The National tribune., 1896-01-16
OUR SERVICE PENSION BILL,

| straightforward as possible
Above all things, we desire to get
some general pension legislation through
Congress this Winter, for the benefit OF
the hundreds of thousands of comrades
who are receiving nothing, and can
receive nothing, under the present in
terpretation of the laws now on the
statute-books. The surest method OF
bringing them relief is the passage OF
some such bill as this, which viii make
at least so much of a pension as So q
month a matter of right to every man
who wore the blue for 80 days and was
honorably discharged.
Again we impress upon the comrades
the urgent fact that the situation now
is very peculiar. The condition Of the
Treasury, the political complexion OF
the Senate, and 1.-The attitude of the
President combine to make the steering
Of pension bill through this session
an exceedingly delicate matter. And
it must be steadily kept in nil i taat
this condition and its effects WI virtu-
ally last for two We, rs. President
Cleveland will not 60 out of office until
March 4, 1897, and there will he no
radical change in the Senate until that
time. Nearly another year must then
elapse before the new Congress and the
new President have any opportunity at
pension legislation. Consequently, it
will be fully two years from now before
We can expect any broadly-liberal pen
sion legislation, such as we all desire. :
The next step in this reasoning is that
we must content ourselves until then
with such piecemeal legislation as we
can from time to time work through.
We are, beyond all doubt or perad-
venture, convinced that the best start we
can make in this way is by combining
TO man on some such simple measure
as this, and bring such united pressure
on the Senate and President as will secure
its passage 1t is absolutely necessary
for this purpose that we put forth at this
time only one fundamental proposition,
upon which we can agree among our
selves, and which will give as little OPP
portunity as possible for captious objec-
ton IN the Senate, and pretext for veto
by the President Every additional fea-
ture that is incorporated in the bill. every
additional sentence even, endangers its
passage by making possible hooks on
which to hang fatal objections.
Here is the draft of the bill:
A BILL providing a Service Pension for all
honorably-discfargcd soldiers. etc
BE IL enacted By The Senate aud House Of
Representatives. Of The United States Of Am0ica
ia Congress assembled, That the Secretary of
the Interior I've, and he is hereby, authorized
and directed TO place ON the pension roll. upon
application therefor. at the rate of 81 per
month, the names Of the surviving honUrahly-
discharged officers and enlisted men Of the
Military and Naval Services of the United
States who actually served 30 days, or more
subsequent to the 4th Of March. 1861, and
prior to the both Of August, 1S66.
Froridod, That persons who are now re-
ceiying pensions. or whose claims are now
pending or may hereafter be filed under any
other law, may, on application and showing
themselves entitled, receive the benefits of
this Act without being thereby declared from
fling or prosecuting claim for or receiving
pension under any other law ProUidcd, That
no person shall receive more than one pension
for the same period, and that rank IN the SCI
vice shall not be considered in applications
filed under this Act Proridef fuyfhcY. That
the benefits of this act shall not be extended
10 any person who did not serve 90 DAYS or
more in the Military or Naval Service of the
United States between the 18th Of March 1861.
and the Doth of August, 1866, and who did
not receive an honorable discharge for such
service
That all laws or parts Of laws which conflict
with the provisions Of this Act shall be, and
the same are hereby, repealed.
The passage Of such bill viii secure
/. An absolute, indefeasible, irrevoc-
able right of every man who served 90
days and was bonorably discharged TO
pension of at least S. a month. This
viii be given him as a matter Of actual
right, and cannot be taken away By any
official, high or low. 1t will be un-
affected by any political vicissitudes.
2. 1t will bring immediate relief to
something ike 100000 comrades, whose
claims are pending, and who have as vet
been unable to receive anything, with
the probability that very few will get
anything for at least another year and
more from now.
3. II viii not in the least bar or even