The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-21
FOR THE VETERANS.
Senator Davis Of Minnesota Ex-
plains the Pension Bill Now Before
Congress.

Congress-.
In the senate on the 18th inst. Sen.
ator Davis explained at length the
pension bill as it was agreed upon by
the conference committee. AS hereto
| fore stated, the service clause is strick.
en- out. Provision is made for graded
pensions from So to $l2 per month IN
certain cases, according to the degr, o
OF disability. Another feature is nal
agous to the Mexican pension act, Civ.
ing to widows $8 per month where the
death OF the husband is not the result
OF casualty, and ~ per month where
1t Is proven that death is the result OF
casualty. Senator Davis said, in re-
ply to questions from Senator'S Cor.
man and Platt, that the hest esti-
| mates the committee could make
placed the annual amount of
money called tor under the bill
at $4O,0OO,OOO more than the
amount which would have met the
conditions OF the senate bill as origin
ally passed. Senator Davis, however,
SAID that it was impossible to make
accurate estimates. He would place
the total under the new bill at SAL.
OOO.0O0 or $40, 100000, but would
not be surprised if it went a couple of
millions under or over that amount
The bill reported from the confer
enCe was the best that could be agreed
on by the six men making up the con
ference. Some features did not suit
Senator Davis, but he had agreed to
them alter coming to the conclusion
that, unless compromises were made,
no pension legislation would be posi-.
Die at this session OF congress. The
present bill gave a pension to every ele-
ment that had asked one. "lf the
senate begins making changes Ishould
despair OF any legislation" said Sen.
ator Davis. AS TO the question or
DEPENDENT PARENTS,
he said that all the change made by
the bill from existing law was that,
whereas existing law required depen.
dency to exist at the time OF the sol
dier's death, the pending measure
merely required dependency at the
time OF the application. Mr.. Ed
munds inquired what was the pension
OF dependent parents. Mr.. DAVIS re-
piled that it was the came as under
existing law. He went on to say that
the house substitute had contained q
provision for service pensions for the
benefit OF all who had reached the age
OF sixty years. That bad been the
substantial point oidifference between
the Conferrees. As the result of much
discussion and considerable alterca,
ton, that feature Of the bill had been
entirely eliminated aud the conference
had agreed to strike out the words
land who are dependent upon their
daily labor, or on the contributions Of
others not legally bound to their sup.
port" The senate bill, he said, had
fixed the rate OF pensions unqualified
ly at $12 a month, but that the con.
ferees had changed that and agreed to
q pension not exceeding $ll and not
less than $6. A TO widows and min
or children, the provision OF the sem
ate bill had been substantially pen
sion to the widow OF not less than 81 9
a month, irrespective OF the cause Of
the soldiers death-whether attribut-
able to service or not. That provi-
sion had been the subject OF consider
able discussion in conference, and the
result had been a combination OF both
the senate and the house provisions.
Mr.. Plumb suggested that the matter
should lie over until the report was
printed-with the bill as 1t would bs
IL the report was agreed to. Mr.. Dav-
is gave his consent, but said he would
have to be absent part OF next week.
The report went over aud was order.
ed printed, with the bill rs agreed to
by the conference.
APPROPRIATIONS THUS FAR MADE.
In remarks on the conference report
on the urgent deficiency pension ap-
preparation bill, Representative Hen
dsrson OF Iowa, in the house made the
following statement OF the appropria.
tions made by the present house for
the benefit OF the soldiers.
Regular pension bill. sos 427, Sol
| Urgency deficisncy."...,........... 21,6l3,O ,OO9
Soldiers homes deficiency. S1,609
Artificial limbs (deficiency).... 10000
Pay and bounty ciaims......" 1.123. 629
Soldiers omes.....-.........,".. 2.60l, 765
Aid Tor state homes. 400, 900