The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-02
The Mason Bounty Bill.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In ISSUE
of March IL II. E. Houghtaling, Co. X
10th Wis.,, writing from Hastings, Neb.
asks that the bounty bill introduced by
Senator Mason be amended so as to give
additional bounty to all soldiers who die
not receive $500 bounty in all.
Now. with all Difference to COmrade
Houghtaling and any others, let me say
that this Mason bill is only an attempt tC
remove very unjust discrimination which
am confident was never intended to be
made by our lawmakers, but which has
been effective, nevertheless, and we have
never before been able to get the matter
where it could get chance for hearing
Senator Mason's bill was introduced neal
the close of the 57th Congress, is numbered
1904. and was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs, of which Senator Bur
ton is Chairman.
Almost Immediately after the intrOduc
ton of the bill in the Senate the Hon. Mr.
Mickey, of the House, introduced the same
bill, and it was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs of the House. The
bill is numbered 1851.
The session of the Congress having ex.
pired without action, the only action now
to be taken is to have the bill introduced
in the next Congress.
While the comrade seems to think that
if bounty legislation is to be had the
three-years' men should be remembered
he must take into account the fact that
the men for whom this legislation is asked
have received no bounty whatever, though
the men who marched at their sides re.
ceived the 500 original bounty and the
additional $50 under act of 1866. We
were mustered into service "for two years
unless sooner discharged" but we were
discharged as having enlisted for the I'M
expired term of the regiment. This was a
wrong.
When we enlisted July 9, 1851, the
money consideration was Sill per IN nth.
After this the first bounty act was passed.
We left Eimira with our regiment on the
10th of July, 1861, and with it we
participated in the first battle of Bull Run,
where the regiment suffered a loss of 20
killed and wounded and GO prisoners. The
first casualty of the regiment fell upon
one Peter Mckenzie, who had enlisted
on July 0, and as l recollect the last man
killed by bullet at second Fredericks-
burg was also one of these 9th of July
boys. During it's term of service the 9th
was in IA battles, beginning with First
Bull Run and ending with Cbancellors-
vile, as given in history. but with us
known as Second Fredericksburg and Sa,
lem Church.
We We're mustered out with the regiment
at Elmira, N. Y, May 81, 1863. OF
those who enlisted on July 9, 1861, being
about one-fourth the regiment. not one
has ever received a cent of bounty, while
the others received the original 500 and
the additional $50. ask Comrade Hough,
falling if this is just, and / also ask if we
are not entitled 20 have this considered
on its merits without loading it with
amendments! The true history of the
18th n. Y, except a little barracks life
can be as well written by the bountyless
ones as the others.
Now, if this reaches the eye Of an old
18th man, or any other twO-years regi-
ment with similar history, won't you
write Senator Burton, asking him to in
vestigate the papers referred 70 his com
mittee and report bill on the reassem-
bling of Congress which will give us this
long deferred justice?@HENRY s. WELLS
Co. X, 9th n. Y, Quincy, Ill.