The National tribune., 1909-07-22
PENNSYLVANIA PENSION BILL.
Why 1t Failed to Become a Law.

Editor National Tribune: The State
Pension bill of the Grand Army of the
republic went down to defeat because
the committee authorized by the Depart
ment Encampment at Erie. to be appoint
ed by the incoming Department Com
mander. was not big enough for the un-
dertaking, altho advised and aided from
the beginning to the end by Department
Commander De Lacey and his active As
sistant Adjutant-Generai, Chas. A. Suy-
dam.
Had the Encampment at Erie. with
comprehensive Judgment and impartiality.
and with the clear purpose of securing the
enactment of n Grand Army State pension
bill, selected that committee it would, at
least, have been representative OF the De-
partment, and the .'high political intiu'
ence" necessary TO have secured the pass
age of the bill, doubtless, could have been
reached.
Impressed with its own wisdom and in
fiuence. the committee selected for tu.
great undertaking either believed it un-
necessary to invoke the influence of great
political leaders. or. if it deemed such a
course essential, was absolutely unable to
command that influence, and so the STATE
Pension Committee failed in its purpose
and here, in the presence and before the
whole Grand Army of Pennsylvania. con
fess and proclaim our complete failure. and
to say that if more influential and a
more representative committee had been
detailed for the work. the result might
have been a glorious victory, instead of
a disastrous defeat.
Causes of Failure.
Therefore, in my opinion, three Things
mainly contributed to the defeat of the
Grand Army State pension bill. l name
them:
First. The inability of the State Pen
l. IL. IL
receive the approval and support of com
rades and Grand Army Posts OF the De
partment of Pennsylvania.
Second. The opposition of the political
leaders. who ordered that the bill be de-
feated, and which opposition the commit
tee was not able to overcome.
Third. The failure to secure Gov. Stu
arts recommendation in his message 90
the Legislature giving d State pension 30
veterans of the civil war.
l take up the third proposition as log
icaliy the first in order:
During the session of the Pennsylvania
Legislature of 1907. Senator Cochran pre-
scented bill providing for pension of 81
a month to all Pennsylvania veterans
year or less: $50 month to all who
had served between one and two years,
and $40 month to all who had served
more than two years. The bill as il
passed the Senate carried with il an ap-
preparation of Sl.000,0CW wherewith to
pay the pensions under the proposed act.
That bill was drafted By Senator Cochran
without the knowledge of any cOmraIe
or Grand Army Post in the Department
of Pennsylvania, and was carried thru the
Senate without a single comrade or Post
having asked for its passage. 1t passed
the Senate without opposition, and was
sent to the House for concurrence.
The Cochran bill was carefully consid-
cred in the House. an6 after exhaustive
inquiry was amended by increasing the
appropriation to something over S5.I34, 900
for the payment of pensions under the act,
and in order to raise the money to meet
that unusual drain upon the State Treas
ury, the House passed a revenue bill and
sent both the pension and the revenue bill
to the Senate for concurrence.
The Senate promptly concurred in the
House amendment to the. pension bill. and
just as promptly defeated the House reye-
nue. bill, and in that shape the pension
bill was passed and sent to the Governor.
1t was pension bill calling for the pay
ment of over $5.750.000. and with no pro-
vision for meeting that great sum OF
money. and the Governor. in justice to all
other interests and institutions of the
State, Educational, Charitable. Reform
atory. Soldiers Homes and Soldiers Or
pnan Schools, most reluctantly reached the
conclusion that. it was, his duty to veto
the bill. An,l thus the matter. stood a;
the close OF the session,
The Cochran bill whetted the desire oil
the veterans of the civil war for State
pension.
A Grand Army Pension Bill.
Immediately after that veto of the State
pension bill there appeared to be a dis
position on the part of Il number of Grand
ernor for that veto, and with the view OF
arresting that tendeucy, and of dyerrins
it into a better purpose. l offered this
resolution at the first meeting of Col. VIM.
l.. curry Post. following the veto OF that
pension bill:
Resolved. That the oicefs and mem
bers of Col. VIM. l.. Curry Post, No. Is.
Department of Pennsylvania. Grand Army
of the Republic. request the Grand Army
Association to apDOint Il committee of 10
members of the Grand Army of the Re
public to prepare q State pension bill for
the consideration of the Department En-
campment, which will meet in June. 1908,
and when approved by the Department
Encampment to present the same TO the
Governor of PENNSYLVANIA with the re-
quest that he recommend the passage of
that bill in his message 10 the next Legs
lature.' ri
The Grand Army Association of Phila-
delphia was then composed of about 4J
Grand Army Posts of the city of Phila-
delphia aud vicinity. and represented ap-
proxiiHa tely 10000 veterans of the civil
war. The resolution of Curry Post was
unanimously adopted by the Grand Army
Association of Philadelphia and commit
tee of Is representative Grand Army com
rades named to draft Il State pension bill
for the approval of the Department En-
campment.
That committee of II gave exhaustive
consideration to the question of State
pension The draft of a bill was agreed
upon and submitted to a stated meeting
of the Grand Army Association Of Phila-
delphia. at which more than 40 Grand
Army Posts were represented by more
than $50 comrades and the bill was unan-
imously approved.
At stated meeting of the Grand Army
Association of Philadelphia, held on the
evening of April "a 190S the action of
its Committee on Pensions was unan-
mously approved, and it was ordered that
the bill be submitted to the Department
Encampment to be held at Erie on June
3, 1908. for its approval. and then. under
its direction. present the same to the
Governor of Pennsylvania, with the re-
quest that he recommend the passage of
said bill in his message to the next Leg
islature.
One thousand copies OF the Philadelphia
Grand Army Association bill were sent by
its Secretary. Comrade Harry |. lohn. 70
Department headquarters at Erie, but for
some reason-yet to be explaiDei-altho
received. were never presented TO the
interesting to know why these 1000
nf a mi