The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-02
SOLDIERS AND PENSI0 Ms
Action in Reference to New Jersey
Matters by Congress.

WASHINGTON, april x, lcS1.-lne CoM-
mittee on Commerce has reported favor
ably bill to reconvey certain lands to
the original grants in order that the Sec
retary of the Treasury may select a more
eligible site for the proposed light station
at Squaw inlet. Through mistake the
wrong land was purchased by the Govern
ment. and this action is necessary to
remedy the error.
The Committee on Military Affairs, at
the instance of Representative Bergen,
recommends that James A. Finley be
restored to his position as surgeon in the
army, and that he be placed on the re-
tired list with the rank of captain.
The Committee on Pensions reports in
favor of granting pension to Susannah
Chadwick, of New Jersey, on account OF
the services of her father in the war of the
Revolution. The Adjutant General OF
the State certifies to the service of the
father, who was lieutenant In the First
Regiment, Monmouth county.
The committee also recommends that
Ellis. r. Phipps. late lieutenant of Com
pany G, Twelfths New Jersey, be given q
pension of $72 month.
Senator Blodgett has asked the commit
tee to report in favor of a pension for ia.
COD Dissenger, of New Jersey, who served
in the Florida war of 1886
CONFEDERATE MUSTER ROLL.
Representative Belknap of the Military
Commit wants Congress to make q
full and complete enumeration OF the
names borne upon the muster rolls of the
Confederate Army, which are on file In
the War Department. There has been
in the past as is known, so much conten-
| ton as to the real strength of the Confed'
crate forces that Colonel Belknap thinks
an ''ofIicial count" should be made in the
| interests of truth and history. particularly
as no large expenditure would be re-
quired. The champions of the South hold
| Ing the doctrine that lone rebel can whip
| five Yankees"have uniformly belittled the
| numerical strength OF the armies OF the
| Confederacy, while on the other hand
TO be just, the Northern element has as
uniformly endeavored to bring the num-
| ber of Confederate up to about the size
| of the Federal forces in every fight oi
| the war of any magnitude. An honest
count" il is thought is now in order to
settle the question as to just how many
| fighing men jeff Davis had under his Or
derS
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
The number of inmates in the Natl ona
| Soldiers Homes is steadily increasing
| from year to year, as the volunteers gel
older and become disabled. The increase
| last year was about eight per cent. The
total number of soldiers cared for last
| year was 14,634, but at different times
| 19. 455 veterans have been supported, put
| not all at the same time. ln RECOMMENDS
| ing the reappoinLment of Gen eral Sewell,
| of New Jersey, and General McMahon. oi
New York, as mem bers OF the Board oil
Managers for another term OF six years
| the House Committee on Military Affairs
says '.they have carefully aided III guard
| ing the interests of the Government, as
we'll as those of the aged and disabled vet
| Grams in these homes"
Secretary Elkins recommends that the
| time be extended within which soldiers
| of the late war can apply to have their
records amended and secure an honorable
discharge. The law expires by limita-
| ton on July l, next. and the Secretary
| thinks it should run another three years.
| He says that it has become manifest to
| the department that many OF the more
| meritorious soldiers charged on the army
1 rolls with desertion become aware of the
1 existence of the charge only upon filing q
| claim for bounty or pension, and hence
the presentation of their claim for re.
| have been more ready to apply for the
relief afforded by law. The limitation
| therefore, he says. becomes in effect dis
| elimination against the better class ol
| soldiers.
| The above statement Of the Secretary Is
| given for the reason that it Is of great In
| terest to hundreds of New Jersey soldiers
| as we'll as thousands in other States.
| 1t is probable the law will be extended
| for another three years. Perhaps, in this
connection, it should be added that nun
| dreds, and even thousands of gooC
| soldiers who served during the war, are
| for some lapse in their record, technically
| considered deSerterS under the regula
| lations of the departments. and IL is thi:
class that the secretary desires shall have
every opportunity to correct their mill
| ifurv racOrd