The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-26
SERVICE PENSION.
Views of Comrades Interested in
the Proposed Legislation.

| c. l.. Stewart. Cos. II and G, 37th and
SSth Ind. Watonga. Okla, writes thai
| HEREFORD Post, 16, Department of Okla
| homa, has unanimously declared in favor
| of straight So service pension.
Lewis Hiatt, Co. 4, 18th Ind. CWallace's
Zouaves). Long Beach, Cal. complains OF
| injustice in the matter Of pension. his ex
perience being that very many short-term
| men are securing greater pension thar
those who served their country through
| the entire war. He cites as an instance
the case of J. J. Oyerton. born Oct. D
| 1897. who served six months in the Black
Hawk War, two years in the Mexican
| War; and in the Union army from August
1862, TO November, 1865. and who is pen.
stoned at only $l2, while men who served
| only few months get much larger pen
sionS.
+. T. Townsend. Co. X. 18th Iowa,
Clay, Iowa, writes: Il am in favor of a
$12 service pension in addition to what
we are now getting. This would be moth
ing more than justice"
Thomas NJ. Gay. Co. Z, 1Olst ILL.,. Kirk
ersvile, Ohio, advocates S12 service pen
sion in addition to disability pension.
John Van VIE. Co. II, eth n. Y. II. A.,
Saltwater, n. Y, writes in advocacy of a
S12 straight service pension. This he be-
lieves can be secured if the comrades will
unite.
John d. Davis. Edelman. Pa, wants a
straight service pension of S12. He is
63 years old: has made application for
pension. but so far has not secured an
allowance. Comrade Davis served on the
U. s. s. Brooklyn from 1861 to January.
1864. and on the u. s. s. Metacomet until
February, 1863.
james L. Worley. Salem. Ark, says:
LET us be fair to the 9O-days men. Pass
the S12 service-pensiOn bill.
Il. NJ Rudd. Co. l, Cd Ohio Cav, and
Co. +. 9th Ohio Cav, Spencer. Ohio, OBJ
jects to any graduation Of pensions on hc-
count of age. He says If there is to be
any distinction it should be in favor of the
long-term men, and in support of his be-
lief cites an instance where boy of 10
enlisted in Co. +, 9th Ohio Cav. on Jan.
3 1S64-the day after the cold New
Year's-and while going to his regiment
was badly frostbitten. Still, he continued
to do soldiers full duty until Oct. J..
1864. when he was taken prisoner during
the hard fighting at Todd's Tavern. Va,
and later endured all the hardships of i'm
Prisonment at Salisbury, returning to his
regiment late in March 1861. There We're
many other hOys in the 9Th Ohio Cav. who
distinguished themselves for galiantry and
endurance. COmrade Rudd holds that to
pension these at less rate than the 1CO-
days men would be 4 great injustice.
c. W. Rehfeld. Heirloom. Wis, advo-
Gates per diem pension. He would give
for 90-days service So per month, and for
each day over so one cent per month adj
ditiona. He would also have Congress
repeal the act of June 81. 1890. He says
do away with pension clerks. Examining
Boards and Special Examiners. Comrade
RehfeId enlisted Noy. %, 1861, in Co. c,
10th Wis: reenlisted Jan. 4. 1854; severe
-Iy wounded at Bentonvile. n. c., March
20. 1861. and was finally discharged from
Davis Island General Hospital May /,
1866. He is pensioned at So
Isaac Yantis. Co. II. 41st ILL.,. Fenton,
La, writes: Il am glad the subject of n
service pension is becoming so earnestly
agitated The bill introduced by Senator
Scott and backed up by his eloquent APP
peal in defense of same is one of the most
powerful arguments in support of justice
due the Union soldier that l have ever
read, every word laden with eioquence,
and every word a fact: these With the
editorials in each issue of The National
Tribune in support of a service pension
are certainly ''clinchers." Any of the
suggestions that have been put forth in
lie .NHtlOHdl are EOOu. anu I'LL
have the ring of being based on justice
and recognition of the value of the
soldiers service to our country in the dark
hour of its peril. All hail to our chief,
The National Tribune"
T.. II. Way, Sergeant, Co. E, 10th
Ohio, New Vienna, Ohio, writes: LET
us all stand shoulder to shoulder for a
So service pension. Let every man who
entered the service and received an honor
able discharge be given $12."
l.. NJ. Cook, 10th ILL.,, Humboldt, Iowa,
whose service covered a period of over 50
months, thinks that service pension should
be in addition to invalid pension. and grad
uated according to length of service. He
also believes that the Government should
issue land warrants of 100 acres to each
veteran of the rebellion.
G. L. Garlinger. Co. +. 10th Ohio,
Carthage, Mo-. says the time has now
come for the Government to give all SOL
diers a service pension of at least $12, in
dependent of any pension they may be
entitled to under the present invalid pen
sion laws.
G. l.. Carson, Cos. B and G., 47th ILL.,,
Wellsville, Mo-, writes: Give every vet
eran $40 Per month, then add one cent
per month for each day he served after
the first three months. If discharged be-
fore the expiration of term of enlistment
because Of wounds. give per diem pension
the same as though he had served his full
term Comrade Carson enlisted July,
1861; was discharged Feb. 81, 1866.
Il. W. Mcintosh, Indianapolis. Ind.
who served four years and four months,
is in favor of the straight $12 service pen
sion.
John W. Hoffman. BinghamtOn. n. Y,
says: 1.-The So straight service pension
bill is all right. 1t should be passed"
Willard Robson. Co. II. Goth Ill. ,Birge's
Sharpshooters), Sherman. Tex. writes:
THE service-Eension bill is the only fair
solution of the problem"
W. B. Farra, Adjutant Pomerene Post.
80, Department of Ohio, Millersburg,
Ohio, writes that his Post has passed reso-
luti5ns requesting the assistance of Ohio
and Congressman to the end that
a sefvice-pension law may be enacted. No
particular bill was designated, the CON-
rades being willing to accept the bill most |
favored.
James n. Coulter. Indianola, Iowa. fav- |
ors service-pension bill of $12 per month |
in addition to Il per diem pension of one |
cent per month for each day pensioner |
served. |
w. II. Lee, Sergeant, Co. D, Sth Iowa |
Cav, Shickley, Neb., thinks Congress |
should grant service pension of SO per
month to those who served over 30 days
and SIS per month to those who served less
than 90 days. this being in addition to
disability pension.
Chas. w. Banks, Co. III, list Ohio, Sta