Telegram-herald., 1890-07-28

one OF the most ust ana humane meas
ures considered by the present Congress
Is embodied in Mr.. Belknap's bill for the
relief of women enrolled as army
nurses. The bill provides, "That all
women employed by the surgical de-
partment Of the United States service as
army nurses, or otherwise officially
recognized as such during the late war
of the rebellion, and who rendered SER
vice IN hospitals in the camp or on the
battle fields for period of six months
or more, and who were honorably re-
lieved therefrom, and who, from the
results of such service, or the infrmi-
ties OF advancing age, are unable TO
earn their own support, shall. upon
making due proof OF the fact, accord
ing to such rules and regulations as the
Secretary of the Interior may prescribe,
be placed on the list of pensioners of
the United States, and paid pension of
twelve dollars per month, and such pen
sion shall commence from the date of
filing the application In the Pension
office after the passage of this act; pro-
vlded, that no person shall receive more
than one pension for the same period"
The classified schedule of female hos
pital employees shows a total of 62S4
women enrolled as nurses. A more
heroic. patriotic, devoted, self-sacrific-
ing band of workers this country never
had. Their equals can doubtless be
found again whenever the country
calls them, but their superiors, never.
IL IS a shame that their noble services
have been overlooked, except so far as
special cases have been presented to
Congress. To the honor of our states
men, be IL said, that all such cases have
been attended to, but the time has
come to make public acknowledge
ment of the great debt of gratitude
which the country owes them.
The following facts, included in the
report of Chairman Belknap, of the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, are of
interest:
"By an order of the War Depart-
ment. issued some time IN 1862, no
woman less than thirty years of age
| was admitted TO the service as n nurse;
and II is fair to suppose that very few
/ OF the survivors OF this noble body of
women are now less than fifty-eight
years of age, while the average must
be much greater. But your committee
/ can only give an estimate based on the
present age of three hundred and
/ eighteen persons who would be bene-
I fited by this act, whose names are
kindly furnished by Mrs. Sarah c. Full
/ Ter. past national president OF the WO-
mans Relief Corps, which discloses the
I following average ages of these people:
/ Thirty between 40 and 80 years, one
hundred and thirty-seven between 80
and 90 years, one hundred and four
between 60 and 20 years, thirty-seyen
between 20 and so wears, and ten be-
tween so and 90yesrs.
From the best authority ob,ainable
/ IL IS quite evident that at least 25 per
cent. Of those recorded az nurses did
not serve SIX months. and therefore
would not come under the provisions Of
I tins act. TINS would reduce the num-
/ Der by one thousand SIX hundred and
| seventy-Oue. OF the balance, IL IL esti-
mated, at the very lowest, 40 per cent.
I have died since the time of their ser
I wee. and some authorities place this
number as high Is 60 per cent. Your
committee believes that medium be-
7 tween these two estimates would g
I nearly right, or, IN other words, 80 per
cent. have died since the time Of their
I service This would leave about
tweuty-thres hundred survivors. and
of thls number about twO hundred
+ have been peusiCned by special acts Of
i Congress. 40 that at the pTesent time
+ there : supposed to he tweuty-one hun
/ dred who receive no pension. and vOur
comm ttee believe that not more than
! One-half Of these can be or would be
I considered under this act. and that bY
the most lheral rulings If the Pension
Department rot more than nine hun
I dred people would be benefited thereby
THIS band Of noble women were
from every section Of the country
+ They made 10 distinction between the
I soldiers of the North and south. They
I we're present IN the hospitals and Or
the battle feids every Ehere. Many a
/ them were women of wealth. aad with
comfortable homes, aod they not only
( worked without ray. but gave n relief
% the sex and wounded solder every
dollar they possessed. Many or them
not only gvng their tine and wealth.
but their hves as veil. Many Others
T receivai small sums for their services
/ ard used tac money thus received tc
+ purchase necessary food ard medE
Cmes for tie sex and wounded. de-.
/ prlving themselves Of every comfort
+ and n ussny wsllkuown instances tax
ing the clothing frorn tHeir own persons
I g hsndage the wounds Of soidlers Hpoa
the battle field.
THE clalms for pensions m thls cas-
( are alwavs granted when presented g