The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-27
GROSVENOR'S POSITION.
lie Defines Explicitly His Attitude on the Pension
Question.
~ lctter oxnlains itself,

The following letter explains itself;
HoUsE or REPREsENTATIvEs. L. g.,
WASHINGTON, ID. G.. March !, 1890.
Capt JoHN T. RAPER, Chillicuthe, ..
DEAR SIR; IL seems a little strange that. after /
have substantially devoted my life for - years TO
the interests of the soldiers, ] should be called
upon now 10 define my position upon question: in
which the soldiers are interested. Little people
hunting around to iniurc somebody who stands in
their way constantly found to raise the ques-
ton upon every public man, aud especially every
prominent Republican, ~ to how lac stands on this
question or that question. They class oil pco-
Pile who trim their sails meet the sudden shifting
of the wind aud they cannot appreciate principles
OF action, and never chnngc except when convinced
by study and observation that he is wrong.
Another class of individuals write 10 Congress.
men, What you going to do about service
pensions? Boys getting very tired waiting.
Then, when the worn aud wearied Congressman
hastily writes letter covering, perhaps. one phase
of the question: they rush fRuCally into the news
papers with II, hoping To get little personal no.
toreiy themselves and iniiict injury upon the Con
gresham
Now my position in regard to this question has
been long ngo defined To bc this: viii vote for
nuy bill that has for lis aim the lettering of tho
dition of the soldiers of the war that can be passed
IN Congress. will vote for general service pen
sion bill Of Si2 month la every honornbly'dis
charged soldiers OF the war. If cannot get that
sort OF bill passed will vote for bill That will
give IS "a month. Failing ina that. viii support
the so-csed per diem pension bill, md fRiling la
securing the passage of either Of these bills.
will vote for disability bin. Not dependent bill.
fed, as hhve modified H. by tho bill which In
Produced myself into This Congress. | will not
compromise on the disability bill which Cleveland
vetoed. There were objectionable features in that
billobjectionHbc 70 the soldier il did moi go FIR
enough: but will not repeat la any bill Lbnt sup
ported some ofthc language Of that bill iut the bill
which introduced aud which. with all due respect
To the criticisms That have been mnde upon u. |
believe comes within very close point Of being
scrvice-pension bill 10 iis effect aud operation.
and obyiatcs all that difficulty.
The lanEuage which use and which Is descrip-
tive of the class OF people 10 be benefited, Is rs
follows:
more in tho military naval service al the Uueei
States during the late war OF the rebellion. and
who have been hnnorably discharged ti,ercfroin,
aiid WHO are now, oEsw who may hereafter hr, Hnior'
lng from fneuial or physical disability. not The re-
suit OF their own vicious habits. which tBchpaei-
tates them from the performance OF labor 10 the
full measure of an abo.bodicd man. Aud who are
without other full aud adequate means OF support
for themselves and families" etc, etc. fixing the
rate nj S2 Il month.
II will be scen that instead OF the language In
the Grand Army bill which Is ns follows:
Which iueapaeiiBtes them for the performance
OF manual labor IureflhiD ia is meaning and
indriti1ic To such nn extent to render IL qnes-
ton 81 controversy.
My bill would pension every soldier Of lhs was
who ~ to-day uHpensioHrd except tho nsffiUifRires
and men with fixed incomes from bonds stocks OF
other investments large enough 10 support their
families.
50 now you have my position, aud hope Il will
not again be misunderstood.
wns u delegate TO the last National tncamrmcni
J voted 10 adopt ibe report of the Committee OF
Resolutions. nHd ~ representative Hni
bound by the action OF that body. and ia Congress
VIII do All that cntiifst. Tor the Service Pension
bill at si2 month aud ifssye faii ia that | viii
work aJ,d vote for the mex. best thing get.
spend more than ono.half 81 my time and more
Than 500 iponl 10 nid the soldiers ol my district
in the matters of their pensions but II il absurd
Tor anyone 10 b. seeking little cheap ciirhatotts
noioricty by CTttIcisirg men who have never fti
tered tn their defense aud support % the intcre.
OF the soldier. The Republicans after lhc trrribl,
struggle here Ia Congress, ia which participated
with whatever ability may possess. secured pro
vision la the rules which authorize the Pension
Committee 10 report Ht any time. This ENSURES the
passage Of valuable legislation. What it may he
depends upon lhc wisdom OF the majority ia Con
gress. We don't all think alike, and cornTadcl
must not Insist that the Starving soldier the sui
fcTing wife and child shall continue TO suffer ant
HiHrye. unless IA bill such rs they would have, 1
they had tkoir say. can bo passed.
want 10 get rid Of the folly Of attempting Il
prove at this late day That disabilities with whcl
our comrades all Ia degree afflicted weFi
produced by service la the war, and I want l,
make an easy pathway 10 pension for the mot
who deserve sympathy More than this the hon
orable soldier of the country does not want Les
than this !. on his behalf, will not take.
Yours. truly, &. II. GHosyESoR