The National tribune., 1908-05-07

belief that there was at least one bill
which would give all veterans of the
civil war pension of 81 a day during
proposed rolls include the one-fifth, as
will soon point out. of these veterans
The t~o bills were introduced in De-
cember last. nine days apart The
earlier one-H. Il. 4G3S-was referred.
as before stated. to the Committee ON
Military Affairs. and the later one
II. r. 7625-to the Committee on In
valid Pensions. The title of each in
dicates. as heretofore stated. its object.
and while in the body of each bill tsec-
ton p there is something about paw
ing to each of the class hereinafter
described when entered upon such
roll. money out of the Treasury of
the United States. there is no class OF
any kind thereafter described to be
entered '.on such roll" or to be PEN
Neither bill makes any distinction
between soldiers disabled or incapaci-
tated from earning a living and who
still endure constant suffering incident
to faithful service and those who were
more fortunate. save to exclude in as
certaining the IS months limit such of
them as were Off duty while in the
service recovering from injuries or. ILL
ness. unless they We're discharged for
such disability. There were on Feb
ruary l, 1893. on our pension rolls on
account of disability 633.33S veterans
of the civil war. The author says his
bills are to provide for only 1880
Regular Army. of the Mexican War.
the Spanish War, the Philippine War.
the Indian wars and others are exclud-
ed. 1t must be remembered
The earlier bin proposes to create a
volunteer service rolf composed of
,sr-.r
credit as an enlisted man not less than
Is months in the field with troops.'
between July Is, 1851. and July Is.
1865 This bill cuts out in counting
the Is months, the time (three monthsl
volunteer Union soldiers served under
Lincoln's first call for troops April Is.
1850. most of whom reenlisted before
July Is. 1861. and served with hon
orabte records. What is the matter
with these worthy first volunteers to
respond to their country's call that
they are to be excluded from the pro-
posed volunteer service roll?"
There were many thousands in the
Union Army who. like those of the
Veteran Reserve Corps, were not mus
tered out on account OF the wounds
they received or the disabilities they
contracted, but at the ends of their
terms of enlistment or at the end of
tered out who served more than
Is months, if time spent in hospital
or elsewhere suffering from disease, or
in the rear in camps. forts, defenses,
or guard duty. and so forth, was count
ed. All these are to be excluded.
recently reported. and we passed
a $3.50, 100000 pension appropriation
bill for the next fiscal year and a de-
ficiency of s15.000,o00 is expected.
The attacks on Congress, or indi-
vidual members thereof, for lack of
hberahty in granting pensions is gross
slander and without justification. When
further general pension legislation is
enacted it will be. as in the past. on
Just and liberal lines, recognizing all
honorably discharged veteran soldiers,
sailors. and marines, particularly the
of all our wars. and the wild
ows and orphans of those who are de-
ceased.
The true citizen soldier. sailor, or
marine has not, in any of our wars.
responded to his country's call to arms
for pay, for bounty, or for the hope Of
pension, but to discharge his duty as a
patriot who loves his flag and his coun-
try and to preserve and perpetuate the
liberty and the blessings guaranteed by
our Constitution and laws. applause
He has gone forth to fight and die for
his own soyereignty--that sovereignty
winch wears no crown save that of in
common to all citizens of
our Republic. But, Notwithstanding
this, q deeply grateful country has
cared for and will continue to care for
most literally all her war veterans
and the dependents of those who have
fallen in battle or have died of wounds
or of disease. Let us not endanger the
liberal discharge of this obligation by
professions and pretenSes or by propos-
ing sham legislation. born of a political
exigency. which can bear no fruit The
true friends of the now old. war-worn.
weary and worthy vet
Grams do not resort to such efforts.
And these veterans will not regard with
favor the mockery of a pretense of
a tender of bread from a hand that
hold only a stone. LIQUID APPLAUSE ON
the Republican sidel