Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-15
FROM THIS STATE.
Those Who Want Bounty According to
Massachusetts Act.

C1Vii war veterans of this state, who
served to the credit of the state of Mas
sachuSetts, are considerably Interested
in recent act passed by the Legisla-
ture of that state. Under it MasSachu-
sets proposes to give every soldier and
sailor who served to her credit in the
Civil war, and who never received a
single dollar of bounty money. 1925 in
cash. The subject of paying bounties
in Massachusetts has been almost con-
stantly before the Legislature since the
close of the war.
1t was in the latter years of the war
itself when cities and towns We're pay
ing bOuntles that a citizen carried a test
case to the supreme judicial court of
that commonwealth and a verdict was
handed down that cities and towns
could not legally pay money to be spent
for this purpose. Immediately after pc
titiOnS We're made to the Legislature
for the payment of these bountieS on
the ground that the state was the pa
rent of the city or town and that if the
city or town could not pay this money,
the parent was morally obliged to the
promise.
Thed matter went along for some 80
bounty petitions We're sent into the
paid. In the majority of cases the
amount allowed was SIPS.
In 1876, the Legislature passed bill
appointing a bounty commission which
could. under certain well-defincd rules,
pay bountieS without any fur her action
of the Legislature. The period for pay
ing the bOunties was limited, however.
After this time had expired it was still
found that there were many veterans
who claimed ignorance of the eXstance
of such an opportunity to get q bounty,
ard there We're those whd~enlsted in
the army and navy under PECULIAR con-
ditions which did not make them eligi-
BILE for a bounty under the rules Set
forth for the guidance of this commits
sion. This commission expended almost
500, C00.
This year, when it was known that
the state was to receive from the ma
tional government 81 ,6Go 600 for war
claims, this bill to award veterans sl25
was put through with the provision that
bounty. the bondSfhemselves should be
refunded out OF. HE amount coming
from Washington. When the bill
reached the governor. it was promptly
vetoed, but it was passed over his head
by both branches Of the Legislature.
In the House. however, while it re-
ceived a two-thirds vote of the members
present and voting. it did not receive
a tWO-thirds vote of the full member
ship Of the House. Accordingly the mat :
ter was referred to the attorney gem
eral of the state as to which is the le-
gal two-thirds vote.
The attorney general has ruled that
two-thirds vote of the full member
ship of the House was necessary for le-
gal action. Accordingly the state treas
urer refuses to pay any money on these
claims.
1t is expected, however that funds
will be raised to bring n test case b"-
fore the courts. where finally by appeal
decision from the full bench of the
supreme judicial court will be obtained
which will end the controversy.
The matter has been exploited in the
different Soldiers Homes and Gvand
Army publications and letters are com
ing in, not only from Massachusetts
cities and towns, but from all over the
United States rs well. and the different
Soldiers Homes seem to be well rep
resented in their claims.
1t would seem that someone at tho
National Soldiers Home ut Togus has
been especially active in calling the
matter to the attention of his comrades
and the long list of names from that in
| 81 itution show the result of n well-dl-
rected effort on the part of somebody.
The names Of those applying from
| the home at Togus ere as follows:
George A. Allen, enlisted April. 'G1 in
| Company A Of the First Massachusetts
Volunteer Infantry, and was discharg-
ed May %. 81.
| Rawlins r. Atkins, enlisted May 90
81 as Il corporal in Company of the
First Massachusetts Volunteers and
was discharged with the rank of lieu
/ tenant because Of disability.
Alfred Blorhan, enlisted in the First
Massachusetts, Light Artillery from
, Cambridge. Mass.
John Brazil. enlisted in Company
of TIE Fiftieth Massachusetts Volun-
teers from Worcester.
| William T. BrittOn, enlisted in Com
, pany b. of the Twenty-ninth Massa-
chusetts Volunteers at Mansfield, in 81
and served two years.
Randolph Cluchwell. enliseted August
, 2oth. 81, in Company G of the Nine
teenth Massachusetts Volunteers al
Boston.
| Richard Webb. enlisted ut Fall River
/ in July, 'G1.
| Cyrus A. WeelIs. enlisted Oct. l. 81
: in Company of the Twenty fifth
, Massachusetts Volunteers and served
| for three years.
| Jermiah J. Mccarthy. enlisted June
18th. 81 in Company D of the Seventh
Massachusetts Volunteers and served
until Oct. 30. 1862.
! Benjamin F. Cook. enlisted May, 81
in the Seventh unattached Company.
George Cook. enlisted in Company F
of the Eleventh Massachusetts Volun'
teers
Philip Curley, enlisted in Company F
OF the Eleventh Massachusetts Volun
teers. April. 81.
Alonzo r. Davis. enlisted in the navy
from Fall River in go, and again in g.
as an ordinary seaman.