The National tribune., 1910-09-22
Southern Memorial Fund.
s3,599.64
Expenditures.

Louisiana ana MlSSlS-
,Slppl ZVu.VV
Virginia and South
Carolina .......... 10000
Balance Aug Is, 1910. $2.S69.64
The comrades of the South, together
with the patriotic women of that sec
ton, tenderly decorated the graves of
our dead in the many cemeteries in
the Southland. 1t is no easy task, and
it is becoming more difficult each Me-
mortal Day. More funds will be re-
uuired, and this year a larger amount
was expended than ever before The
devotion to duty of these comrades and
these patriotic women cannot be toe
highly commended.
Pensions.
The question of pensions is ever pres
ent with us. The 43d National En-
campment went on record as follows;
Believing as we do that the 165, 1000
loyal women in our Patriotic Auxiliary.
the W. r. c., are better qualified than
we to judge of the duties of the Gov
ernment to the widows of our deceased
comrades. we hereby indorse the reso-
luton unanimously adopted by them
in their National Convention at Toledo,
and reiterated here at Salt Lake City,
asking for the removal of the time
limit on the date of marriage, and in
struct the Commander-inCh and his
Pension Committee to urge upon Con-
gress the amendment of the law so as
to eliminate the time limitation"
In pursuance of a universal custom.
the following Committee on Pensions
was appointed:
Robert B. Brown, Chairman, Zanes-
vile, o. -'. .,
S. S. Burdett, Washington, D. c.
John R. King, Washington, d. c. -
VIM. M. Olin, Boston, Mass. &C.,
VIM. NJ. Ohm, Chairman, Boston.
Mass. g.
At a time named by the Command
er-in-Chief this committee met in the
city of Washington. the only member
absent being Comrade Raymond, who
was unable to be present On account of
severe illness. As q result Of their
labors the following bill was introduced
in the Senate by Senator McCumber. of
North Dakota, but was not voted upon:
An act amending Sec. 2 of an act
entitled, An act to increase the pension
of widows, minor children, etc, of de-
ceased soldiers and sailors of the late
civil war. the War with Mexico, the
various Indian wars etc, and to grant
a pension to certain widows OF the de-
deased soldiers and sailors of the late
civil war Approved April 10, 1908.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That Sec. 2 of an act entitled An
act to increase the pension of widows.
minor children. etc, of deceased sol
diers and sailors of the late civil war.
the War with Mexico the various In
dian wars, etc, and to grant pension
TO certain widows of the deceased sol
oiers and sailors of the late civil war,
a nj -a1 nytl ~. \
to read as follows: -
Sec. 2 That if any officer or enlist
ed man who served 80 days or more In
tie army or navy of the United States
during the late civil war. and wfio has
been honorably discharged therefron,
has died or shall hereafter die, leaving
WidoE, such widow snail tpon due
proof of her husbands death, without
proving his death TO be the result OF
bis army or navy service, be placed L D
on the pension roll freIa the date OF
the fiings OF her application therefor
under this act at the rate Of S12 per
month during her wiGowhood, provided
that said widow shall have married said
soldier or sailor at least three years
prior to his death and the widow shall
have lived and cohabited with such SOL
der or sailcr, continuously from the
date OF such marriage, il subseque at TO
June 26, 1880, to the date of his death
and the benefits of this section shall
include those widows whose husbands
if living would have pensionabIe
status under the joint resolutions OF
Feb Is, 1895; July l, 1902, and June
28, 1906"
L regret that nothing was accom-
plished. but it was no fault of the COM
mittee. Congress would not pass any
general pension legislation. However
some 5000 private pension bills Were
enacted. The committee canvsssed the
matter industriously with Senators and
Representatives but to no purpose The
Government was facing deficiency in
its revenues and retrenchment and the
strictest economy was the watchWord
This was the reason given for non.
action
In my Judgment, in view of the
changed conditions in our country's
financial affairs, if this Encampment
should again recommend this measure
| it would likely pass. Many communi.
| cations We're received at headquarters
relative to pensions. All of these were
| referred to the Pension Committee fol
their consideration.
Commissioner Davenport.
While we did not secure the desired
legislation at the last session of Con.
gress, it is fortunate that we have a:
| Pension Commissioner comrade who
not only faithfully serves the Govern.
ment. but who at all times gives tht
worthy and needy veteran the benefit
of the doubt. CoErade Davenport i.
the right man in the right place. ,.t
On banner flung across the street
might be seen, when our army marched
i'll Grand Review down Pennsylvania
avenue, this inscription: There is one
debt the Nation can never pay, ant
that is the debt she owes to her de.
| tenders" We We're then poor The cos
of the war was billions upon billions Of
dollars. So great was the amount tha
many people even declared that thu
Government was bankrupt and would
have to repudiate its debts. What prog
gress since Appomattox, By the exer.
else of thrift and industry we becam.
rich, strong and powerful. We did mo-
repudiate, but paid 5ery dollar of The
debt incurred in saving the Nation. w,
are now, after having paid all our OBJ
| ligations> incurred in prosecuting thu
war, the wealthiest Nation in the world
| While it is true that our country car
never repay her defenders for theil
! services, yet she has ever been mindfc
| of their necessities, and has been mos
! liberal in her pension policies. NJ
| Government was ever so lavish not only
in the matter of pensions, but in pro
vidinG National Homes. where the .1in.
! fortunate but worthy comrades can fine
in the sunset of life a home with ever,
comfort. The States, too, have erected
Soldiers Homes. and in addition pro,
Vided relief funds, so that no eX-Unior
soldier need become an inmate of {
! poorhouse. Some of the States proyid,
places where both the old soldier anC
=. L.