The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-11
RELIEF IN ruE rooRHousr.


they can gull the people with smart" de-
ceptive things.
This was his idea when he framed his
mang1ing amendments to the Disability |
Bill. He thought he would get up some |
thing that would be immensely taking, and
and yet make very little elimination of his
cherished surplus.
The Grand Army of the Republic had
asked for law which would pension every
disabled soldier in the country at $12
month, and thereby insure everyone sup
port without resort to public or private
aims. 1t also asked that every pensioners
widow be given $12 month and his minor
orphans S..
A very large body of veterans had asked
for a pension of So month to every soldier
or sailor, which was to be in addition to any
disability pension.
A still larger body had urged pension of
@A cent per month for every day served
which was to be an additional pension.
Col. Matson thought he would do cum
ming thing by framing bill which would
pretend to give all these what they asked
for, and yet mock them with sham instead
of reality The results were his maDgling
amendments, the first of which proposed,
instead of the $12 month to disabled vet
Grams of the GAR bill, the following:
That all persons who have served in the military
or naval service in any war In which the United
States has been engaged, and who have been hon
orably discharged therefrom, and who are now or
who may hereafter be suffering from mental or
physical disability, not the result of their own
vicious habits. which totally incapactates them for
the performance of manual labor, SHALL upon
making due proof of these facts, according to such
rules and regulations as the Secretary of the In
terror may provide, be placed upon the list of in
valid pensioners of the United States and be en-
titled TO receive pension at the rate per month of
one cent for each days service in the military or
naval service of the United States during any of
the wars in which the United States has been en-
gagged and all persons who have served as afore-
said and have been honorably discharged as afore-
said. and now 81 years of age, shall also
be entitled to be placed upon the list Of in
valid pensioners as aforesaid and paid q pension
for and during their natural lives at the rate afore
said and all other persons who have served as
aforesaid and have been discharged as aforesaid,
and who not of the age of 81 years, shall, upon
becoming of the age of GO years be entitled to be
placed upon the list of invalid pensioners afore
said and paid pension from aud after that period,
for and during their natural lives at the rate afore
said; and such pensions shall commence from the
date Of the filing OF the application in the Pension
Office after the passage of this act; and in cases
where allowed for disability, upon proof that the
disability then existed and continues during the
existence of the same in the degree herein pro-
vided: Provided That persons who are now re-
eeiving pensions under existing laws, or whose
claims are pending in the Pension Office, may, by
| application to the Commissioner of Pensions in
such forms he may prescribe, receive the bene-
fits Of this act; but nothing herein contained shall
| be so construed as to allow more than pension
at the time 10 person: And provided
further That this act shall not be construed to
repeal, modify, or in any way change the law re-
lating to invalid service pensions, nor shall
rank in the service be considered in applications
| filed under this act.
His second amendment proposed to sub
stitute for the clause in the GAR. bill,
which gave the widow Of pensioner So a
month and raised the pensions of minor
orphans from So to So month"; the follow
ing:
| That If any person described in the second sec
ton of this act has died. or shall hereafter die his
widow, if she is in a condition of dependence,
or is suffering from any disability recognized by
the general pension laws who is 62 years of age,
shall be entitled to be placed upon the pension roll
| of the United States, and be entitled to receive,
| barx ct he afa
month of one cent for each days service of her
husband in the military naval service of the
United States during any of the wars in which the
same have been engaged, said pension to COM
mence from the date OF the fling of her application
| with the Commissioner of Pensions. under the pro
visions of this act; Provided. That one pension
4 only shall be allowed TO such widow.
! Thus, instead of the substantial and real
relief proposed by the GAR. Pension Com
mittee's bill to the disabled veteran or his
widow, Col. Matson offered something SC
inadequate as to amount to mockery. A
disabled comrade, who had been one Of that
gallant band which hurried to the defense
of Washington in 1861, or which cleared
West Virginia of the rebels, or saved Mis-
souri, to the Union, would get but 80 cent:
month His widow would be put off with
a similar paltry sum. One of Stannard'i
loyal Yermonters,w who staid over their timeir
order to help win the victory at Gettys
burg and did such effective work on tn,
flank of Pickett's Division, would get bu
1910 month, with the same for his widow
Even if soldier served two years through
the bitterest fighting of the war, he or hi
widow would receive less than was allowed
by Col. Matson to the survivors of the Mex
t lean war or their widows for 60 days service
, Despite his strong beief-customar
among "smart" men-in the cfedulity O
: others, Col. Matson was not so blind as T.
think this would pass without defense an,
explanation. This was his explanation
The objection may be made that some who ar
now needy do not receive at this rate enough t
give them entire relief from their impovershe
condition. and yet the fact remains that such ar
pensioned at the rate according to their sery
ice. And If receives not enough it is be
9 cause he did not serve long enough; and can Ia
= be heard TO complain if he gets just rate equa