The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-17
MEDAL OF HONOR PENSIONS.
What Bill Before Congress Proposes What
Other Nations Do for Medal Men.

Senator Boies Penrosc, of Pennsylvania,
| has introduced in the Senate, and Con-
gresham Charles Curtis, of Kansas, has
| introduced in the House a bill to place
upon the service pension roll, at the rate
| Of So month, I'm lieu of any other pen
sion, all officers and enlisted soldiers of the
United States Army, Navy and Marine
| Corps, both Regular and volunteer, who
| have been awarded Medals OF Honor, or
| who may hereafter be awarded such med
| ais, under acts of Congress passed Dec.
81, 1861; July IL and 16, 1862, and March
3, 1868. who have reached the age Of 60
years; the age limit not to exclude any
| officer or enlisted man who served during
| the rebellion of 1861 to 1865.
My companions who won this Medal re-
ceived it from Congress "fOr conspicuous
| and particular gallantry and bravery, be-
| yond the line Of duty required Of them dur
| ing their term of SERVICE" such as saving
| the life Of n wounded comrade who fell
| under fire between the lines, capturing the
| enemy's colors, or saving our own, saving
gun or battery, company or regiment
of infantry or some command, or leading
4 charge under particularly perilous and
dangerous circumstances, and like affairs
| in the face Of destruction and almost
| certain death.
It is now over 40 years since these
brave and gallant heroes performed their
| various acts of heroism and valor; when
they were young men, in health, yigor and
| activity; and now, when they are old and
| fast becoming feeble and decrepit, and
must soon answer the last roll call, it is
but simple justice that these heroes OF he
| roes (for all who served at the front in
those days, and received an honorable dis
charge, are heroes, whether in addition
thereto they received Medals Of Honor or
not should also receive from the Govern
ment they helped to save, something Of
value, more than a medal, to help them in
their declining years.
This is not mere sentiment, as some may
imagine; the sum specified in this bill is
not intended for either the poor or the
disabled veteran; such is neither the pur-
pose of the bill; for in that respect our
Government is most liberal to it's soldiers
in its various pension bills.
Neither is the Medal of Honor Legion
composed Of officers and privates by dis
tinctiOn of former rank; there are no Gen
erals or officers in that Order as such:
and there is no distinction as to, or dis
parity Of, rank; on the contrary, one
might almost say that in that Order the
priyates command the Generals.
Therefore, inasmuch as Congress- for
their deeds of heroism and bravery such
as have challenged and commanded the adj
miration OF the WORLD has conferred spe-
OF Honor, would it not be but q fit and
proper recognition OF a grateful and gen.
erous Nation, now, at this time, when in
the natural course Of events these brave
and gallant heroes, "bravest OF the brave
cannot be with MS much longer, to attach
to their medal, or give to them, something
Of real substantial value, the same as
other countries have, in twofold manner,
done for their officers and soldiers who
have distinguished themselves in like
manner? Other nations have set us the
example, as l proceed to show:
In the Congressional Library in Wash
ingtOn can be found n book on "Knight-
hood" from which the following is ex-
tracted, showing the manner in which
deeds OF vaIor and heroism are rewarded
in other countries Of the civilized world:
ENGLAND.
The Victoria Cross was instituted Jan
%, 1856, by Royal warrant.
This cross is only awarded to officers or
soldiers who have performed some signal
act Of valor or bravery in the presence of
the enemy and every officer or soldier who
has received the cross shall, from the date
OF the act by which the decoration has
been gained, be entitled to a special pen
sion Of 10 pounds year.
FRANCE.
The Order of Legion of Honor. Insti
tuted April 10, 1887. The military class
was admitted to the decoration, together
with a pension to all who suffered ampu-
tatiOn in consequence of wounds received
in action. 1t entities the receiver to 100
francs per annum for life, in addition to
their regular pay.
ITALY.
King Charles instituted on March %
1888, for the army and navy, a decora-
ton consisting Of gold and silver medal,
in addition to which a pension is attached
of 100 lire $500 for the gold and so lire
($1O) for the silver. Both medal and pen
| sion pass to the widow as long as she re-
mains single, or to his children until they
pass their 10th year.
The order OF the Iron Cross was inst.
tuted March 10, 1913, by Frederick Will
liam Ill. It is divided into two classes,
civil and military.
BY decree dated Aug. 3. 1871, pension
for life was granted to the surviving own
ers Of the cross, as follows: To officers,
$50 thaIers ($1125O); to privates, SO
thalers ($37.5O).
There is also military order of merit,
founded by Duke Eugene, OF Nuremberg
| on Feb. II, 1850, as a reward for those
officers and men who distinguished them.
selves in the seven years war, then just
ended. The members are divided into
four classes, according to rank and degree
of merit, and pensioned as follows:
First, 1900 forms; second, 1000 fiorins
| third, 1000 fioUins,p fourth, 800 forms. A
form is about 40 cents.
Y SPAIN.
The Military border of Merit was
founded by Str ferdinand. 1t was made
accessible to oil military persons whose
distinction and merit were testified to by
Commission, oss,aInquiry instituted for
that purpose. ~ Nj
Pensions are granted as follows: Divi-
sions. $4,000; Brigadier, 10000; Captain.
6,OOO; Subaltern.T 1905; Private, 100.
These are in, pesos, worth about 20 cents.
pc g. BtssIA.
The MILITARY Order OF ST. George was
instituted in 1907; by Emperor Alexander
as a reward for those officers and men
who had DISTINGUISHED themselves in bat.
tie. An additional pay of one-third is al.
lowed to those who wear the cross.
AUSTRIA.
The Military Order of Merit was
founded by Emperor Joseph H., as n re
ward to officers and priyates. 1t is di
yided into gold and silver medals, accord
ing to the respective degree of merit or
distinction.
TO the first is attached IN increase of
IN