The morning times., 1896-03-02
TH|RTY-YEiR FIGHTERS
Bill Before Congress to Grant
Communication of Quarters.
FOR PRIVATE SOLDIERS ONLY
They Fought in the Rebellion and
Followed Noted Generals in All
Their Indian CanipaigD--HaveSe
More Service Than Any Army in
the World-w hat the Bill VIII Do.

over a thousand retired soldiers living
around Washington are deeply interested
i'll bill now before Congress.
The men affected by the measure are
priyates AMI non commissioned Officers
who have seen thirty or more years OF
actual service The bill will increase their
income simply 10y an allowance for com
mutation OF quarters.
Some of these men are the survivors of
many OF The most noted battles in American
history. Many OF them not only served
during the war of the rebellion but after
wards followed Custer. Crook Miles and
Others through the Indian campaigns,
which have made the United States regular
soldier The glory OF the profession. Now
in their old age d grateful but slow acting
country is urged 10 dO something for them.
\ CLOUDED PROSPECT.
All the government departments are
closed against them These men who have
riSScd their lives fcarlcssIy in the yea rs
of the past have but little political in
fldcuCc. The saddle and the tent have
been their home, for a generation and the
saddle and tent are not recognized in
politics. They have no vote, they have no
political residence nd politicians can laugh
at them * they see fit.
They cannot go IT, the Soldiers Home
nor j. IL desirable that they should. for
they have earned IL right TO Il comfortable
home. earned II 10y years or long and arCluGus
service. If they want TO live among
kindred aud friends they should have this
privilege.
These men cannot be pcnsioned, they are
shut off from that. They are not OF were
not Officers and that works against them.
The privatcs and non commissioned Of
ficerS are glad OF il but think they should
have enough TO live on.
SO il Is that the following bill has heen
introduced in Congress and has been
favOrably reported nv the Committee on
Military Affairs: That when an en-
listed man las served thirty years in the
United States Army. Navy or Marine
Corps. lie shall, by making application,
be placed on the retired list with 30 per
Centum Of his pay and allowances of the
rank upon which he was retired, AMI $50
per month as Communication Of quarters"
THE AMENDMENT.
This bill which amends chapter 81 OF
the statutes at large of the United States,
does il only i'll the one point OF aiding
the communication fCrQuarterS. ThisamOuntS
10 $50 per month and would be d most
welcome addition TO their income. The
report Of the Committee on Military AZ
fairs says
The primary object and aim of all
legislation should be toward exact and
impartial justice. al least so far as statu-
tory rndCtmtnls can effect sucn results.
A period Of thirty years almost equals the
average life OF general ton. and few are
sble to fully round out such period in any
service. Such S have been thus faithful
III any line of service are justly entitled to
the honorable need OF praise. but when they
have served their country in either the
Army or Navy for a period of thirty con-
secutive years, and have been honOrably
retired from such service, the remainder
OF their lives should be surrounded by as
many OF the comforts Of life as may be
reasonably possible.
The purpose of the law Of 1855. and
the amendment thereto OF 1890, was to
secure these results. but by the passage OF
this bill all ambiguity of prior legislation
toward this end VIII be removed. Under
existing law the class designed to be
benefited by this bill are clearly entitled
10 something which is not so clearly de-
fined "a would seem necessary. and the
passage Of this bill is therefore required
in order that this class may obtain what
previous legislation intended them 10 re-
CeiTe.''