The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
THE SERVICE PENSIONS.
DEMANDS OF THE NEW ASSOCIATION.
The Arrearage Bill Which 1t Will Present
to the Next Congress-Some of the
Arguments in It's Favor-Plan
of the Boomers.

Bounteously as has the U. S. govern
ment provided for the disabled Union SOL
diers of the late war, and for the widows
and orphans of those who lost their lives
in the great struggle, it appears that the
army of pension claimants is never to
grow less. AS circumstances against their
demands have increased, their conduct
has grown more defiant. As the opposi-
ton to them became more marked, they
have solidified their ranks until at last the
idea offorminginto an organization Tor the
especial purpose of demanding an unre-
stricted ingress into the L. 5. treasury was
adopted and the organization was known
as the Service Pension association. 1t
would be unjust to suppose that all the
Union soldiers, or even a considerable
proportion of them, belongs to this asso-
citation, but the fact remains tn at they are
already powerful in numbers and influ-
ence, and increasing, apparently, in both.
As indicated By the name they have
adopted, they are out for pensions for all
the soldiers who wore the blue-whether
they now be sick or strong poor or
wealthy.
The minimum amount they demand is
IS per month for every man who went to
the front, whether he served day or a
year. They claim that an ofier of any
thing less than that amount is an in
suit to any soldier, Notwithstanding there
are MANY thousands of them in the coun-
try to-day who have been quite willing to
accept such an insult. For those who
have served longer periods, or who have
suffered disabilities, the demand Is OF
course much larger.
The Service Pension association has been
working hard in behalf of this idea for
some years. After a great deal OF hard work
it succeeded In getting the last national
encampment OF the G.. A. r. to declare In
favor of a pension service bill, and it IS
now preparing for a national pension SER
vice convention during the next national
encampment at Milwaukee. Its idea is to
get the soldiers united in behelf of the
measure it is advocating, because many
members of congress who have been
asked to work in it's behalf have replied
that when the soldiers united on pen
sion bill it would be passed.
The Indiana branch of the Service Pen
sion association which Is one OF the most
active in the country and which claims to
have been chiefly instrumental in getting
u. n.
adoption of pension service bill by con-
gress, has drawn up bill which it pro-
poses to present to the national association
as the proper thing for congress to pass.
1t provides that the secretary of the in
terror be authorized to place on the
pension roll the names of all
the surviving officers. soldiers, sail
ors and marines who served in the
army or navy of the United States for
period of sixty days or more, or who were
disabled in the line of duty between
March, 1861, and July, 1865, upon appG-
cation therefor and who are honorably
discharged, each of whom shall receive
pension of IS per month during his life.
All officers, soldiers and sailors now on
the pension rolls at rating less than IS
per month shall be advanced to that
amount. In all cases where the period of
service was in excess Of 800 days the pen
sion granted shall be at the rate of l cent
per day for each days service.
For persons who are now or may here
after become disabled from performing
labor necessary to procure subsistence,
from any cause not the result of vicious
or immoral habits, it is provided that they
shall receive additional disability pen
sions, as follows: For a disability rated
at one-half the total rate the pension shall
be increased 81 per month. For disa-
bility rated at three-fourths the total rate
the pension shall be increased SD per
month, and for a disability totally
incapacitating now, or hereafter
any of the persons named in
sec. of this act, from obtaining a support
bv their labor, or usual occupations, the
pension shall be increased $50 per month,
payable for and during the natural lives
! of persons entitled thereto. But this act
shall not be so construed as to change the
ratings of pensioners now on the rolls, or
that may hereafter be placed on the rolls
at higher rates for loss of limbs or eye
sight, the result of injuries received in the
service"
II any honorably discharged officer or
enlisted man of the military or naval serv-
ice has died, or shall die and leave
widow, such widow shall be placed upon
the roll, upon application, at SD per
| month, payable during her life or widow
| hood; and the minor children of all such
persons deceased shall receive pensions at
| the rate of 81 per month for each minor
! child up TO the age of seventeen years. 4
deformed or crippled child, or one of I'M
sound mind, shall receive pension OF SD
per month so long as so afflicted. Fur
| thermore, any soldier who has died, or
NAV die. leaving no widow or minor
| child, but who may leave or has left de-
pendent parent, either mother or father,
! shall be placed upon the pension roll at
! the rate of SIP per month, to begin from
| and after the passage of this act, first to
| the mother. and if no mother, then to the
| father of such soldier, to continue during
such dependency.
The most important clause of the BILL
however, is the following: All persons
who have not prior to the passage and
taking effect of this act received arrears
of pensions shall be paid arrearage at the
rate of s. per month, from date OF dis
| charge, or occurrence OF the disability for
! which pension is claimed.
This clause. as will be readily SEEN is
! neither more nor less than the opening
OF the arrearages act, with an immense adj
dition.
In circular the Indiana service PEN
sion association gives its reasons for ad-
vocating the bill, saying it is "a plea for
justice-not aims or charity" The circu-
lar further says:
ave believe the time has come when
both justice and equity demand a settle
ment OF the pension question on the basis
and principles suggested in the accom-
panying bill. We believe that every man
who went TO the front during the war
earned a pension, and that the
least this great, rich. prosperous,
rescued nation can. in decency,