The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-05
Justice Done Dependent Soldiers.

The Dependent Pension bill, rs it
was passed last week by the House
ana will undoubtedly be passed by
the Senate, is without the chief amend
ment made by the House, says the
Philadelphia Press, giving pensions
to all who served in the war over SO
years OF age. 1t also comedies to the
House the lesser details in which the
lower chamber differed from the upper.
The bill remains disability bill and
does not introduce in our pensions sys
tenn the new principal OF a service
but it Is more liberal as it leaves the
conference committee than as it pass.
ed the Senate.
The measure as 1t was reported
last week adds to the number of three
classes on the pension rolls-depend-
ent parents OF soldiers, their wild
ows and minor children and it
creates new Cl&ss Of pensioners
soldiers who, for any cause since the
war, ont through no fault of their
own, have become dependent. The
pension rolls now carry 81 AIS depend
ent fathers and mothers; but none
are there unless the loss OF son was
| directly due to the war. The DILL az
now reported will add to the number
OF these dependent parents on the roll
| by requiring in future that where the
legal proof Of dependence and the alb
senCe OF a widow or minor children
exist, it shall only be- necessary to
add to this evidence that such parent
has no means OF support but manual
labor or the contributions OF others
not legally bouhd ior his other sup
port. How large a number ofpersons
this will add no one knows; but, as
the rate OF morality in this class is
very high, 1t Is not believed that the
new additions will DO more than
maintain the present number, which
is about lO per cent, OF the total OF
pensioners.
| At present widows and minor chill.
dren under 10 receive pensions when
the death OF a husband and father
can be proved due to the war. Death
from any cause, under the bill, will
entItle widow dependent on her man
ual labor 20 a pension OF $12 a month
in future, and children under 16 to
one OF 81. At least $4,000 widows,
costing $40, ,S00,000 annually, will be
added by this clause. This estimate
only includes claims already on file in
the Pension Office, and the bill only
applies to widows married before this
act is passed. A similar provision in
regard to Revolutionary soldiers,
without this provIso, led to the short
and presumably happy marriage oi
many aged veterans at Sd and 30
with extremely young women, greatly =
swelling the ranks OF pensioned Revo.
lutionary widows and prolonging their
pensions to the present time. AS the
pension now proposed Is limited to
widows with no support but their
manual labor, the number is not like
ly to be excessive. At present 29,O0C
children are on the roll and the bill is
expected to add oue.halt to this mum
Der.
The Senate i'm it's original bill in
dealing with dependent soldiers limit
ed the officer OF pension TO those
unable 10 earn their living and de-
pendent upon their laily labor fol-
their support, or receiving it from
those not legally bound to provide il
This clause Is struck out OF the bill as
iC came from confer ence. ANY soldier
unable to earn support by manual
labor is saved from dependence and is
awarded from SO to $l2 q month
proportioned to the ina ability, q com
promise of the Senate and House
rates-the former putting the pension
at $l2 and the House at So q month
At present about 25, 900 soldiers are
dependent upon pr bile Cf arity. About
$4,000 soldiers-or 10 per cent oI
those now receiving pensions-will be
ound TO be disabled and unable to
earn living by manuallabor. There
is also a large class of soldiers now re,
ceiving less than So or $l2 a month.
In all, these dependent soldiers at 81
would call Tor $21, 3 10000 annually
Pensions for dependent soldiers were
soiemnly promised by the last Nation
al Republican Convention. The par.
ty was pledged to this measure, and
Congress in passing il discharges q
solemn obligation. At the same time
the increase OF expenditure due to the
bill, which viii not be less than $50,
100000 and may be $4,000, 900
brings deficit in sight II Congress al
so passes the River and Harbor bill
and thepublic building appropria tions
and make no reductions IN pending