Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-28
SERVICE PENSION.
Hundreds OF Soldiers in Texas Who will
be Benefited by the Act.
The Majority Report of the Committee EXPLAIN
ing the Provisions of the Bill The
Millions Called For.

Correspondence Of the Gazette.
| WASHINGTON, May I6.-As the service
pension bill is not generally understood,
and as there are hundreds of soldiers in
Texas who will receive the benefits of the
act, if passed, we print the majority re-
port of the committee, explaining the
provisions of the bill:
The first section of this bill proposes to place
on the pension rolls all Of the surviving soldiers
| of the late war of the rebellion who now
! sixty-two years of age and who served ninety
| days or more in the army or navy, aud the re-
malnder as fast as they arrive at that age.
! This proposition is strongly opposed on the
| ground that there is precedent granting
service pension so soon after the close OF the
war. While it is true that service pensions
were not granted to the survivors Of former
wars until n longer period of time had elapsed,
| yet the fact remains that the very principle
| upon which service pension at the
age of sixty-two years is based Is that
at that age the soldier is presumed
to be passed the age of labor and unable longer
to engage in the active duties of life, and on
that account needs the aid of the government
that he fought to defend and maintain. II this
theory be accepted for the true basis OF service
pension, then the question Of the length OF time
which has elapsed after the close of the war does
not materially enter into the consideration OF
the question. A law should be placed on
the statue books as soon after the close Of the
war as any of the soldiers have reached the re-
quired age. The veteran can never more be
sixtv-two years of age than on his sixty-second
birthday, and if a pension IS to be- granted to
him on the theory that at that age ne needs the
aid and assistance of his government, the law
ought to be enacted soon any considerable
number of the soldiers OF war reach that age.
II 1t is urged that longer time should be per-
mitted to pass, so that the number of the sur
vivors may be the less and the cost to the gov
eminent thereby lessened, your committee
would reply that such proposition is utterly
unworthy of consideration by the representa-
tives of a great government.
he M he
those who, not having arrived at the age OF
sixty-two years, are suffering from disabilities
which incapacitate them from pursuing the or
binary ayocations of life. and thus render them
equally disabled from earning q livelihood as
those who have reached the age named in the first
section OF the bill, and are therefore equally
needing and equally enttledto the ala of the gov
eminent. 1t does not require the applicant to
show that he received the disabilities in the
service, but it is broad declaration on the part
of the government that it will generously care
for its brave defenders in their hour of need.
The third section of the bill provides for the
widows of the soldiers who have reached the
age of sixty-two. and carries to the old veteran
the assurance that whenever he is taken from
his family the government shall continue to care
for her who shared his joys and his sorrows dur
ing the remainder of her life.
The fourth section OF the bill provides PEN
sion for all widows OF soldiers irrespective Of
the cause Of death of the husband, provided it
Is shown that they are dependent upon their
own labor for support.
The committee have exhausted every source
of information at their command in their efforts
probable cost under the provisions of this bill.
After a patient and thorough examination they
are satisfied that the figures submitted by the
commissioner OF pensions, which are hereto
attached, are approximately correct. The bill
If enacted into law will place upon the pension
rolls nearly 800 200 of the old and disabled vete-
of the war, about 50 900 widows Of their
deceased comrades, and will increase the PEN
sions of nearly SO, 600 soldiers who are now re-
ceiving less than SIS per month The estimated
cost is $50 625, 3I6 for the fiscal year ending 1891
and there would be probable increase in the
cost for five years Of from 50, 900
to IS, 600, 900 per year. Large as this sum
may seem your committee frmly be-
heve, from the numerous and hearty indorse-
ments which this bill has received from all Sec
lions of the country that this additional bur-
den will be cheerfully borne in caring for those
who now so greatly need the helping hand OF the
government which they by their sacrifices and
suferings defended and preserved.
This bill does not propose to change in any
way the existing pension laws, and those who
received wounds other disabilities in the SER
vice can, therefore. if they prefer to do SO make
their applications and receive their pensions
der the present law. Believing that it Will
bring relief to thousands of pqcrARnd disabled
men and women who entitkdN their coun-
try s gratitude, and that it Is "a ffimple act OF
Justice to those who so gsnet5p4ly made sacri-
H6saifnat tARlr countryzs1o ~ live, your COM
'sstss ress end tHse of the bin
egyg Jus
- knrely Il paesff, Azn4t ~ The use
ID Cascatl ~ will Sk6rk its fdesk 20 on the
system. 81