Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-12
indian WAR RELIEF
BILLSI IN CONGRESS
representative Joseph Howell
Tells of Some Of the Diff
cuIties in the Way.
LOCAL COMMITTEE MAY GO
w,.bineton TO Aid In Making
strong showing to the House
OF Representative.

.. CONS 90 be widespread mis-
5r.tanding throughout the west
iouv among the survivors Of the
,.. indian wars in Utah. as to the
- .tatus Of the measures proposed
choir relief In Congress.
nm pcusioning the surviving
...-, and enlisted men I'm the Utah
-,.,,tsers employed in the defense OF
~. sr,ptier settlements Of the Territory
rtah against the Indian dep
,.,,ors Of 1866 to 1856" has
..s.s5 the United states senate
number Of times. originally
s,yur been nu uced by Senator
p,gIas When the measure has
....b.5 The house. however, il has
,..r p'-,0u-holed IN the committee.
r.ff.r from Hon. Joseph Howell TO
--- w. w. Ritter Of salt Lake. who
t.s ukan great interest in the sub
a.. of pensions 90 the pioneers. de-
,s1s some Of the difficulties encoun-
,.r.d before the pension bin can be
made into law. Mr.. Howelrs letter is
o. follows.
February 20. 1910.
.n,ar Mr.. Riter-Complyng with
,oiir request OF the 2ist instant, ] am
,.l.ed to enclose herewith copies Of
ius introduced by me In an EFFORT
fo extend the grace and bounty Of the
federal government TO the brave pio-
mean. of Utah who freely gave their
nf IN
.ralast actual and threatened danger
from indian attacks.
81 am In hearty accord with the
sentiments expressed in your letter
respecting the justice and desirability
OF obtaining for them the fullest meas
ura OF reward possible. Their heroic
service in times Of public danger and
.he'r hard struggles in subduing the
wilderness. strongly appeal 20 the SYM
uathles of an who know their true his
tory.
H. r. 40. 1860 Is n bill that has
been before Congress since Senator
RavlIns time. II has passed the sem
ate without debate more than once,
but has been invariably pigeon-holcd
in the house committee on pensions In
my opinion, which is strengthened by
the views Of the commissioner Of PEN
so1s i is doubtful even II this bill
PASSED. whether 10 would afford the
anticipated relief for the reason that
the practise OF the pension bureau de-
mands that proof Of service for or In
behalf Of the United States must be
shown either by record OF service un-
der the authority OF. or proof Of COM
rsnsat'0n By the United States This
BIN was drawn with a view to recon-
cling it as far as possible with legis-
l4tye preccdents.
CLAIMS FOR SERVICES.
The committee on pensions OF the
house has stubbornly insisted that the
records OF the war department fail 10
disclose any Indian war in Utah i'm
which any force under the authority
OF the United states has participated
during the period covered by the bill
and that no such service had over been
recognized by the government or Il
would have been paid for In the alb
sence NJ this evidence I am halted by
the committee with this proposition:
II this alleged service was federal
service. you must first establish a by
presenting a claim for services and
expenses Incurred In this war. and
have Il passed by Congress.
This course was followed BY our
territory I'm the case Of the Walker
var 10 1858. and the claim was ac-
Towlodgcd and paid for by Congress.
This recognition by the United States
or that war entitled all who served 30
DAYS and whose service was so certified
lh the claim filed by the territory, TO