The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-13
FIGHT WAS WAGED
Against the Measure by Number
OF Democrat Leaders.
Murdock Takes a Prominent
Part in the Debate.

Washington, Dec. 13-The Sherwood
service pension bill, which would add
upwards of $40, 000,0 900 to the govern
ment annual expenditures by granting
increased pensions to Civil and Mexi-
can war veterans on the basis of length
of service was passed by the house last
night. despite the determined oppost-
ton of many Democratic leaders.
Secretary of the Interior Fisher has
estimated that the bill would add $751;
oO0. 900 to the pension rolls if the 400, 600
veterans eligible take advantage of the
increased wage
The Republicans who voted with the
"a Democrats against the bill were
Gardner, Gillette and Mccall (AGass.),
Hill Comm, Kent (Cal), McCreary
(Pa-), Payne {Is. W and Utter (R- II
Speaker Clark voted with the major
ity of his party for the bill and Demo-
cratic Leader Underwood and Fitzger-
aid On. ". chairman of the appropria-
lions committee, voted against it.
The bill now goes to the senate. where
there is a disposition to pass in some
form amended service pension legisla-
ton. Senate leaders, however will pro-
coed slowly in the consideration of this
voted for the measure in the belief that
the senate would not pass it.
The SuIloway age pension bill, passed
by the house last spring, failed or pass
age in the senate, at that time. This
Republican measure was offered unsuc-
cessfuiIy in the house as a substitute
for the Sherwood bill Scores of amend
ments were offered and hard, but I'M
successful. fight was made to have a
straight 81 a day pension bill establish
ed without regard to length Of service.
The Sherwood bill would establish the
following basis Of pensions:
The Rate Carried.
For service for 80 days to six months,
SIS per month; from six to nine months,
$50 per month; from nine months to one
year, SIS per month; more than one
year, $50 per month
Two important changes were made IN
the Sherwood bill during the all-day bat
tie.
A Joint amendment by Representatives
Rauch (Ind.) and Cox 90 struck out the
provision denying entrance to federal sol
diers' homes of veterans receiving more
than 80 a month pension; ana refusing %
state homes federal aid for the support OF
such pensioners. The restriction against
the payment of any pension to a veteran
where income exceeds $1,000 a year was
voted out on the motion of Representa-
tive Rucker Gold
The fight on the bill was waged along
political lines to a considerable extent !
and members of each party charged the
other party with buncombe in their at
titude toward the old soldiers. Prominent
Democrats attacked the bill as directly
opposed to the Democratic principles OF
economy and destructive to the plans to
reduce the tariff
tons committee, fought 1t because of its |
tremendous draught on the treasury. |
Representative harrison IN. Y }, a lead I
ing Democrat on the ways and means /
committee, declared that the bill knocks |
in the face all pretensions made by the /
Democratic party in the last campaign
MurdocIK's Great Fight.
Representative Victor Murdoch was one /
Of the leaders in q contest which struck /
from the bill the provision that veterans i
OF the civil war who draw pensions under
the new bill shall not be entitled to the /
privilege of entering the soldiers homes, !
maintained by the government. Murdoch [
made a spirited speech which elected
great enthusiasm.
He said. among other things: THE /
house not only should blast this provision
out Of the bill but should blast it out by
such overwhelming majority that it
viii never creep back In This provision
Furnishes misery and penalties nisfOr-
tune. No veteran goes to a soldiers
home in happiness. To most of them 1t
is an hour of sorrow in their lives some
times Of tragedy. Pension legislation is
the tribute that our generation unused to
the hazard and hardshtps of war pays to
a generation which bravely passed
through them The life line among vet
Grams Of the civil war is today at 72 years
the death line at n years. These men to
whom we pay tribute today occupy this I
narrow ridge of one year. a ridge made
narrow by i'll health, misfortune and
decrepitude, and we should bring them a
tribute Of our gratitude bountifully, |
gratefully, and full handed I desire to 1
read this telegram from a notable man
who has been for forty years a notable
friend Of soldiers John p St. John:
g Stand by the Sulloway bill. Tens or !
thousands who were too young at the be
ginning Of the war to enlist entered the
army soon as eligible toward the close
when their country greatly needed their
service. It is not question of length Of
service, but question of coming to the
relief OF the old soldier in the hour of his
great necessity. The soldier who served |
but 80 days gets just hungry as the
one who served four years. Don't turn
the short term soldier away on half
rations. "