Lewiston evening teller., 1908-02-08
French PENSION Bills
FEATURE OF ACTIVITY
IDAHO CONGRESSMAN HAS MEASURES THAT WILL BE OF FAR
REACHING BENEFIT TO SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF CIVIL
wAR-BnL INCREASES RATE OF DIFFERENT AGE LIMITS
INCREASE FOR WIDOWS
INCREASE FOR WIDOWS.
Special to Evening Teller.

Special to Evening Teller. |
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. S.-l
Congressman French has introduced
an important pension bill, which, if
passed, will be of far reaching bene-
fit to the soldiers and sailors of the
civil war, and to their widows. The
| bill Is in the nature of an amend
ment to the service or age pension
/ in February, 1907. The service
pension law provides that any per-
son who served ninety days or more
in the army of the United States in
the civil war, or sixty days In the
war with Mexico, and who has
reached the age of sixty-two years
or over shall be placed upon the
pension rolls. In case such per-
son has reached the age of sixty
two years, twelve dollars per month;
seventy years, fifteen dollars per
month; seventy-five years or over,
twenty dollars per month.
The bill introduced by Mr.. French
lprovides an Increased rate at the
} different age limits. Under the
terms of the French bin when the
b soldier has reached the age of sixty
; two years he shall receive twelve
/ dollars per month"; sixty-fve years,
fifteen dollars per month; seventy
years, twenty dollars per month.
t Thus, If the bill passes soldiers
who are sixty-five years of age can
| draw fifteen dollars per month with
{ out having to wait until they are
: seventy years old to draw that
= amount. In other words 1t means an
I increase of three dollars per month
for the soldier while he is between
the ages of sixty-five and seventy
years.
The bill also cuts down the age
e limit of the service law and entities
a the soldier to twenty dollars, pei
s month when he has reached the agt
D of seventy-ffve years under the ser
i vice pension law. This will mean al
It increase of i've dollars per month tt
every soldier under the faw be
tween the, ages of seventy and sew
enty-five years of age and over, AM
of course, is very important In
crease to the old soldiers who ar
benefited under the service law.
Increase in Pensions for Widows
A bin having for its purpose al
increase of pension from So to 81
per month to widows of soldier
and sailors of the civil war. sfmila
to the one introduced by Mr.. Frenc
has been introduced to the house b
the committee on invalids' pensions
The only limitations are that tn
pensioners must be widows of so
diers or sailors who served ninet
days or more in the late war of tn
rebellion in the service Of the Unite
States and were honorably di
h charged therefrom. The bill furtht
provides that the widow shall
4 paid two dollars per month for eaC
n child of such soldier under sixtee
years of age,
These important notifications
the pension law, if enacted Will ter
to equalize widows pensions al
4 put them nearer on the same footir
They are not radical, however. al
are so full of merit that they appe
to members of congress and Sc
D ators. There are so many matte
b clammoring for attention at ea
session of congress that a gre
many very important and meritol
D Gus measures are not considered .
cause the people interested do not
turn interest their representativ
and senators.
Congressman French is dol
everything in his power to secu
the passage of these two bills. T
reputation for work and activi
along legislative lines is W
known, but it will be easier to 81
ceed If the soldiers and widows
soldiers who are interested in
two bills should express their
terest in the passage of the bills
means of petitions, memorials
letters they can be brought to
attention of congress from all sid