The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-28
PENSIONS THREATEN TO
SWAMP THE TREASURY
IF THEY Be GIVEN TO ALL
Republican Leaders Are Worried
Over the Pending Serv-
ice Propositions.
OF SOLDIERS
Bill introduced in the House That
Provides for Pensions Graded
to Age.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-No question now
pending in Congress is the subject OF more
serious concern on the part of the ma
jority leaders than that relating TO the pro-
posed service pension law. Nearly all Re
publicans are agreed that the time has ar
rived for the enactment of such law, but
how it can be done without swapping the
treasury is the problem up for solution.
Nearly one hundred such bills have been
introduced, many of them by members OF
the Indiana delegation. The committees of
the Senate and House having jurisdiction
over these subjects have given much
thought to service pensions, but no agree
ment has yet been reached. The question
has been preached to Speaker Cannon, Rep
resentative Hemenway, chairman OF the
committee appropriations. and other
leaders of the House. Early in the session
Mr.. Hemenway presented the measure
framed by the old soldiers of Evansville.
Matters are complicated by the attitude
taken by thousands of old soldiers
throughout the United States. Here is the
substance of a letter received by Indiana
representative: "If Congress cannot grant
the soldiers more than $12 month it should
not do anything for them. Twelve dollars
a month will not support any man in this
country. A sufficient rate should be al
lowed to keep us out of the poorhouse." A
disposition is shown by some members to
pass bill basing payments upon the ex-
tent of service. Objection is made to this.
1t is contended that all should be treated
alike. 1t is estimated by some authorities
that an allowance of $12 month would in
crease The disbursements on account of pen
sions at least $50 OOO, 900 year. The pen
sion appropriation bill this year carried
about Sl45OO0,0O0. 1t has been suggested
that before action is taken in either branch
OF Congress that subcommittee of both
Houses should meet with a view to deciding
upon some definite plan.
Representative SullOway, of New Hamp-
SHIRE chairman OF the committee on invalid
pensions, to-day introduced a distinctly
service and age pension BILL which will give
to each soldier who has served ninety days,
and who reaches the age of siXty-twO years,
" per month; siXty-siX years, so per month.
and seventy years, S12 per month. In addi-
ton TO the above rates, his bill gives to the
men who served two years or more an addi-
tiOnal increase of 50 per month in each of
the above classes. The bill increases the
minimum of pensions allowed to IS per
month instead of SIS, which will increase the
pensions of 1884 soldiers who are now on
the rolls at Sc per month The bill further
provides that the pensions of widows who
were married to soldiers prior to Jan. l, 1870,
and who are now on the rolls drawing s.,
| shall be increased to SIP. Heretofore the law
has been that they could not get $12 unless
their husbands died of disease contracted in
the service. This bill will give an increase
to the men who served ninety days, and in
creaseS for the men who fought through the
of the widows who married the soldiers dur
ing or Immediately following the war;