Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-10-16

had afterwards participated in the Re
bellion); the Widows Increase Bill,
which would have been defeated but for
Republican votes; and the insignificant
bill above referred to, to in crease the
pension of those who had lost both
hands or both feet.
And against this we must set the veto
of the Dependent Pension Bill, and the
veto of hundreds of private pension
bills, nearly all of which we're for the
private soldiers, in most needy circum-
stances.
In bright and striking contrast with
this, we nov, place the record with the
first session of the 51st Congress.
The first general pension legislation
brought forward in the 51st Congress,
was to correct an error or oversight in
the act of June l6, 1880, by increasing
the pen. ion of those totally helpless
(Which had been allowed since June,
1880. from $50 per month to S72 per
month, in accordance with the original
intent of that act.
This bill passed both Houses without
division, became a law, and was ap-
proved by President Harrison, March
A. the anniversary of his Inauguration,
and is now the law of the land. This
was a Republican measure. reported
from Republican committee, and
passed by Republican House and
Senate.
The next pension legislation of the
present Congress was the Dependent
Parents Bill, which provides for dis
pensing with the proof of the depen-
denee of the parents of the soldier at
the date of the soldiers death. This
was a Senate bill, and was passed
March /, 1890, by the following vote:
Republicans voting for bill ----- 80
against bill o.
Democrats for bill 10
against bill -
This finally became law. as part of
the Act of June q, 1890, and is the
second Republican measure of this SEES
sion. Upon the Democratic vote alone,
it would have been defeated in both
Houses of Congress.
The next act is that known as 1.-THE
Morrill, Pension Bill, from the fact that
it was introduced by Major Morrill,, the
Republican Chairman of the Committee
on Invalid Pensions.
This bill proposed to pension four
classes: first, all soldiers sixtY-two
years of age who had served in the
Army or Navy or Marine Corps in the
late war for 90 days, and had been hon
orably discharged, second, all who have
present disability equivalent to eight
dollars a month, whether contracted in
the service or not; third, all soldiers
widows sixty-two years of age, and
fourth, soldiers widows who have no
dependence but their personal efforts.
This bill was liberal. simple and easy
of administration. 1t was a purely
service pension bill. coupled only with
an aged disability, or with present
disability, without regard to its having
beer contracted in the service. 1t was
brought forward upon motion to sus-
pend the rules, when it required two
thirds vote to pass it. The vote was as
follows:
Republicans for bill 1876
against bill
Democrats for bill "a
against bill Sc
And so. for the want of the necessary
o-thirds, tho bill was, for the time
being, defeated.
Soldiers will not fail to notice that but
little more than quarter of the Demo-
Gratis voted for that bill. while but one
Republican voted against it.
Again, on April 80, the same bill was
brought forward by Mr.. Morrill,, under
a special order of the Committee on
Rules, when it would require but ma
iority vote to pass the bill.
After a full debate a motion was
made by MIR. Cheadle. of Indiana. to
reduce the age limit to sixty years.
The vote on this amendment resulted
as follows:
Republicans for amendment sixty
years) l4O
Republicans against amendment 0
Democrats for the '' 40
i" against s. Il
The vote was then-April 30-taken
on the Morrill, bill, as modified by the
Cheadle amendment. reducing the age
limit to sixty years, with the following
result: