely more meritoriouS case; there
fore, / appeal to the deliberate judgment
of the members Of this House, and ask
them to call q halt in the enactment OF
these special pensions to the favored few. Let us
peried life to save the govern ment. would
provide for all of them literally and for their
widows and orphans. but would treat them all
alike. Pension them under the general laws
where ratings uniform, and where
do comparative justice to all of them. This is
our highest duty, Mr.. Speaker, the officers did
not Dus down the rebellion They did not
the Union. They did not make all the sacrifices.
The mon Of the muskets saTed the Union. The
enlisted men made the great sacrifices required.
In order to preserve the life of this government
We arc indebted 20 them for all the bless
ings OF this freest, best, most prosper
government on earth. We owe those men
IL - 81 1esrAA NE warr TkowA
are some things, howe we can do for them.
There are some things We ought to do for them.
The government made a solemn contract with
its soldiers to pay them $l3 month in gold
its equivalent That promise has not been full
filled. There is great surplus In the national
treasury. every dollar OF which is there because
of the dauntess courage and patriotic sufferings
of the Union soldiers. The government can,
and it should make good the solemn promises
made its defenders. The government prom
ised the men who loaned it money 70 prosecute
Cts defense TO pay them in gold or it's equivalent.
/ rejoice as an American that my government
kept it's promise with the men who furnished it
demand that it keep its promise made to
the Union soldiers who saved the Union and
thus made it possible for the governments to pay
its debts. / demand that the claims Of Union
soldiers be placed upon an equality. side by
side, with the claims of the men who furnished
IL money, that they be paid as honestly IN gold
or its eq nivaient, as the men who risked their
gold. The obligation OF the government 10 the
Union soldier is the most solemn one thar could
Dc maze. 10 keep tnab promise - 10 cAecube
Justice; and this is the first and highest duty of
the government to IT'S soldiers. Shall this govern
ment of the people do less for those who risked
their life in its defense. than il does for those
who risked their money! That is the question.
The solution of this problem lies in the enact
ment Of service pension now, for all who are
disabled from service in camp or field
''The government promised to care for the
widow of him who died in battle or OF the
march. and for his orphans; for him who was
broken in health. care for him tenderly We
are doing more than any government ever did
for its soldiers. The other day. without debate
we appropriated eighty millions for pensions
and yet that great sum is not nearly enough.
There are pending in the Pension Department
100 900 claims that cannot be allowed bv
son of technical failure of evidence. These
GLAZING are just, legal, birding, and ought to be
k@ssided for A measure passed the Senate
6aown as the dependent pension bill that would
have afforded relief to many thousands OF these
deserving heroea That bill was sent 70 this