The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
NO SERVICE PENSIONS,
BUT ACT Of 1890 TO Be
CONSTRUED LITERALLY
Decision by President Roosevelt
and Leading Republicans That
Viii Interest Indianians.
BOON TO AGED SOLDIERS
All Who Are Infrm and Unable to
Support Themselves May Be
Benefited.
Special 70 the indianapolis Journal.

SpeciaI 70 the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Indiana SOL
diers will be interested in two conclusions
Just reached by President Roosevelt and
leading Republicans relative to the pension
policy Of the government. The first is that
no service pension law will be passed at
this session of Congress-; the second an
executive order tending materially to relax
the construction of the act of 1890, and
thereby provide pensions for thousands of
veterans who have reached the age of sixty
five and upwards. This will be cheering
news to veterans in Indiana.
After careful consideration of the whole
problem the committee leaders in both
houses have reached the conclusion, which
IS shared by President Roosevelt, that il
would be impossible now for the government
10 pass a general service pension law as it
would surely add 100000 more to the
pension payments.
Under the present Interpretation by the
bureau of the act of 1890. which was
really an act TO provide pensions for all
soldiers physically able to earn a sup
port. whether their disabilities were OF
service origin or not, the bureau has in
sisted tnat some special disabilities should
be shown by the applicants for pension
unless the applicant had reached the age
ot seVenty-nve, when a pensionable dis
ablllty was presumed. Now il is held that
most or the veterans who have attained
the age or S1xty-five are wholly unable to
earn a support by manual labor, yet they
may not be able to specify any particular
physical disability the result of diease or
INJURY. They are afflicted by the disabil-
tiles incident to old age and cannot per-
FORM exactlng manual labor. In many
cases this can be shown, but no specific
disability is demonstrable. If the bureau
considers old age. and the infirmities in
cldent thereto, grounds for granting a pen
sion, as will be the case under the relaxa-
ton OF the requirements, almost every
veteran who has reached the age of sfxty-
I'VE NIL be able on annliNofiOn fn nhfofn
at least the minimum pension allowance.
TINS VIII affect hundreds of soldiers in
Indiana
Every effort will be made by Representa-
tive Hemenway to pave the way at this
session for appropriations for the Ohio
river Improvement project. He finds on in
curry at the War Department that the
army board had reported adversely on the
project FOR a dam below Henderson. Ky.
water at Evansville. He stated that the
interests or the upper river were opposed
10 the Improvement OF the lower stretch IN
til these projects were completed. Whether
the army board acquiesces or not. il is
Mr.. H~emenway's intention TO insist upon
appropriations for the building of a dam be-
low Henderson.
Representative Crumpacker is opposed TO
the amendment in the sundry civil bill
which proposes to withhold a portion of the
funds appropriated for the benefit of the
State Soldiers Home. Under an act pro-
posed by Congress some years ago the sum
OF 500 Is allowed state homes for each in
mate. The House committee has invariably
provided that the amount paid TO pensioners
in soldiers homes should be charged to the
credit OF the appropriation made by Con-
gress. Under this policy, Judge CrUmpack-
er contends. the state homes are deprived
of funds justly due them. If Judge Crum-
packers wishes prevail the State Home at
Lafayette VIII be the gamer of $1,000 a year.
Senator Fairbanks has been invited TO
address the students of the University of
Illinois on June s. If his engagements per-
NIT the senator will accept.
The firm of ]. CT. Schwartkopf & Sons. Of
Columbus. and other companies in Indiana
are protesting against the provision in the
Elkins bill relating TO the transportation
of explosives.
Petitions have been received by the Indi-
ana senator's from the Indianapolis Board
of Trade. favoring the appointment of a
committee to investigate the questions Of
restricting and developing the American
merchant marine.
Leonard ]. Carver, of Noblesville, is a
candidate for a position in the federal SER
vice here.
Representative Hemenway left for Indi-
ana to-day. He will attend the First dis
trict convention in Mt. Vernon on Tues
day. Mr.. Hemenway will return to Wash
ington the latter part of next week.
+ + =
Representative Robinson has been ap-
pointed a member of the subcommittee of
the committee on territories, which will
frame the statehood bills.
=
On motion of Senator Fairbanks, the SEN
ate to-day passed the bill for the relief of
Mrs. Mary A. Coulson, formerly of Sulli-
van, but now of Indianapolis. The meas
ure embOdieS q war claim of So. $50. which
has been pending for many years.
7 = =
Samuel r.. Hamill. of Terre Haute, at
torney for the Indiana Southern Railway
Company. will arrive here on Monday to
confer with Senator Beveridge and Repre-
sentative Holiday concerning the bill au-
thorizing the company TO construct a bridge
across the river north of Terre Haute. The
measure has passed the House, and is now
pending in the Senate.
7 Z
The House to-day passed the bill grant
ing a pension to Henry Nash. OF Morgan
county. Also the pension bills introduced
by Representative Watson for John f. Hill
dreth, and one offered by representative
Hemenway in behalf Of Jason III. Master
son.
While Representative Holiday will not
begin his campaign in the Fifth district
until May, it is his intention to attend the
Republican state convention in the interests
of the candidacy OF Il. +. Corwin, of Green
castle, for reporter of the Supreme Court.
r
There will be forty-nine fourth-class post
offices advanced to the presidential class
April 1. They include Brownstown, Moores-
Vile and Odon, Ind.
\
The President to-day nominated Wilbur
II. Dean TO be postmaster at Windfall. Ind.
Z =
An additional rural free delivery route
will be established at Rosedale. Parke
county, April 10. IT will be twenty miles
long. with a population of coo. Houses on
route, 40. j. L. Nj.