The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-07

ceive the smallest benefit from the Estab
lishment, and can have no other induce
ment for proposing it than a full convic-
ton of its utility and propriety..
Il am sensible the expense will be cap
ital objection to it; but to this oppose
the necessity. The officers are now dis
contented with their situation. If some
general expedient is not embraced, to re
move this discomfort, so extensive deser-
ton of the service will ensue, and SO much
disbursement be cast upon those who re-
main, as must wound it in very essential
manner. Everything that has this effect
has a tendency, at least, to protract the
war; and, though dictated by well in
tended frugality, will, | fear. in the emil
prove erroneous economy"
| As a result, Congress passed, May 10,
177S. the following resolution providing
tho first service pension in the history OF
pension legislation of the United States:
| Resolved unanimously, That all mill
tary officers commissioned by Congress
who now are, or hereafter may be, in the
service of the United States. and shall
continue therein during the war, and not
hold any Office of profit under these states,
or any of them, shall. after the conclusion
| of the war. be entitled to receive annually
for the term of seven years, if they live
so long, one-half of the present pay of such
officer: Provided, That no general officer
of the cavalry, artillery, or infantry, shall
be entitled to receive more than the one
half part of the pay of a Colonel of such
corps respectively: And provided, That
this resolution shall not extend to any
officer in the service of the United States,
unless he shall have taken an oath of allie
glance to and shall actually reside within
i some one of the United States"
BY resolution of Oct. p, 1880, this half
nav was continued during life. Subse
quently, by resolution of March %, 1888,
the officers, collectively. from the several
States. were allowed the choice OF fuii
pay for five years after the termination OF
their services, instead of half pay for life.
THE FIRST PROVISION FOR WIDOWS AND
CHILDREN.
Not until Aug. "a. 1880, was provision
made for widows and orphans of soldiers
| of the Revolutionary Army, and then only
| for those of military officers. The resolu-
| ton adopted by Congress was as follows
Resolved. That the resolution of the
| 18th day of May, 171S, granting half pay
| for seven years to the officers of the Army
who should continue in service to the end
| of the war, be extended to the widows OF
those officers who have died, or shall here
after die, in the service; to commence from
| the time of such officers death. and con.
tinue for the term of seven years; or, IL
| there be no widow. or in case of her death
or intermarriage. the said half pay be given
to the orphan children of the officer dy-
| ing as aforesaid, if he shall have left any |;
and that it be recommended to the Leglsla-
lures of the respective States TO when
such officers belong, to make provision Tor
paying the same, on account of the United
States;
THAT the restricting clause in the reso-
luton of May Is, ITS, granting half pay
to the officers for seven years. expressed
/ in these words. viz. and not hold any once
| of profit under these States, or any or
tfer,,' be, and is hereby, repealed.
No pension provision was made for wild
ows and children of soldiers not officers.
who served in the War of the Revolution:
| until the act of Aug. II, 1870. The act OF
/ July 4, 1886, 1--WE years half-pay" law,
became, through repeated extensions, the
foundation of the present system OF pen
s;ions to widows and children.
THE FIRST DEPENDENT PENSION LAW.
The act of March IS, 1918. was the first
dependent" pension law, and provided
| "That every commissioned officer; non
Icommissio1'l officer, musician, ary pri-
| yate soldier, and all officers in the Hospi-
ttal Department and medical staff, who
served in the War of the Revolution until
/ the end thereof. or for the term OF nine
months, or longer, at any period OF the
war, on the continental establishment !;
and every commissioned officer, non-com-
| missioned officer, mariner, or marine, who
served at the same time, ana for like
term, in the naval service of the United
States, who is yet resident citizen or the
United States, and who is. or hereafter, by
treason of his reduced circumstances In
| life, shall be, in need of assista nee from his
country for support, and shall have sub
stantiafed his claim to pension in the
manner hereinafter directed, shall receive
| pension from the United States; IL an
officer, of $40 per month during life; If
a non commissioned officer, musician, mari
ner, or marine, or private soldier or %
per month during life: Provided, No per-
son shall be entitled to the provisions of
this act until he shall have relinquished his
claim to every pension heretofore allowed
| him by the laws of the United States"
SERVICE PENSION FOR THE SURVIVORS or
THE REVOLUTION
| By the act of May Is, 1928, full pay for
| life was allowed to officers, and, for the
| first time, to every surviving. non-com-
missioned officer, musician, or private, IN
said Army (of the Reyolution), who en-,
| listed therein for and during the war, and
continued in service until its termination
This act was extended by that of June
II, 1882, which provided that leach OF the
surviving officers, non-cOmmissioned offi-
| Gers, musicians, soldiers, and Indian spies,
| who shall have served in the Continental
| line, or State troops, volunteers or militia,
at one or more terms, period OF two
wears. during the War of the Revolution,
and who are not entitled to any benefit
under the act for the relief OF certain sur
| yIylQg CyuCerU anu SOjuIcEb VI IuC
| ton, passed the 18th day OF May, 1873,
| be authorized to receive, ont OF any money
| in the Treasury not otherwise appropriat-
ed. the amount of his full pay in the said
| line, according to his rank but not exceed
| ing in any case the pay of q Captain in the
said line such pay to commence from the
t4th day of March, 1881, and shall continue
during his natural life and that any such
officer, non-commissioned officer, musician
or private, as aforesaid, who shall have
served in tile Continental line, State
| troops, volunteers, or militia, a term OF
| terms in the whole less than the above
period. but not less than six months, shall
| be authorized to receive out of any unappro
priated money in the Treasury, during MS
natural life, each according to his term OF
service, an amount bearing such proportion
| to the annuity granted to the same rank
for the service of two years, as his term
1 of service did to- the term aforesaid; to
commence from the 4th day OF March
/ 1892"
/ This marks the limit of the service-pen.
sion provisions for service in the Reyolu'
tionary War.
/ Ito be continued.
1
The Zebra as Domestic Animal.
It is reported that systematic attemp,
/ is to be made by the British Government