New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05


Much to the qualification Of his former col
leagues. the bill providing for the pension Tor
General Palmer. who represented Illinois IN the
Senate for one term, passed both houses The
Senate bill asked for 500 month. but this
was cut down One-half by the House This
Mansion Is OF course on account OF services
during the War Of the Rebellion. through Which
ne served with distinction. Entering the ser
vice as Colonel of the 18th Illinois on May
O. 1S61 he resigned in September, lS6b. having
held many important commands. including that
OF the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Atlanta
campaign and the military campaign in Ken
lucky. and participating In many important
battles with the rank Of Major General Of Vol
unteers
The report on this bin by Mr.. Pay, of New
York, explaining the reduction in the amount
Of the pension. says:
We are not to pension General Palmer be
cause ne has been distinguished man IN civil
life, but because he was most capable brave
and efficient officer during the civil war. neh
a United States Senator, General Palmer vas
for many years chairman OF the Committee on
Pensions in that body and while he was always
Just and liberal In his treatment OF the old sol
djers his comrades in arms. he was consistent
and believed that equality Is equity. ana was
ALWAYS opposed TO large and sentimental pen
EOns based on social standing and political
mil FOR a few favored ones, while the great
mass Of the brave and needy only draw SlZ per
month when totally disabled from earning
living by reason OF disease not col'trac'eu III 'n
service ,
Fifty dollars month Is all that General
Palmer himself will approve for ne wants no
different treatment accorded him than the GOV
eminent accords others Of equal rank In the
service and equal need now. That SUM WIN
afford him q reasonable support and llft him
above want. The thousands OF his old COM
rades I'm arms equally brave and equally In
necessitoUs circumstances must be remembered
and a reasonable provision made for them by
special legislation when exceptional cases OF
great merit are presented The Senate act Is
therefor reported back with the recommends
ton that it pass when amended.
General Palmer was seventy-nlne years Of age
when he LEFT the Senate and went home, he
pathctically said. to build W mis- law practice,
ar undertaking which was interrupted by the
temptation 10 take the nomination for President
OF the gold wing OF The Democratic party. After
the defeat OF his hopeless candidacy. General
Palmer went to pieces rapidly. and Is now,
through blindness and old age. almost totally dis
ablcd Many amusing stories told OF the bluff
old mans service in the Senate. where he was
often the butt Of his colleagues, who worried him
with questions During Mr.. Cleveland's Ad
ministration Mr.. Palmer objected to a private
pension bill pending before the upper house In
the following language:
"Fariicularly arr opposed to NewYork pen
slons. ! had good deal to DO during the war
mastering n New-York troops. New Workers.
weren't patriotic enough weren't courageous
enough 20 come themselves where there was airy
powder burning, as long as they could rake and
scrapc money enough together to hire a substi
tute And yet these are the people who want
pension"
Whom lie had arrived at this point Senator
Stewart asked him n ne referred to President
Cleveland by this TRADE.
"He was also from New-York." said Stewart,
-and he, too hired substitute"
General Palmer completely nonplussed by
the question. He sat down In his seat quite
overcome. and no further objections concerning