The National tribune., 1892-04-21
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National HeadQuar-
ters---Notes from the Departments
THE ARMY NURSE BILL.


the text OF the compromise Army nurse Dill 10"
pending before Congress- as reported by the
House Committee on Invalid Pensions.
| The bill Is the result of conference between
the National Pension Committee Of the Woman's
| Relief Corps and the Army Nurse Association.
which have heretofore been pressing different bills
Now. It Ia one thing to get q favorable report from
| the committee and quite another thing to pass the
bill. The only way TO Its passage Is by all
| hands joining together and pushing 1t through.
| Friends comrades and Relief Corps members
| everywhere, should write their own members of
Congress and ask them to vote for this bill Read
the report Of the committee carefully, and sec il
you cannot do something to put the bill through.
And do 1t to-day. Do not wait until tomorrow
| tomorrow may be too late. Do it ut once, and do
| not forget the number of the bill-House bill
1894
| Be It enacted by the Senate aud House Of Repre-.
sentores Of the United States in Congress assembled
| That any woman who served as an Army Nurse IN
the actual personal and nursing OF the SICK ana
! wounded during tho civil war, either in field or
! general hospitals of the United States, and who
continued in such care and nursing of the sick and
| wounded not less than six months, ana VINO Is
| without other adequate means OF support IMAM ner
| own daily labor shall, upon making due PROOF OF
the fact according such rules and regu atons as
the Secretary of the Interior provide, be placed
upon the pension roll of tho United States nnd De
entitled to receive Sl2 per month; and suon pension
| shall commence from the date OF hng the hppll.
| cation In the Pension Office after the passage OF
this act: Provided, That any pension grahted, I'M
der any former law, to any applicant under this
act, shall terminate from the date OF commence
ment OF the pension under this act: Pr0utded Jur-
| hor That person now receiving a pension, III
Army Nurse, under any special act shall Do en-
| titled to receive pension under this act.
REPORT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE
To accompany II. K. 1904
The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom
referred the bill tI. r. 729i granting pensions
to Army Nurses submit the following report'
Prom the best authorities attafnnble, 1t is asceT-
| tanned that the number of persons who would be-
come beneiciaries under this bill would not proba-
bly, exceed 800. II, indeed 1t would reach THAT num-
| Der.
The Association of Army Nurses with headquar-
tiers at Washington, ID. c.. and the w oman's Relei
Corps of the United States, have both been en-
! gagged during the past two years in conducting
thorough correspondence throughout inc e en-,
country, with a view to secure complete list al
| such women as served as Army Nurses during the
civil war.
| While their lists do not absolutely harmonize,
there is sufficient in their statements, when COM
pared to show that together they have occurred the
names and addresses of approximately the entire
number of such nurses and such corresponding
does not secure list even largo as that stated,
300. who could possibly become benefeiaries under
| this act.
| This small band OF noble women are the sole re-
manning representatives of class OF patriotic
women who came from every section OF our land.
In their service they knew North no South.
As angels of mercy they came to care Tor ana COM
fort both blue and gray. They minlstered 10 tie
needs of the suffering everywhere. On field or in
gentle touch was given to assua9e sorrow ana
pain.
Many OF them were women of wealth who lef'
comforta BILE homes and worked without pay; many
giving OF their own means to relieve the suf-
ferngs of the sick and wounded soldiers.
Others who received small payment for their SER
vices parted with that scanty sum OF money to
purchase food and medicine for tho soldier boys
under their charge
Many were broken down in health and suoh, IL
living to-day. are among the sufferers from that
war.
The benefits of this billapply only to such Army
Nurses as ARE without other adequate means Of
support than their own daily labor"
The claims for pensions have always been
granted 10 this class. when presented to Congress
in the form of private bills, with proper evidence
furnished; and both rs a matter OF economy ana
justice your committee recommend that the bill be
amended as follows:
Strike out the word "every In the third line OF
the bill. and insert In It's stead The word any y;
strike out the word ARE" in the seventh line. and
insert In its stead the word is" Also strike out
the word their" In the eighth line, and insert In
It's stead the word her." And that as so amended
PENSION NOTES.
One OF the busiest women In the land Is Past
National President Annie Witteumyer, who has
been doing effective pension work for private Army
Nurse bills ~ Washington, as well as for the gen
eral bill.
Harrfette L. Reed Secretary Of the National Pen
sion Committee, who has been doing good work at
Washington for the Army Nurse pension bill has
returned to her home at Dorchester, Mass.
FROM MRS wITTENMYER.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Charity Rusk Craig, Past Ma
tonal President. who had planned TO spend part of
the Winter in Washington with her father, Secre-
tary Ruslc has been detained Mt home by the sick
ness Of her children. Little Charity, who
adopted by the National W.H.C at Milwaukee, has
been very i'll. but is now recovering, and is con-
sidered cut of danger.
The Iowa Legislature has made generous APP
prnton for the opening Of cottages at the Soldiers
Home for soldiers with their wives, aid the
mothers and widows Of soldiers. An appropria-
ton also made for the erection OF q soldiers
monument 1T Des Moines.
Cautwcll Corps, l55, Kenton, o., sent barrel OF
canned fruit to The National W.R.C. Home recently
peaches. pears, cherries pickles. jellies and jam.
II WINS a valuable present.
The Provisional Department Of Maryland has
organized Corps at Grand Falls and Butte City,
and are ready to institute Corps at Mosule They
can now, when IL cults their convenience, form "a
permanent Department.
simpson Smith. an active wR.C. worker, Of
Brooklyn, n. Y, has sent 10 volumes TO the Ma
tonRl Home library. They are Interesting and
Annie Lynch, the eldest daughter of our Past
National Secretary. has been dangerously ILL., but ID
now convalescing.
National Headquarters for tho 10Th National
Convention have been secured at the Ebbitt House.
Great preparations are being made for W.RC.
fair at Pittsburg for the benefit of their Home at
Brook vile, Pa.-Annis Wittenmyer, Washington,
ID. q,
WOMAN TYPES OF THE AGE.
It is always inspiring to learn what the women
OF the far West doing in the Relief Corps ranks,
and The story that comes from Bozeman, Mont, of
joint Campfire of VIM. English Post and Corps
is of more that usual interest. OF this occasion
Mary u. Cariin, Corps Secretary, writes follows
OF the little band of women who had much
| hope SO much faith and moral courage, the char
| ter members of the Woman's Relief Corps,
| much cannot be said in praise. We who have
! Joined you almost at the twelfth hour feel very
| humble in the presence OF our foremothers of tho
| Corps or the FIRST officers of the Relief Corps
what shall say that will not sound like faint
| praise? To learn their new roles, to bring order
out of chaos, 10 systenatiZ9 and transact business
| In "A business-like manner all this must have
quircd mountains of patience and perseverance.
There must have been hours dark aud full of per-
! plexity Happily those times seem past. This
| complex machine called the Relief Corps moves
| apparently without jar. The wheels kept
well fabricated with Fraternity, Charity and
| Loyalty.
| May God In His infinite mercy spare US the hor-
rors of another war; but If 1t should come, who
can doubt that from all over the land. and from
| the Womans Relief Corps Of Bozeman town, there
| will come women equal to any demands made
| upon them. Woman Is always typical of her age
| aud the times she lives In and though the times
may not call for any of US to emulate the deeds OF
the inspired shepherd girl of France. Joan OF A re-
at the head of armies, there will be many Flor
ence Nightingale and no lack of Clara Bartons.
| Perchance come will write the hymns OF the Ma
ton and one has said Let me but write the songg
of the Nation, care not who writes her laws"
To many will fall that hardest part OF woman to
| sit at home, to wait and pray maybe grooming a
| land. But whatever 1t Is. We shall be ready and
| ecu al TO the call.
| DEPARTMENT OF OHIO.
| The ninth annual Convention. Department Of
Ohio will be held ut Piqua, May 10; sessions TO DO