The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-27
PENSION FOR ALL.
Senator Scott Advocates Pay
ment of $12 Per Month
To All Soldiers Who Ask After
Age Of 81.

Washington, Jan 27--In the senate
today Mr.. Beverage presented a petit
ton from Indian Territory for state
hood, which was read at the senator's
request. He then proceeded to explain
his reason for the reading whereupon
Mr.. Aldrich demonstrated. saying that
it was opposed to the senate rules to
read a petition in detail and also to
enter into debate upon 1t. He said that
both practices were growing in the
senate and that both were reprehensi-
bile
When the routine business was con-
Guided at 2:40 Mr.. Quay moved to take
UP the statehood BILL but he was met
by Mr. AIdrich with a point of order
to the effect that under the rules OF
the senate the motion was out of order
and that the bill could not be taken up
before 1 o'clock without unanimous
consent.
Mr.. Quay responded that this rule
was alternative, permitting business to
proceed after the conclusion of the
routine business or at clock.
The chair, Mr.. Frye said he was in
clined to decide against the point and
expressed a desire to hear from Mr..
A1drich but Mr.. Scott claimed the floor
on previous notice and proceeded TO
address the senate.
Mr.. Scott spoke on his resolution pro-
Viding for a commission to suggest
4 changes in the pension laws and to in
4 Quire into the advisa bility Of granting
a pension of $12 per month to any sol
dier of the civil war who served 80
days. In the course of his remarks he
said
Large as the pension roll now ap-
pears, mammoth as seems the aggregate
/ of a nations bounty, it is an aggregate
summed from all its war Yet however
large that roll be 1t is not so large as
the muster roll and 10 man who an
swered the call to which none but the
fr~ran c-I-.-
be forgotten. Go, Mr.. President, read
the muster roll from 81 to IS. subtract
/ from it those that sleep in the cemeter-
les and then compare the remainder
with the pension roll and tell me where
that vast army is.
Who cares for them2 There is not
! one Of them perhaps but was as brave
and true patriot as his comrades, who
are now provided for Their names have
/ never been enrolled uDOn the pension
4 list they have been knocking, but
/ knocking in vain. Upon what principle
1 Of justice, by what teaching of human
( ity shall one-half be clothed and the
other naked. It was the blood of the
Union soldier that cemented the
stones erected by the fathers
OF the constitution and they,
are not asking for the last drop Of
4 blood and the last pound of flesh but
are asking for an equitable distribution
| of the fruits of their nandiWOrk
This resolution provides that the
union veteran be paid So per month
| after reaching the age of 81 and makine
/ application for the same. This will be
a scanty living; even then the wolf will
howl close by. After the age of 81 few
men, especially those who have under
gone the hardshiDs of the war, are able
to do manual labor. Many of these arS
4 today worthy and suffering for the
I necessarfes of life. I believe this reso-
! luton VIII meet with the hearty ap-
prevail If d brave and generous DeO9le
| ln = nj Of ,o11r.
/ conscience. Let this commission be ap-
pointed. let it resume the task that 1t
viii appeal to duty and patriotism and
not to 9artisanshiD or sectiOnalisln
Let the members be men who can not
be Swerved from duty by the cheer Of
4 the denagogue or the groans of the
Ulser, and recommend to the next con-
gresS such measure as will simplify
our present complex system and broader
the nedestal of our philanthropy
Nv hen the soldier served go days and
was honOrably discharged, and has
reached the age of 81. he should receive
/ from this government not less than .S12
! per month This will give him a few of
( the necessities and none of the luxuries
of life 1t is small to the individual and
the aggregate would never be felt bv
this people. Can human genius devise
/ a more appropriate outlay for the ac-
cumulated surplus? It would prove a
generous method of redistribution.
Many a soldier files his claim and
long before it is reached he has passed
over the river and filed a claim else
where. Nearly 10 years have come and
gone; S61,076 applications are on file: of
these 470.85o have been allowed leaving
nearly 900 not acted upon. At this
rate it will require, eighty years to COM
plete the roll and when completed there
viii be none left to answer it,
IN THE HOUSE
Washington, Jan. 27.-After transact
ing some routine business the house to-
day adopted resolution to give the day
to the consideration of bills reported
from the judiciary committee