The Washington times., 1902-05-01
ANNUITY FAVORED FOR
MISS CLARA BARTON
Foreign Relations Committee
Hears B. F. Tillinghast.
Bill introduced by Senator Mason Provid-
ing a Gratuity of $4,000 Per
Year Now Pending.

| Mr.. B. F. Tillinghast, of Davenport, la.
! made an address before the Senate For
/ eign Relations Committee yesterday In
favor of an annuity for Miss Clara Bar
ton, president OF the National Red Cross
Society.
A bill was introduced in the Senate
early in the present session by Mr.. Ma
son granting to Miss Barton an annuity
OF 5000 for distinguished services" and
it was this measure which Mr.. Filling
hast favored.
He reviewed her relief work for the
past thirty years at some length and made
an eloquent plea in her behalf. He stated
that she is not Impoverished. but that the
county owes the pension to her as a rec
ignition of her services
Work of Miss Barton.
Mr.. Tillinghast concluded his statement
as follows:
Twenty years ago the United States
acceded to an International treaty under
which we have carried on the entire re-
lief of q national war. Of which treaty
your public record shows not one dollar
Of cost to the Government, not even the
appointment of a delegate, and under
which treaty we are today officially tax
ing part in the widest and most interna-
tional conference in the known world.
The records OF Clara Barton, however,
show five years Of consecutive labor and
all attendant costs in securing that
treaty. Again, gentlemen. are We grant
ing a pension or paying a debt? Under
the additional articles OF that same treaty
our beautiful. white ships. with their
streaks of red and green, took their places
in the recognized and protected relief of
proud position with the great reliefs of
all civilized nations. Have We paid for
that honor? -
firsE3 Relief to Disaster.
"Previops 10 the establishment of the
treaty ofths Red Cross. in 1882, the GUS
tom reytiled Eof asking governmental ap-
propriatt 9ps eor every calamity OF any
Significance 40 all the country. For
reasons. Aths} humane or political these
appropriatn4 were usually granted. and
the monsS was drawn from the Treasury.
Miss Baftons took her first relief to
disaster Ia issi on the great overflow of
the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. where
the Government had appropriated $4,000.
The Red Cross. worked in connection with
the Government relief, perfect harmony
of action.
mo Money for Relief.
since that day not dollar has been |
for relief OF disasters. no ap-
for this purpose are asked |
for at this day. nor even thought of: but |
twenty fields of Red Cross work, with |
the aid of the people. will bring the
question to our minds IL something may !
not have been saved to the Government?
Has not a precedent on the other side
been established? But We do not seem to
.ount this.
For this year and a half of dangerous
service in Cuba, at the request of our
nartyred President. with the grateful
prayers OF a nation going up for her pro
ection from danger and death, has any
,c,urn ever been made? None. Has Miss
barton ever asked any? Never Who does
SIX it? The soldier and the people. men
nd women OF the entire country unite
n asking that some suitable recognition
4 made OF such national services as have
levcr been rendered before and can
ever be again.