New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-28
FOR A SERVICE PENSION
| THE BILL INTRODUCED.
Not IN the Form Recommended by
the Grand Army of the Republic.
IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAu.l

Washington. Jan. GA service and age pen-
sion bill, closely following the provisions Of the
measure outlined in these dispatches Of January
% was introduced in the House to-day by Rep
resentative sulloway. of NewHampshire, and
referred TO the Committee Invalid Pensions.
of which he is the chairman.
This bill differs from the measure recon-
mended by the Grand Army of the Republic In
that it graduates the pensions according to the
age of the beneficiaries and because it recog-
nizes the men who rendered the country long
service. making a distinction in the amount Of
pension between the three months men and
those who were In the field for two years or
more It differs also I'm regard to the pensions
Of widows The Grand Army of the Republic
bill increases the pensions OF all widows who
married soldiers prior to June q. 1890. giving
them precisely the same benefits accorded to
those who were the wives of soldiers in the
Civil War.
Mr.. Sideways bill provides that all soldiers
who enlisted in the army and navy of the
United States. who served ninety days or more
and were honorably discharged. and who have
reached the age of sixty-two years, shall be en-
titled TO a pension of So month: when sixty
six years old SO month. and when seventy
years old So a month. It further provides
that where man rendered two years or more
Of service he shall receive a pension Of 81
month in addition to the above prescribed
rates.
Mr.. Sideways bill also increases the pensions
of those who are now drawing the minimum
pension Of So a month under existing laws TO
So a month. and further provides that the pen
sion Of widows who married the soldier prior
to January 1. 1870. shall be increased to So
month.
This bill gives relief TO the ninety days men
by increasing the minimum from So TO IS. and
by further giving them the benefit of an age
pension. The men who rendered the country
long service are also recognized. allowing them
an additional rate of 81 month where they
served two years or over. The pensions Of war
widows are increased from IS to So month.
1t is expected that considerable difficulty will
be experienced in forming an accurate estimate
of the amount necessary to appropriate for
service pensions. General Ainsworth. OF the
record and pension division Of the War Depart
ment. the Commissioner Of Pensions and other
officials will doubtless be asked by the COM
mittee to furnish such data as may be in their
possession. AS it is. all estimates are admit
tedly based on the merest speculation, and until
the information is at hand an intelligent fore
cast OF the money required is impossible.
There are nearly two hundred thousand vet
Grams OF the Civil War who are not pensioners
and have never applied for relief, ana II IS
thought that comparatively few of this number
would avail themselves of the opportunity af-
forded by the new bill There many veter
drawing pensions who would under
its provisions be entitled TO only slight in
crease. and the same may be said Of the bene-
fits accruiug 10 the widows.
While a bill OF this character has received no
formal consideration in the Senate, its provi-
sions have been quietly discussed dispost-
ton is manifested to amend the measure. when
II comes TO that body, so that no one now earn
ing his own living shall be beneficiary, nor
shall any veteran he entitled to a pension until
he becomes incapaCitated for work. Some Sen
ators favor still other amendments, among
them being the striking out OF all provision for
widows beyond that made by existing law.