The National tribune., 1890-06-19
TIE DISABILITY BILL.


last week took up the bill which had been
reported to it from the Committee of Con-
ference on the Pension Bill and passed
it Mt once, without amendment of any
kind. Undoubtedly, the Senate will do
the same, and it may be that before this
paper reaches its readers the bill will
have been concurred in by that body and
sent TO the President for his signature In
every particular the bill is exactly what we
have said for weeks that it was likely TO
be- and in this respect, as in every other
matter connected with pension legislation,
! THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has been far ahead
of all its competitors and constantly fur
nished its subscribers with more reliable in
formation than could be found anywhere
else. Most of the so-called pension news
furnished by papers assuming to speak on
! the subject has been ridiculous in its in-
accuracy, and has grossly misled those who
have relied upon the information.
The text of the BILL as reported from the
Conference Committee and passed by the
House will be found in another column.
Careful examination of the bill will show
that it provides:
l. That where a veteran has died from any
cause which entitled him to a pension, and
/ hoe 10 Z. so, n 90, -, ia he 10
| pendent parent shall be entitled TO pension,
upon proof of his death, and that they are
now without means of support. This is a just
| liberalization, in that it makes it no longer
necessary to prove that they were dependent
upon their son at the time of his service in
the army, only that they now need the sup
| port which he would give them if alive II
is measure of justice which has been much
too long delayed. 1t should have been made
the law years ago.
2. That all men who served so days or
more in the army or navy, were honorably
/ discharged, and who are now suffering from
any chronic mental or physical disability
which prevents them from performing sui1i-
cient manual labor to earn a support, shall
be placed upon the pension-roll Mt not more
than So nor less than Sc month, accord
ing TO the degree of disability. This sec
ton has been made quite broad and liberal
compared 10 the form in which IL was first
introduced, some years ago, and has been
freed from many of the features to which
the comrades generally urged strong OBJ
jections. In the first place, it is not at all
necessary to show any connection between
the disability and the claimants service, the
only restriction being that it shall not be
due to his own vicious habits Any dis
ablement, arising from any other cause
whatever, entities him TO pension. Second.
this disability is measured by his capacity
10 perform the full amount of manual labor
that an ordinary able bodied man should.
Lack Of power TO do this constitutes disa-
bility in the meaning of the bill. The in
PRODUCTION Of the manual labor" clause
was excellent amendment, since IL gives
the benefit of the provision to those who,
though physically disabled, may yet be able
to earn their support otherwise than by
manual labor. The obnoxious requirement
of dependence has been eliminated, which
does away with the necessity of proving
paupeTism, saves the veteran from the mean
attacks that might otherwise be made
upon him by personal and partisan
enemies, gives those whose industry and
frugality have secured little homes for them
selves an addition which will help them to
be comfortable, and, above all, places the
pension upon the only right and honorable
ground: that is, that il is the payment of
just debt TO the claimants, which the Gov
eminent bound itself to pay, and is there
fore not in any sense aims or a gratuity.
The acceptance Of this pension does
not IN any way affect any claims that the
veteran may have under other laws. If
/ be chooses he can take his claim under this
Law and drop his other application, or he
can take this while pushing his other claim
4 10 an allowance. The old vicious provision
4 that the soldier must make final election
ar to which law he viii take under is def.
nitely banished
g. That all women who are now widows
OF shall hereafter become widows-prO-
Vided they were married prior TO the passage
Of the bill-of men who served 80 days or
more in the army or navy, and were honora-
/ bly, discharged, shall, upon proving their hus-
bands death, and that they are without other
means Of support than their daily labor, be
/ placed on the pension roll at IS month,
/ with 81 month additional for every child
under the age Of lG. The pension of the
widow is 10 cease upon her remarriage but
the pension 10 the orphan shall continue
until 1t is ~, and if mentally or physically
helpless shall continue during the life OF
said child. No connection need be estab.
lished between the husbands death and his
army service. This is recognition Of the