The Newtown bee., 1908-06-19

the aid of the subtitle fluid never to be divulged in fact, now as in war time, death first. We have often urged Mir Dougal to give us his war experience but his invariable reply is fighters are not takers.
 No. 65S Broadway,
 New York City, December 9, 1907.
 MT Andwer Carnegie,
 2 East 91st Street,
 New York City.
 Dear Sir: The Executive Committee of the United States Military Tele- graph Corps of the United States Army, of which you are an honorary member, held special meeting in the directors room of the Western Union Telegraph Company on December 3rd inst. at which it was unanimously vot- ed to address you as follows =
 The United States Military Telegraph Corps of the United States Army, inau- gurated by you, grew during the Civil War into a mighty arm of service. It's life was marked here and there with tragedy and exceptional cases of hero- ism, and everywhere by patriotic and self-sacrifcing service unexcelled by that of any other arm.
 The service it performed was analo- gous to that of the signal corps con- bined with that of the scout and field courier and to a considerable extent 1t relieved the cavalry arm. The mem- bers of the corps shared the perils, pri- vations and sufferings of the private soldier but thus far they have been de- nied by the Government the soldiers s reward. For a quarter of century the survivors have appealed to Con gress for penslonable status so that they might be on parity with all oth CT soldiers of the war but the only thing accomplished has been the grant ing to them of a certificate of honor able service by the Act of January 26, 1897.
 From beginning to end of the Civil War about 1,200 names appeared upon the rolls of the Corps but of that num- Der less than 200 survive. Many of the survivors have passed the Psalmist's s limit of life. three-score years and ten, while the others are rapidly going to- ward it. Some of them are in inn paired financial circumstances and a little help would be timely. A prelim- mary but somewhat careful canvass has been made and it is the belief of the Committee that not over 10 per cent of the whole number of survivors, i. :, 10 per cent of 200, are in such needy circumstances.
 Knowing your love for the craft of your youth and feeling that you take virtuous pride in the achievements of the Corps of your founding, IS it ask ing too much of you to suggest Ii among your many generous benefac- tions you can find place for an "Hon- or Pension Roll" to which the surviv- ing members of the Corps would be eligible. Should you look with favor upon this proposal we suggest that the Executive Committee of the United States Military Corps shall carefully consider any applications for relief that may be made hereunder and will ap- prove only such as may appear to be worthy of such relief. all such appll-- cations to have the written approval of at least five members of the Execu- tive Committee.
 We venture also to make the follow, ing suggestion, that whatever relief you may see fit to bestow might be, for instance, the equivalent of the pen sion given by our Government to the private soldiers in the United States Army, i. e., say $l44 per year. and only until each time as Congress may pass pension bill in favor of the members of our Corps. Such bill has been be. fore Congress for a number of years and we have some reason to hope that it may pass during one of the sessions of the 60th Congress. Perhaps any favorable action you may take upor our present petition may hasten ac' tion by Congress.
 Yours very truly,
 William Bender Wilson. Ex. Officlo. Chairman; David Homer Bates, Sec. retary; Robert c. Clowry, Charles A. Tinker, Albert B. Chandler, Members Executive Committee United State: Military Telegraph Corps.
 No. 2 East 91st Street,
 New York City, December l6, 1907 David Homer Bates Esq.,,
 Secretary Executive Committee, .
 United States Military Telegraph
 Corps. New York City.