The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-08-19
BY AIKEN & scHmAHL.
WANT NEW BILL.
Indian War Veterans Desire Special Pen
sion Recognition.
(From the Ne,u Ulm ReutcU.)


pensions for their army service.
The men who were engaged in the
defense of the frontier during the
Little Crow uprising feel that they
are entitled to recognition at the
hands of the government and they
are arranging to renew the applica
tons which have been made at var
ous times since the outbreak. To
that end several conferences have
been held in New Ulm recently and
plans have been prepared for max
ing final determined effort
Last winter Congressman j. T.
McCleary of this district drew up a
bill intended for the relief of the
survivors of the Indian campaigns
and on Feb. 26, 1903, it was intro
duced into the house of repre-
sentatives.
Representative McClearys bill
was direct result of the massacre
memorial celebration held here on
the fortieth anniversary of the bat
tie of New Ulm, Aug. I'd, 1902.
While the exercises were in prog
ress the defenders Of New Ulm and
other survivors of the outbreak
held meeting in Turner hall and
adopted a set of resolutions request
ing Congressman McCleary and
Senator Moses E. Clapp to obtain
legislation looking to their relief.
A committee consisting of Luther
G. Ives of Brown county, G. w.
Penny of LeSueur county and ia
cob Stelzer of Nicollet county, was
appointed and to them the repre-
sentative from this district prom
ised to lend his assistance, but he
was unable to introduce the bill un-
til late in the session and when it
was referred to the committee on
pensions it was never returned
from their room.
His measure, however, is not en-
tirely satisfactory to the veterans.
A clause in it requires that soldiers
must have taken part in the battle
or skirmish with the Indians, thus
barring number of men who spent
some time in active service but
were not actively engaged. Also,
the closing paragraph is ambigu-
Gus. 1t limits the concessions of
those covered by the pension act of
1870, one of whose provisions is
that every applicant must have been
regularly mustered into the service
of the United States All of the
men who would hope to benefit by
the proposed law answered neces-
sity's call to arms and were not
sworn in by an army officer, fact
which would seem to disqualify
them under it's wording.
In view of the failure of the pen
sion committee to recommend the
bill for passage. and as an entirely
new form will have to be drawn,
the gentlemen interested in the mat
ter are in favor of making several
changes. Rev. Daniel Pfaff of Wa
SEGA, who has labored in behalf OF
his comrades for years, was in the
city recently in consultation with
Col. VIM. Pfaender, Chas. Wagner
and others. These men, acting in
conjunction with the committee ap-
pointed year ago, will again en-
list the aid of Congressman Nc
Cleary and the other members OF
the Minnesota delegation; relying
upon them to frame a suitable meas
ure and secure it's passage. They
will not take any steps until con-
gress is in session, but will then
take the matter up with the pension
committee.
The first attempt at securing leg.
lislation of this sort dates back a
great many years. During the time
j that the late Alexander Ramsey was
a member of the United States sen.
ate he engineered the passage of an
amendment to the pension laws
which included portion of the de
| tenders and under those a great
many of whom were wounded OF
disabled while campaigning against
the savages succeeded In having
their names placed upon the rolls.
When it expired it was once re-
newed, but in 1873 again became