The National tribune., 1896-02-06
Ex-PRIsONERS OF WAR.
A Circular from the National President In
Regard to the Hainer Bill.

Ex-PRISONERS OF WAR.
| A Circular from the National President In
Regard to the Hainer Bill.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF UNIoNl
Ex-PRIsovERs OF WAR.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,
MfSNEHAHA, MINI. Jan. Is, 1896.
| To Union Err Prisoners Of War, Greeting:
COMRADES: Very early in the session Of the
present Congress bill gran ting pensions to sol
| diers and sailors confined in so-called Confed-
| crate prisons introduced by Hon. +. ].
Hainer, OF Nebraska a m cas- ure so fair and Just
| in its character that il will commend itself 10
| all Union Ex-Prisouers Of War. Its provisions
are identicslly what were designed by the COM
| mittee having charge OF bill on the part Of the
| National Association. and it has been deemed
| best to avoid complication or division OF the
/ purpose and strength by uniting on the Hainer
! bill. The recommendation Of the committee
| has received the unanimous approval Of the
| Executive Committee, and the Hainer bill,
known as III. K. 306. has, by such action, been in
| dorsed by the National Association, Union Ex-
| Prisoners of War. and should receive the hearty
and earnest support of each Local Association
and every Union Ex- Prisoner Of War. The bill
| is herewith printed in full for your infOrna-
/ tion and guidance:
That the Secretary Of the Interior be- and
| he is hereby, authorized and directed to place
on the pension roll the names Of each and all
| officers, soldiers, sailors. aud marines now
| viving, who while in the service of the United
States and in the line of their duty. were taken
| prisoners of war and rs such confined in So
called Confederate prisons between the first day
OF May, 1861, and the first day Of May, 1865;
and there shall be paid to every officer soldier,
sailor, and marine so placed on the pension roll
the sum of 81 for each and every day he was so
confined in any such prison and, furthermore,
and in addition, such surviving prisoners of
war shall each receive the sum OF $l2 for each
month during the remainder of his natural
life
Provided, That each pension shall in each
case begin from the date of the passage of this
act and be paid at the same time and in the
same manner as other pensions are now paid:
ProUidcd further, That this act shall not en-
title any person to draw more than one pension,
but that such surviving prisoners of war as are
entitled to and are receiving q pension at the
time of the passage Of this act shall be entitled
to the increase Of their pension which this act
may grant them, and in no event shall the fact
that person is drawing pension preclude him
from receiving the full amount of said So per
day in addition to the monthly pension allowed
him.
We have waited long and patiently for this
legislation and recognition from Congress- and
ii We do not make vigorous effort it will be
further and probably indefinitely postponed,
and for that reason, and many others, we
should do our utmost at this time Justice
and humanity demand it from the hands Of our
Government. which the yslor and sacrifices Of
our comrades saved from dissolution and made
its present greatness possible. To secure the
passage of this Just measure should be the OBJ
ject of every Association of Union Ex-Prisoners
of War, as well as every individual comrade.
With combined effort this can be DONE if all, in
dividualy and collectively will earnestly urge
m m her of tn ia ali lar na
measure, and in all reasonable ways solicit
public opinion in its behalf.
The following reasons may be urged. with
others that may suggest themselves, why our
claim is a just one:
First. We were prevented from re-enlisting
and securing large bounties granted to
others, being held in service.
Second. We were deprived Of all opportunity
of securing promotion, while the danger risk
was greatly increased, as shown by the mortal
ity in rebel prisons.
Third Most of the prisoners when brought
into the Union lines were discharged or mns-
tered out of the service, while yet broken in
health, causing them to exDend large sums in
payment for medical treatment, and loss of
time incident to such debility.
These. with. many other facts. constitute a
claim which, if fairly presented before the peo-
pie. will find a ready Endorsement. and Con-
gress will gladly confer long-delayed bene-
faction.
Let the comrades make known to their Rep
resentatives in Congress what they expect
Letters from individuals and petitions and
resolutions from local organizations should be
sent at once Don't sent these to Congress, but |
to the individual members and Senators, asking |
them to support such measure. Send the |
National Secretary a copy of all resolutions
adopted by Local Associations.
No time should be lost in completing the or |
ganiZation of ex-prisoners into Local Assoea-
tions wherever there are enough comrades in q
Town or County to form one and when that is
not practicable every ex-prisoner should cause |
his name to be enrolled on the books of the |
National Association as an individual member. |
This is necessary 20 enable the Association to /
communicate with comrades quickly when any
thing OF importance arises touching their in
terests. All inquiries in regard to Local Asso- |
Citations, individual memberships, badges but |
tons, dues, etc, will be promptly answered by |
Comrade Stephen M. Long, Secretary and |
Treasurer, East Orange, NJ.
Statistical errors appearing in the manu- |
script, "a Reply to JEFF Daviss Article on Treat
ment of Prisoners of War;" our Historian, Louis |
r. Fortescue, has kindly undertaken the re- /
vision of the same, and that is an assurance |
that the work will be faithfully performed and |
the book prepared for the public, perfected in
every detail.
A final word OF appeal: Do not neglect the /
bill before Congress. Work diligently for its |
passage. Earnestly second the efforts of Hon. |
E. ]. Hainer, who is both earnest and hopeful |
of success but your efforts, individually and |
collectively, must be added to his Your Presi- |
dent is i'm communication with him, and is /
being guided to very great extent, rs is the /
Executive Committee, by the advice of Mr..
Hainer, who is excellently informed as to the |
situation. At the proper time the Executive
Committee will be convened in Washington, ID. /
c. Meantime. comrades do your full duty as As
sociations and individuals; work increasingly, |
and success will crown earnest endeavor. De-
serve success by honestly striving to attain it.
Fraternally yours, GEO. W. GRANT,
President.
Official: STEPHEN NJ. LONG, Secretary.