The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-28

THE PER DIEM SERVICE PENSION BILL.
1 In compliance with many requests We.
give in full the report Of the House
Committee on Invalid Pensions, recon-
mending the passage of the Per Diem
Service Pension Bill:
The Committee on Invalid Pensions to
whom was referred the biilStt III. X. 6llS ana
II. r. e552l granting service pension TO
honorably discharged officers and enlisted
men, having carefully considered the same,
respectfully report: -
1t is true that many service pension bills
have been referred TO this committee during
the present session Of Congress, but in some
of them no distinction i5 made between the
man who served the shortest possible term
lone day, for instance) and the man who
served for much longer period (say SIX
months.) Such bills can hardly be correctly
called service pension
Under others the soldier who faithfully
served his country for limited time receives
no recognition whatever, while the name OF
his comrade whose service probably covered
but one day more would be placed on the
roll at the minimum rate.
We think the substitute bill recommended
by the committee will obviate to u marked
extent oil difficulties of this character
The first proposition therein contained rec
ognizes muster-in, irrespective OF service,
and confers a pensionable status for this
aione thus placing all on exactly the same
plane Starting with this as basis, there is
added pension depending exclusively on
the length of service.
These features have tendency to simplify
the pension roll. A mere glance at the face
of the certificate will show IN enlistment an
honorable service, and the length OF that
service.
Sec. 2 reiterates a principle expressed IN
all our pension legislation, to wit, that the
same person shall not receive more than one
pension at any stated time, but that he shall
always have the privilege of electsng to take
under any law by virtue Of which he may
be entitled.
Sec authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior to make such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to facilitate the execu-
ton OF the law.
COST OF THE BILL.
According to the special enumeration made
during the census of 1890 which figures are
generally accepted as approximately correct,
it appears that there were then but 1,l00,O0O
Surviving soldiers and sailors OF the war OF
the rebellion The number of deaths be-
tween 1890 and 1897 may he estimated at
10000 There are now $4,000 lnyalids
drawing pensions, and we will assume that
no new names will be added to tue roll
during the next 13 months. If every re-
manning survivor has a pensionable stains
we will have. in round numbers, about 2O0,-
600 persons TO he benefited by this bill.
Each Of these 100000 persons will he en-
titled to at least S. per month under the
first proposition of section !, and in addition
thereto a pension depending upon the length
Of his service. The average time Of service
may be safely estimated at two years, and, on
this basis, at cent? siayitheaserage month
ly pension will be (s7.3g plus So 5000.
The smallest pension paid under the law is
Sc, and there are at present 81. coo invaiIds
receiving this rate. We will assume that all
OF them take advantage,of fhe provisions of
this bill and that they each receive an IN
crease of $3.50 per month. u
There are 10000 pensions drawing So per
month, and we will make the same assump-
ton in regard to them, the ipension OF each
being increased s.. 80 per month.
The invalids drawing $40 per month will
hardly go to the trouble Of changing from
one to the other for aB increase OF 80 cents
per month.
Taking it for granted that every applica-
ton will be flied within Ole year from July
], 1897 a very remote possibility, we have
the following:
Sn, vivors in 1880 1l00o0C
Deaths bci ween 1890 and 1897 65 coo
100000
Noppcnsioned suryivors......... 2oO0CG
900 600 x $500 X u ....... s.l 72O SOC
50 d, % increased iron, Sc TO $3.50 ... 4I2s03t
co GOO cased from S. to Sl03D 1G56 coo
Total cost per annum oO.JOl, Uol
| But this sum may be further reduced, foI
| according to the computation made by the
| Bureau Of Pensions on June 80, 1895, there
| were but $50. 600 survivors of the war OF the
| rebellion, and from this number we must
deduct the probable number OF deaths dur
/ ing two years, of claims which will be
allowed during Is months, of persons not
having honorable discharges, Of invalids now
on the rolls at SIS ard So who will not take
advantage of the provisions of this bill, and
OF applications which will not be filed with
in one year from July ], 1887.
| Survivors on June so, is95,..... e50.0o
| E-tima, ed number of deatlis.... o0.6OO
| Survivors now drawing pensions 73s. 900
proi,nble increase. ... .......... 1900
| Survivors not h0noraby dis
| charged ...................... $4,000
so0oo
!
Nonpensioned survivors ...... l50GO
|
| $50 coo X $40 so X io....,-....m.. $4,000
| co 0sgo Increased from Sc to &. 030 2096 90
| 30 OG3 increased from SIS TO 5000 s.s.G0
Total cost per annum .........,. s.l.46i,0O
For the year ending July A, 1893, the cost
therefore, will be SD, 100000.
1t is said that less than $4,000 survivor
| of the late war have not applied for pension
| and in fact 10000 original invalid claim
are now pending. A large number of thes
| will prosecute their claims to a successful
| conclusion under existing law, as the hop
of increase is therein held out to them.
Having considered the questions involved
your committee respectfully recommend TIL
passage of the following substitute Tor tn
bills mentioned:
SUBSTITUTE FOR II. R. GLIB AND H. II. 1862
A BILL granting Service Pension to al
| honorably- officers and enliste,