St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-29
RELATING TO PENSIONS.
The Committee Recommend That
the Work Be Pushed This Year.


the Work Be Pushed This Year.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. 2S.-Wheri
the delegates assembled after lunch, a
lengthy report from the committee on
pensions was presented. Itopened exs
pressing regret that, owing to the short
session of congress following the last
eneampment aud crowded condition of
business, little in the line of practical
results could be accomplished.
After the congressional recess
the committee met in Chicago and
proceeded to the home of the president
elect. The interview was a pleasant
one. Gen. HARRISON gave cordial assure
ances of his warm interest in the ques<
tiOn of pensions, and expressed an
earnest desire that generous pensions to
the defenders of the Union should be-
granted. After the last encampment
the committee prepared two bills, one a
disability bill so broadeued in its pro-
visions as to include an Endorsement Of
pensions to all hOnorably discharged
veterans, and another to give every
honorablY discharged veteran
MONTHLY RATE OF ONE CENT
for each days service. These bilh
were given in detail, ana the committed
expressed its regret that it had been unJ
able to secure favorable action upon
them. Should. however, the encamp-
ment re-affirm its position, the same
bills are ready for early presentation to
both houses of congress immediatelN
upon the opening of the session, and
from interviews with the leading mem
of both houses, the cordial and friendly
attitude of the administration, and the
liberal views of the secretary
of the interior, and tha
commissioner of pensions tha
latter being appointed, after eight veara
of faithful service, on this cOmmittee)S
it was believed that before the concluE
sion of the next session of congress-
legislation would be had which would
go far beyond the completion of the full
measure of the national indebtedness I'd
the men who defended her flag. From
this the report went on to give in detail
the work that had been accom-
pllshed by the Grand Army peni
sion committees in eight yearss
Office had been increased from TAI
to 1859, in the adjutant generals officel
to 167. There were 166 additions to tha
list of surgeons and 50 in other departs
mentS. These additions had necessix
tated an extra expenditure of S2,000,00d
yearly. A law has been passed giving,
the commissioner of pensions power to-
appoint boards of examining surgeons
throughout the country to expedite the
work. Another appointing $50 addts
tional special examiners in the
field to examine cases in which
questions arose. A third, authors
izing the employment of eXperts
as to special diseases in cases demandi
ing special attention: still another that
the acceptance and muster as soldieE
should in all cases be accepted as prima
facie
EVIDENCE OF HIS SOUNDNE SIS
at the time, against existing disabilities.
Others increasing widows pensions
from S. to S12 per month, increasing the
rate for severe disability, had been
passed. The disability bill that
was vetoed. as we'll as the
measures providing pensions to
all widows, without reference
to the cause of death of their husbands,
for the benefit of survivors of rebel
prisons, and for the re-enactment of the
rebel law, were also the fruits of the
committees work, while even this state.
ment did not cover all that it had done,
The report concludes by recommending
that the work be pushed with vigor for
the year to come. 1t is signed by Com
rades S. M. Merrill. John S. KOuntZe,
j. f. Ii. Burst, r. w. Blue and Lucius,
Fairchild.