The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-11

By the time this paper reaches its
readers Congress will probably have adj
journed, and the work for this session
will have ended.
Much to our disappointment and re-
greet, it did not take up the Service Pen
sion Bill and pass it, nor has the Senate
passed the Picker Pension Bill.
1t is not of much profit now to discuss
the reasons which led to this. The rea-
sons for the failure of the House to take
up and pass Service Pension Bill were
the feelings of hopelessness in the minds
of majority that the Senate would
agree to such bill, or that the Presi-
dent would sign it. The Senate was tie,
and the detection of the five Free Silver
Senators on the Tariff Bill was fatal to
any hope of increasing the revenue, and
very MANY men would not vote for any
increase in pensions in face of con-
stantly enlarging deficit in the Treasury.
Had it not been for the indefensible
course of Teller and his four colleagues
the Service Pension Bill would have had
a good chance of passing both Houses
and going to the President.
This chapter having closed, what shall
open next?
Our advice, more earnest than ever,
is to Rally on the Service Pension"
The principle Of the Service Pension
is PROFESSIONALLY right Its expediency
is beyond doubt, and no one can dispute
that its passage is demanded by every
consideration of National Justice and
honor
In the beginning of the agitation for
a Service Pension we urged rate of IS |
a month. This was for considerations of |
expediency, which we fully explained |
at the time. The all-important consider |
alton was to get something at once for
the 100000 comrades who are denied |
admission to the pension rolls under the |
harsh and unwarranted construction of |
the laws by the present Administration.
We believed Service Pension of IS a
month might be gotten through both
Houses and be signed by the President
where no other measure would have a
chance. This would give the veterans
something to live on while waiting for
times to change and new Administra-
ton to come In.
These reasons no longer prevail. New
conditions now dominate. The next will
be the short session of Congress. There
will be the same trouble with the Senate
and as to President, but We will then be
on the eve of the incoming of new Adj
and the influences will be
different.
The thing to do now is to unite soIidly
upon Service Pension Bill with rate
of not less than SO month. We can
secure this beyond a doubt if we pre-.
sent solid front in favor of it, and
a proper determination to have
it passed.
Let us do this. Let the comrades
everywhere and their friends take up the
work of consolidating sentiment in favor
Of the immediate passage of a Service
Pension Bill with rate of So month.
Let everyone be resolutely in favor of
this, and impress the same strongly upon
every present Member of Congress, and
every man who wants to be member
Of the next Congress. Let them thor
oughly understand that the soldiers want
his, and will be satisfied with nothing
ess Let it be made prominent feature
Of every political convention and gather
ing, and the attainment of the result will
be certain.
Comrades, 60 to work zealously on
these lines, and victory will be certain.
GEN. GRosvENoR has put in probe
where it touches quivering nerve by
securing the passage of resolution in
reduced by him some time ago request
mo from the President and tho co,o.al |