The Dickinson press., 1898-03-19

oAy IOr 6naICs naQ passed away. In 1875,
the centennial year, the District militia
was stronger than it was ever before or
since. At that time the idea of soldiery
was parades, brass bands and the like.
The modern idea Of organizing soldier
companies to spend their leisure time
shooting rifles at a mark in the rife
ranges had not been dreamed Of. On
the 22d Of February, 1875. there was a
parade Of soldiers. The parade that day
was a particularly good one, and al a
result there wa enthusiasm all along
Pennsylvania avenue.
"sunset"' Oox's Prompt Action.
Congress was in session, and as SEN
ators and representatives were on their
way to the capitol that morning they
could not escape the enthusiasm caused
by the militia parade. Samuel s.. Cox
OF New York-'Sunset, as he wa IA
miliarly called-and General B. F. But
Ter were members Of the house Of repre-
sentatives, and it was often said Of
them that If they were Joined in favor
Of any measure. which was seldom, for
It was General Butler who christened
Cox 'Shoo Fly they could carry it
through regardless Of whether the house
wanted to pass 1t OF not Soon after ar
irving at the capitol Mr.. Cox, who had
witnessed the parade, and joyfully, for
he took q special delight in patriotic
parades, wal asked, in a general con-
versation, II he did not think it was
time that there should be some move-
ment looking toward completing the
Warrington monument. He replied,
yes, and / think it should be done to-
day In less than ten minutes he had
drafted "a resolution directing that the
work should be resumed. !
General Butler had his ears opened
when Mr.. Cox sent the resolution to
the speakers desk to be read, and on
hearing it he indicated to his personal
followers that 1t was right and proper.
This was sufficient, and in less than
half an hour II was passed. The senate
soon ooncurred, and the work began
very shortly, though 1t took some Years
to complete it. It was the Washington
birthday parade Of the District militia
that did the business, and Mr.. Cox told
several among them, myself included,
that he had no thought Of the monu-
ment until he had seen the parade and
was enthused by It's influence"
Future Marriages Of Veterans,
Pension Commissioners Evans proposes
in the annual report which he has just
made that congress pass a law providing
that future marriages to veterans Of the
civil war shall create no right to q PEN
sion. This leads q writer In the Phila-
delphia Press to state that the reform
urged is wise. desirable and necessary.
Congress, he says, ought at its coming
session to make its first duty the pas.
sage Of the law recommended by Com
missioner Evans The just debt which
the country owes the soldiers Of the last
war will be paid to the Last penny. II
hiss already cost %, 600, 600, 600, or q
third a. much ~ the cost Of the war it.
self, but It was worth it. Every man
who has q right to q pension under ex.
listing laws must have 1t.
The debt to the widows Of those who
were cut down untimely during the
war itself or as an immediate result OF
its wounds and hardships Is as sacred
an obligation. But there the claim on
the nation stops A marriage to an old
soldier now, 80 years after the close Of
the war, creates no obligation, the
writer says No pension should be paid
to q soldiers widow under this cond3,
ton. The pension list has already on It
29S, $50 widows, or one.fourth Of the