The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-21
THE GAR. NAT1oANI PENSION COMMIT,

Ine u. "A. Is. National Pension Com
/ mittee assembled in Washington, Jan. II
and held its sessions at the Ebbitt House
The following comrades compose the
COMMITTEES:
Charles G.. Burton. Chairman, Nevada
no.
| A. A. Taylor Cambridge. Ohio.
John G. Linehan, Penacook, n. III.
III. e. Taintor, Hartford, Conn.
Bernard Kelly, Topeka, Kan.
l.. Is. Raymond, Hampton, Iowa.
James Owens, 227 Il. 124th ST., New
York City.
All We're present except Comrade
| Owens, of New York. As this was the
| first meeting Of the committee since its
| appointment, its duties and powers were
| unanimously resolved that it's work had
| been cut out and limited for it by the Ma
| tional Encampment After full consid-
| Grafton and conference with members of
Congress and others, the following bill
was prepared and introduced in the Senate
| by Senator DolliYer, of Iowa, and in the
House by Representative Calderhead, of
Kansas:
A bin granting pensions to certain SOL
diers and sailors who served in the war
OF the rebellion, and their widows.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
Of America in Congress assembled, That
any person who served 80 days or more
in the military or naval service of the
United States during the late war OF the
reesliion, and who has been honorably
discharged therefrom, and who has
reached the age of 62 years, shall,
upon making proof of such facts according
to such rules and regulations as the Secre-
tary of the Interior may provide, be placed
| aHOn the pension roll, and receive pen
sion at the rate of S12 per month; and that
4 pension of the same amount be paid to
the widow of every Union soldier who
served in such war for a period of 30
days or more. and who has been honorably
discharged from such service: Provided,
That she was legally married to such
Sec. 2 That such pensions shall COM
mence from the date of application there
for in the Pension Office after the passage
and approval Of this Act.
Sec. 3. That nothing herein contained
shall! prevent any pensioner or person en-
titled to a pension from prosecuting
his or her claim and receiving
4
or special act: Provided, That no
person shall receive pension under any
other law at the same time or for the
same period that he or she is receiving a
pension under the provisions Of this Act
The Committee appeared before the
House Committee on Invalid Pensions.
and the Senate Committee on Pensions,
where they were most graciously received
AID attentiyely listened to. They inn
pressed upon both the committees the in
tense desire Of the veterans for the pas
sage Of such bill at the present session,
and the Incompatible benefit it would be
to so many hundred thousand veterans and
their widows. They also set forth strongly
the .unanimity of the National Encamp-
ment upon this bill, and its desire to have it
passed at this session, unanimity and de-
sire which had never before been mani
Tested by any National Encampment for
any pension legislation. The members
of the House and Senate Committees ex-
pressed themselves as entirely convinced
Of the desire of the veterans and their
friends for the legislation, and their own
favorable attitude toward it. They would
do all they could to secure its passage at
the present Congress. The temper of the
many Senators and Representatives whom
the members of the G. A. r. Committee
approached on the subject was entirely
favorable to the passage of the service
pension bill, and it was felt that the main
danger might be apprehended from the
Committee on Appropriations, on the score
| Of economy and the restriction Of expendi-
lures within the limits of revenue.
Now, comrades, our duty is marked out
| for us and very plainly. All Of us have
special ideas about pension legislation,
| which we would like to see embodied into
| law. We have had unanimous express
sion by the National Encampment as to
what form of the law should be passed.
The Pension Committee, all very able, de-
voted, sincere comrades, has been APP
pointed, and they have come on to Wash
ington to perform the duty assigned to
them by the National Encampment They
have studied the whole situation over very
carefully, consulted freely with the Pen
| sion Committees of both Houses, obtained
| the views Of Senator's, Representatives,
| and officials, and the result Of their labors
| is the bill we have presented. There can
| be no doubt that their work has been as
well done as it is possible for any body
Of comrades to do it. No comrades could
have been selected in whom we have more
implicit confidence than in those consti-
| tuting the Pension Committee. Their
Il
| names are sufficient guarantee.
| Now, all that remains for us to do is to
| accept the results Of their work as the
very best possible, and drop, for a while
| at least, all differences of opinion, uniting
with the utmost loyalty and earnestness
| in striving to have this bill passed. As it
stands, it's success will bring incompar-
able benefits to hundreds Of thousands
Of our needy and deserving comrades. and
their widows. 1t is the only legislation
that we can hope for at this session OF
Congress, and therefore we should leave
no stone unturned to secure its enactment
/ Now let us thank our comrades Of the
G. A. r Pension Committee for their
very excellent work, and all of us address
| ourSolyas m dain1 ,yh a ,ro 900