The National tribune., 1907-04-25
PENSIONS FOR pENNsYLvANIANs.

Editor National Tribune: Enclosed
find copy of letter of transmittal and
resolutions of civil war veterans re-
Gently unanimously adopted at Apo
mattox Day celebration. held under
joint auspices of Grand Army Associa-
ton of Allegheny County, and of the
Union Veteran Legion of Pittsburg, on
the 9Th inst.
The Senate of Pennsylvania has al
ready. by almost unanimous vote. past
bill allowing a gratuity of IS per
month to all soldiers enlisting in Penn
Sylvania regiments who served in the
civil war upwards of so days and less
than year; and to those serving over
a year $40 per month-the law not to
go into effect until Jan. 1, 190S-a con-
dition being attached that only soldiers
still residing in Pennsylvania can OBJ
tain the gratuity. The House of Repre-
sentatives is to vote on its final passage
next Tuesday. The small State of Maine
has enacted and has in operation pre-
cisely similar law.
PennsyIvania's great wealth and
resources. with $10,600.000 on deposit
in various banks, it is thought, can pay
the required amount without difficulty,
realizing also how the gratuities will
steadily decrease by the grim messen-
gers daily summons to the veterans.
When this act was introduced, follow
ing the adoption of the recent general
pension act of Congress allowing $12
per month to all veterans attaining the
age of So and over, the veterans OF the
State held back and took no action on
the State bill, properly considering that
the State pension bill being designated
a gratuity and coming to them unso-
licited, that they would abide the result
and refrain from interference.
However, the opposition that has de-
velopt and the organized and unfair eff
forts and Misrepresentation to defeat
the measure or to secure its veto by the
Governor, under pretext of the great
tax upon the Treasury bankrupting the
State, ETC., has aroused Indignation and
resentment all over the State. Every
Post and Encampment of the Union
Veteran Legion in the State has held
meetings and passed resolutions urging
the passage of the bill as an act of SIM
pie justice and also denying that the
same would be a burden on the great
State of Pennsylvania.
Argument is being used by comrades
that especially Is this gratuity due the
beneficiaries, because of the fact that
the soldiers Of 1861-1865 were paid in
greenbacks or deprecated currency,
worth less than so cents on the dollar,
while the men who at the same time
only imperiled their money, and not
their lives, were paid principal and in
terest in gold for bonds purchased.
The example Of President Roosevelt
in approving of all meritorious pension
bills past by Congress and leaving said
honorable body to devise the ways and
means to collect revenue to pay same
might well be followed by Gov. Stuart,
of Pennsylvania, on approving the pas
sage of this act for Pennsylvania veter-
ans.
Watering the flowers on the veterans
graves and building monuments to their
or feelings Of the veteran in his declin-
ing years, when unable to work.
Will you favor your many comrade
friends in Pennsylvania by publishing
the inclosed resolutions. with editorial
Endorsement, and oblige-Charles F.
McKenna.
"Pittsburg, Pa, April II. 1907.
Member of House of Representatives
Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Sir: Your attention Is respect
fully called to the within resolution, and
your support of the patriotic measure is
earnestly requested. 1t is a matter of
historic knowledge that the State of
Pennsylvania, thru her State agent, has
long since collected and been fully re-
imbursed for every dollar Of the mil
lions advanced by the State in furnish
ing troops and materials in the great
contest for the Union.
''It is equally true that the National
Congress has repaid every dollar within
the last few years by special act to re-
imburse the mill owners and manufac-
turers of Pittsburg, who, in 1863. on the
Confederates' invasion to Chambersburg
and Gettysburg, and who also threat
ened Pittsburg. for expenses and costs
of labor and materials, voluntarily adj
vanced and paid by said citizens, in con-
structing the defense of Pittsburg by
Mount Washington and other points.
These advances were all voluntarily
made at the time.
"As an act Of simple justice, the Ma
tional Congress reimbursed said con-
tributors every dollar. 1t is respectfully
submitted, therefore. that the great
State Of Pennsylvania, being long since
fully reimbursed by the National Gov
eminent for all OF its OUTLAWS and ex-
penses arising from the civil war. that
1t should now discharge its duty to her
sons, the survivors residing in Pennsyl-
vania, who defended her soil and won
the peace at Appomattox and the con-
sequent marvellous prosperity following
this era of peace.
Respectfully submitted.
"a. NJ. Carlin, 9Th Pa. Cav: ]. NJ. Ray.
l4Vtn fa-s II. w. 6ches: 1SStu Td-,
Committee"
Resolutions Of Allegheny County Vetef-
ans Of Civil War.
At a mass meeting of the surviving
honorably- discharged veterans of the
civil war, held under the joint auspices
Of the Grand Army Association Of Allie
gheny County, representing all the Posts
OF G. A. r. of said County and the
Union Veteran Legion Of said County,
to commemorate the great peace at APP
pomattox by the surrender of the Con-
federate armies to Lieut.-Gen. q. S.
Grant, the following resolution, offered
by Comrade R. w. Mckee. of the 139th
Pa, was unanimously adopted:
Resolved. That this meeting most
earnestly and respectfully request the
members Of the House of Representa-
tives from Allegheny County to support
by their vote and to use all honorable
means to secure the passage of the
pending penison bill providing gratui
ties to all surviving veterans of the civil
war who enlisted in Pennsylvania and
who are residents of the State at date Of
passage OF said bill; being the same
bill already, by the patriotic action of
the Senate. almost unanimously adopted
by that body"
We believe the enactment of such a
law to be but rendering simple justice
to Pennsylvania's sons, the youths of
1851 and 1865, who defended her soil
and who at Gettysburg rolled back the