The National tribune., 1910-05-05
THE LIGHT BREAKING.

is young man, but a firm and zeal
Gus friend of the veterans, of whom
there are many in his district in north
western Ohio. He lets no occasion pass
to help the veterans, and with his abil-
tiles his help is always valuable. We
give his speech entire, because we
think it unusually significant. 1t shows
that the watchers on the housetops
| have seen that the imperative need for
economy in the National expenditures
is passing away; that the Treasury is
condition under the operation of the
Payne-Aldrich law, and that with this
return of financial gladness, there comes
the hope of more liberality toward the
men and women who are now the most
pressing objects of attention that the
Government can or should have. Mr..
| Cole said:
! Mr.. Speaker: This Congress should
grant substantial relief in the way of
increased pensions to the surviving SOL
diers of the civil war their widows and
orphans. There has been no general
pension legislation for period of two
years. The McCumber act, known as
the old-age pension law, granting to
all soldiers who served 80 days or more
and received an honorable discharge,
$12 at the age of g., SIS at the age of
10, and $50 at the age of IS, passed this
House more than three years ago.
The widows pension act, increasing
the rating from $S to S12 per month,
became a law over two years ago. The
wisdom of these laws has been vindi-
Gated, but the time is ripe for renewed
evidence of the Nations loyalty to the
veteran and those dependent upon him.
A bill has been reported from the
Committee on Military Affairs providing
for the creation of the civil war volun-
teer officers retired list and granting
pension of $50 month to all SOL
dierS 20 Years of age whose physical
or mental condition is of such degree
of disability as to require the frequent
and periodical aid and attention of an
other person
I believe in a dollar-a-day pension
law. 1t may be impossible to secure
the passage of such an act at this time,
but in view of the replenished condi-
tion of the Federal Treasury, a great
increase should be made now over the
existing rates. There has been a de-
mand for rigid economy in apprOIria-
tions during this session of Congress.
That demand has been needed and the
ordinary expenditures Of the Govern
lnent have been reduced almost $50
600, 900 per aTInurm. The new tariff law
has proved its capacity as a revenue
raiser. The receipts under the Payne
law are $4,000, 900 more annually than
under the Dinsiey law. AS a result,
the deficit in the Federal Treasury has
been cut down. from $50. 900 900 to less
than $20,000,000. Before the end of
the fiscal year the Government will be
in possession of a substantial surplus.
The pension appropriation bin last
year carried about 1863 080. 900: this
year 1t has been reduced to about $155,-
100000. A reduction of S8.000,000 in
one year is sad reminder of the fact
that the veterans are rapidly passing
away. What we do must be done quick
ly. II these veterans are to enjoy the
bounty of the Government during their
declining days, now is the time for
action.
AS the bill comes from the commit
tee. it Will call for an increase of per-
haps S10,000.6o0. 1t is estimated upon
the best evidence obtaina BILE that strik-
ing out the disability clause and grant
ing to all soldiers 70 years of age a
pension of $50 per month would add
another $4,000, 600 to the bill. If the
opportunity is presented when the bill
comes up in the House for considera-
ton, i shall introduce an amendment
striking out the qualifying clause as to
physical and mental condition. and the
necessity of the assistance of another
person.
Between the ages of Go and 10 is the
period of life when the. greatest num-
ber of soldiers enjoy the benefits of
pension. j would favor an increase
to at least S25 per month at the age
of s.. This is the rating fixed in The
National Tribune bill, which, / believe,
has received the Endorsement of every
ygfNrt Nto~t, n -.
District. The consideration of this bill
will give us a splendid opportunity for
granting substantial relief and doing
Justice to the men who saved the Ma
tion.
Two years ago when the widows
pension measure was up for consider
alton, l made the following statement
on the floor Of the House:
Il deeply regret, however Mr.. Speak
er, that this measure does not go furth-
er and eliminate the clause in the law
of 1890, making ineligible to pension
widows who have married soldiers since
that date. There are thousands of Wild
ows thruout the United States who have
married soldiers since 1890. They have
taken care of these old veterans dur
ing their declining days. and have made
them as peaceful and happy as the
passing of the sunlight from the hill
side. They cannot be charged with
other than the pureSt motives, as they
married these men in the face of the
fact that they were not entitled to a
pension under the law Many of these
noble women are in needy ciTcum-
stances, and should receive the gener-
Gus treatment which has always been
characteristic of the American people"
l will stand by that statement. We
should strike that clause out of the
law, and grant to these noble women a
pensionable status. / believe the wild
ow should receive the same pension
which the soldier received, as she is
in much greater need of assistance as
rule after the death of her husband
than before. Many times the veteran
is able to contribute something to the
support of the family, even tho he has
a rating of total disability. But after
his death the widow is absolutely de-
pendent for the necessities and COM
forts of life upon the stipend granted
to her by the Government
Mr.. Speaker, perhaps the most sub
stantial manner of paying our debt of
gratitude to the soldiers of the civil
war Is in the form of a pension from
the Federal Government. This Nation
has been liberal beyond all precedent
in the sums appropriated for that pur-
pose. This is as ii should be. No crit
icism of the Governments liberality
in this respect is heard from any class
of our citizenship. The high-water
mark in pension appropriations was
made last year. when the bill carried
S163, 600 900. These figures seem some
what imposing. but when we consider
the fact that the Nation owes its life
to the men and women who are re-
ceiving this recognition, the sum which