The Republican journal., 1903-02-19
THE CULLNAN CASE.
The strenuous Efforts of Senator Morse to
secure An Increase of Pension Tor MAT
thfas Cullnan of Belfast.

The Strenuous Efforts of Senator Morse tt
Secure an Increase of Pension for Mat
thias Cullnan Of Belfast.
For many years past resolve in favor Of
Matthias Cullnan of Belfast has been pre-
sented to the Maine legislature at each ses
sion, and the petitioner has been given
''leave to withdraw" This session ii there
is not different result it will not be because
OF lack of effort on the part OF Senator
Morse. Friday, when the report from the
finance committee, sought not to pass, came
before the Senate he succeeded in having
the mot stricken out, but failed to carry a
motion, under suspension OF the rules,
| that the resolve take its first reading with
out printing, and it was laid on the table
| for printing. In addressing the Senate Mr..
| Morse said
| The resolve came before the committee on
| pensions, accompanied by the only evidence
| which has accompanied any resolve for any
pension claims that, at the capital here,
while member of Company II, First Mi
| litia of Maine, he received a sunstroke, and
legislature he has received a pension of 81
month. He is entirely unable to perform
manual labor. He has no people in this
country-nO friends or relatives; Dut when
he came here, came three brothers-four OF
them came from Ireland over here just
prior to the breaking out OF the great Re
bellion. The three brothers, older than he,
went into the service. Two of them died in
the service, the other died about year and
half after the war closed, as am inform
ed. This man went into the militia, and
came here and received the snnstroke.
Capt. Sanborn, who was at that time cap
tain of his company, has filed his affidavit
in his claim Two of his comrades, men,
bers of the company to which he belonged,
have testified to it. Three reputable ply
sicians in the city of Belfast have also given
this man affidavitS, showing that by reason
of this prOStration from the heat, or sun
stroke, he is totally disabled for the per-
formance of manual labor. Now, suggest,
gentlemen of the Senate, that this array of
evidence, setting forth the condition of this
mans disability in the service OF the State,
is entitled to some consideration from this
Senate and when we take into cOnSldera-
tion the fact that these patriotic men who
came here without any motive except that
OF good government, went into the service
for this country, and gave up their lives for
the support of that flag we all love, Sug
gest, gentlemen, that it behO0ves us, as
patriotic citizens, not to overlook such SER
vice. If there has heen any crime commit
Y
mitted by the former legislature which saw
fit to give this man pension OF 81 month
On that "a a month this man subsists, to-
day He pays S1.50 for a room, in which he
stays, lives, exists; and the remainder of
that money furnishes him support. People
of Belfast, good citizens, have come to me,
and sad In the name of common sense, if
you can relieve this man so that the city
will not have him to support, do so. He is
worthy of it. | know this man, met him
casually on the street; and, ever since it
was known to him that | should probably
come here this winter, every time go into
the city this man makes his way to me
slip of paper, saying: ''That is my name.
/ hope you will be able to assist me when
YOU get over to the Legislature. | am only
getting S4 month and l haven't a dollar,
have no means outside of this pension
My sympathy goes out to such man as
this. / hope the time will never come when
shall forget the service rendered by such
men as this, and his family, for this State
and for our country generally; and, gentle
men, | suggest that after having carefully
considered this matter before the committee
on pensions, we recommend that this pen
sion be increased 81 a month.
Mr.. Staples of Knox: Are there two re-
ports from the committee
Mr. Morse of Waldo: The report of the
committee on pensions is in favor of it. Ihls
has been to the committee on appropriations
and financial affairs and they have reported
''ought not to pass, and it is on that report
that | make my remarks.
Mr. Staples of Knox; Mr.. President, |
feel constrained to say d few words in re-
gard to this man who lives in the city OF
Belfast ! know nothing about this bill eX-
cept its Introduction into this body this
morning | happen to be acquainted with
that man, as Belfast was my former home,
and | know the circumstances L know that
it is a worthy object. | am surprised at
the finance committee refusing this small
pittance to man who received an INJURY IN
the service of the State, an injury that has
incapacitated him for life for any service;
and when we contemplate fer a moment
that thousands and thousands Of dollars
that we are throwing into the air for less
worthy objects than this. it seems to me
that we cannot, as patriotic men, refuse it.
|, you could go to Belfast and look at that
man, and see his condition, fellow senators,
YOU would at once, every one of You, vote,
and speak for him. Let us, as patriotic
men, not say to the voters of this State that
we refuse to aid a man in the condition that
Senator Morse describes. | know the con-
ditiOn of that poor man in Belfast. For one,
am in favor Of this resolve: and ! hope
the report will not prevail.
Mr. Burns: Mr.. President, l will simply
state why our committee took the action it
did. From information which we had, this
soldier was on the field but three hours, in
all: and it was thought by our committee
that if this claim was allowed, 1t was merely
opening chance for many other similar
claims for slight accidents so there would
be no end of trouble in the future.