The National tribune., 1890-03-13
PENSION MATTERS IN THE HOUSE.

PENSION MATTERS IN THE HOUSE.
The House Committee on Invalid Pensions
is hard at work maturing several bills of
great importance, which will soon be re-
ported and pushed forward as rapidly rs
possible. Among these is the bill giving
the prisoners of war 81 day. A majority
and minority report has been prepared
upon this, the majority favOring and the
minority opposing the measure. 1t is I'M
derstood that Turner, the ice man." who
represents district in New York City, and
is a member of the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, will present the adverse report.
The opponents of the measure base their
opposition on two grounds-iirst, that most
of the prisoners were men who preferred
captivity TO fighting; and, second, that the
bill will take about $l1 100000 out of the
Treasury.
As to the first no one but wilfully
malignant and cowardly sIanderer of brave
men would urge it. The men who suffered
at Andersonville, Salisbury, Florence, Belle
/ Isle and other prison-hells of the so-callcd
! Southern Confederacy were among the
very bravest of the men who fought for the
Union. They were captured in the very
forefront of battle-where only the bravest
men dared 20. Men who skulked TO the
rear were very rarely taken prisoner. They
were not where captures were made. 1t was
the men who joined in the headlong, desper-
ate charge against the enemy's works, who
were the first TO leap over the parapets, who
made the daring reconnaissance TO learn the
enemy's whereabouts and intentions, who
rode on perilous scouts and dashing raids
or who stood as wall across the path o.
the pursuing rebels to insure the safety o.
their reireating comrades. 1t is ineffably
mean and cruel to accuse such men rs these o.
cowardice, in order TO rob them of the pitt
full s. a day for each day of imprisonment
which the bill proposes to give them.
As to the second reason, the amount i:
grossly oyerstated. This is due TO the alb
surd figures which the War Department has
allowed to so out for the past % years al
to the deaths in rebel prisons. Accepted
statistical works which claim TO get thciI
figures from the War Department, make the
number Of deaths in rebel prisons less thar
10000 For example, spofIord's American
Almanac says;
Number OF United States troops who died whii
prisoners Of war. 29,725.
Phistercr's Statistical Record" says:
The Aduiant- General reports that % los mel
are known 20 have died while prisoners OF war il
the hands Of tie enemy.
Fox's RcCimental losses" says:
Died in Confederate prisons So officers and 2i,7s
men. Ia addition 10 this number iher
were 200 who died while prisoners. and who ar
included ia other items Of this classification TIL
, total number Of Union soldiers who died while II
the hands 81 the enemy according 10 this OF gia
report was sJlg5 But owing 10 the ism
perfect records kept at some 81 the CONFIDENT
prisons the deaths are not all included Ia tc for,
, going statement The mortality Of Union prison
e ers, shown by The graves, has becn estimated .
90 3gl.
To show how absurdly inadequate ar
these figures we viii give the following q
to the number Of graves in several Nation.
Cemeteries, where none but prisoners Of th
war were buried:
..........-..f3.7
Danvilc, ..i .
n Florence, = N
Salisbury, y. ...-........l2l
an 81