, 1907-11-07

A number of former soldiers in the
Civil war are interested in the bill to
be brought to the attention of congress
this winter to pension on a special
plan the officers of the Union army who
survive. Comrade Richard Butler Of
Custer post says there are not more
than five men in this county that would
be benefited by the law, and he believes
there is no doubt but what it will pass.
Senator Clark has been heard from di-
rectly, Congressman Mondell has plac
ed himself on record, n when the in
quiry was made recently Senator War
rem was in Europe. His well-known po-
sition on such matters insures that he
will take the just and reasonable side
at the proper time. The following
from the Chicago Tribune of the 5th
is appropos:
Retired Volunteer Officers.
At the next session of congress 4
bill will be introduced by Senator Bur
rows and Representative Dawes pro-
viding for placing upon a retired lis,
officers of the volunteer armies of the
United States who served at least II
year in the field prior to Lees sur
render. According to their age at the
time their respective names are placed
upon the list these officers shall re-
ceive from that date one-half or three
quarters of the pay of regular officers
of the same rank, but in no case more
than the full pay of a captain of caval-
ry $4,000. There shall be no back
pay, and any other pension shall be
surrendered.
Precedent is Found.
Precedent for such action is found
in the action of congress in 1928 in
placing all surviving officers of the
revolutionary war upon the retired list
of the regular army. There is also
precedent in the placing of officers Of
the volunteer army upon the retired
list by special act of congress, as in
the case of General Hawley. There
has been some inconsistency in plac-
ing officers of the regular army upon
the retired list not at the rank held in
the regular army but upon that in the
volunteer service, a captain, for in
stance, retiring with the rank Of colo
mel because he held that rank for a few
months in a volunteer regiment, while
general officers from civil life, regard
less of length of service, are not eligi-
Bile to be placed on the retired list.
Not Many officers Left.
The number of officers to be affected
by such legislation is small. OF the
131 major generals of volunteers who
erved in the war n would be made
eligible to be placed on the retired
list by such an act of congress only
two survive. OF $40 %brigadier generals
only twenty-eight survive. 1t is esti-
mated that $4,000 volunteer officers
we're commissioned during the civil
war, of whom 5000 survive and would
come under the provisions of this act.
Comparing the tables of motality of
pensioners of the United States with
the approved life assurance tables it is
found that soldiers of the civil wal
who were not wounded and who were
apparently well at the close of the
war had on the average twelve years
less of life before them then than 9th
er men of the same age who had not
gone through the strain of campaign
ing. While some gave their lives for
the nation, all gave a large part Of
their lives. The retired list of volun,
0teer officers will grow smaller repidly
and will soon be extinguished by time.
Privates Not Opposed.
While under the present law nc dis
tinction is made on the pension roll
between major general and private,
there seems to be no opposition to the
proposed law from the veteran pri.
Yates. In fact, the various army So
cleties are supporting it regardless OF
rank. 1t hurts the pride Of a private I,
find his old commander distressed 10y
poverty as much as it hurts the officer
himself. With the limitations and re,
strictions imposed by the bill the pro.
posed retired list will become a roll
of honor and an encouragement to vol
unteers in a future war.
nv attach 90 tho grin bo vine rocn1fod