New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
VETERANS FAVOR BILL.
e.. 4. r. Posts of State Indorse
Serrice Pension Measure.

One OF the important measures which VIII come
before the Legislature at Albany this winter IS the
state service pension BILL known as the 'Corneii
bill OF Importance to the veterans or the CiVli
War who credited 10 the State of New YORK
Colonel A b. Cornell 4 Elmira, y. Y, the autlor
of the bill and chairman OF the State Pension Com
mtee: Colonel W. Charles Smith. past senior vice
department commander of the Grand Army OF tne
Republic of New York and c. c. Spaldins COM
rnander of L. Edgar Fitch Post 1s5, c. A r,
OF Einlira were in New York last week Visiting
Grand Army posts and their auxiliaries and caihns
upon members OF the Legislature
Colonel Cornell obtained unanimous indorse-
rnent for the bill from the memorial committee OF
the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx repre-
sentne forty-seven Grand Army posts. and the
memorial and executive committee OF Kings Coun-
II. composed OF thirty-one posts. The bill also
has been indorsed by the Grand Army OF the He-
public OF Nav York. the Sons OF veterans 'he
spanish American War Veterans. the Woman's
Relief Corps and the Daughters of Veterans ana
has the Endorsement OF practically all OF the olo
posts of the Department OF New York
The campaign for its passage was organized last
April and many circulars have been sent ofoduCd9I
throughout the state. Six thousand peuuohs "tte
circulated and they being returned 10 the cfir
man who at the present time has more than sixty
thousand names of prominent taxpayers ana vet
erans and expects to have petition oil AT ieas'
two hundred and fifty thousand names when lhe
bill introduced In the LEGISLATURE SUI" ai''i Oe
opening OF the session
..t,roI, tho results of the committees work.. said
Colonel Cornell yesterday. 1T has been demon
strated that the taxpayers OF New 1orN o'a.e
leve that the veterans are entitled 10 anu shouu
have this pension-they feel that II Is dept ~hieh
tho state owes them its life as well as that OF
tho nation Ninety-nine per cent OF the taxpayers
have signed the petition. and there seems 10 De no
difference as the large taxpayer is as Wiling aS
the small one. This bill is being urged all over the
state and the movement has been taken up IN
i,gar n
The ,vvo important sections OF the proposed law
read =,
eeTEed eri9a n the ' Civil War from 1851 l and
listed or credited to me state eSron, ol sbal
be entitled TO pension from ihis s'a'e VI 81
Section g. That any soldier sailor or marine % who
served in Civil War from ISL to lsoo Msins IN IN
was credited TO the State OF New York and was
honorably discharged, shall be entitled TO all oehe
fits of this act
..rbe money with which TO pay this pension. Mr..
Cornell said will come from funds received By
tho state. There will never be time when the
state will have to resort to tax IN oroer 10 pay
tho pensions. The greatest expense VIII be IN the
first year. Each year thereafter the amount VIII
be less and in ten years the sum which the state
will have TO pay to the surviving veterans Will be
SO small that 1t will be of slight consideration
"Tbs veterans of the Civil War fast passing
to their eternal camping ground The death rate
SO 900 during last yeaf-o.""o eaeu iaoAi'n' ~"
each day and every ten minutes In ten years
there Will be only few left OF that once grand
army OF 465 900 credited to the State OF New York
at IS almost an assured fact that this bill will
hecome a law The people seem to be willing the
veterans should have it. and the Legislature. We
believe will pass It, and We have no doubts that
our honored Governor will sign the BILL which VIII
do so much good for these old comrades-A meas
ure which will enable many OF them to keep body
and roui together and TO pass their few remaining
days by their own fresides with their families and
frfenda"