The National tribune., 1911-04-06
TIE SULLoMAY BILL.

The Sulloway bill. it will be remem-
bered, passed the last House by a de-
cisive majority, but in spite of the eff
forts of Senators Curtis, Scott Burn
ham, Dick and others it failed to reach
final vote in the Senate, tho it came
within hairsbreadth of passing, there
being a known majority in the Senate
in its favor. Senator Curtis and Repre-
sentative Sulloway reintroduced the
bill last TUESDAY in both Houses, and
will resume their fight for its passage.
In the Senate Senator Curtis met all
objections frankly, fully and convinc-
| ingly. In reply to the exaggerated csti-
mates of the cost, Senator Curtis said:
The Commissioner of Pensions advises
Congress that it will be impossible for
him to act upon all the applications in
case they should be filed, and that in
no case can the appropriation exceed
for the next year $30,000,000. In the
following year, if all the applications
were acted upon and if there were no
deaths, the total appropriation for the
second year would be only 100000
But in the meantime, according TO cs-
tabliShed averages, the deaths would
reduce that amount over $4,000, 900.
So, at the outside in the second year,
the extreme appropriation would be
SAC, ,000,G coo.
I know there has been much said
about the condition of the Treasury,
and the sdbility of the Government to
pay these pensions. So far as I am
personally concerned, 1 do not believe
that is legitimate objection. But We
can issue bonds to build the Panama
Canal; we can build up a great Navy;
we can maintain q standing Army;
and If we can do that, I ask why can
we not raise the money, if 1t become
necessary, to pay these deserving cid
soldiers pensions 1 believe they are en-
titled to receive?
As 1 said moment ago, Ido not
think this Is a legitimate objection to
this smeasure, because, when the SOL
diers were asked to enlist, they did not
stop to consider the paltry amount that
was paid to them each month. They
did not stop TO estimate what it might
cost them in years of suffering and
hardship. They did not stop to con-
slider what 5the cost would be to their
families after they volunteered and
offered their lives to save this Nation.
They preserved the Union and upheld
the Constitution. When they marched
down Pennsylvania avenue in May. 1865,
they read the words written in cloth
on the Treasury Building: There Is
Que debt this Government owes which
it can never pay. That is the debt IT
owes to its soldiers and sailors" That
was the sentiment of the country then,
and it is the true sentiment of the
country to-day.
] hold in my hand q list of q States,
the Legislatures Of which have passed
resolutions asking for The enactment
of this legislation They represent 53,-
100000 of the 91,000.000 of our popu-
lation. / ask the presiding officer of
this body to submit to the Senate the
vote as to whether or not at this time
we will give to these veterans suitable
recognition of their services and the
Nations gratitude. I should like to
say to the Senator from Massachusetts
(Mr. Lodge) that the Legislature of
the State of Massachusetts unanimous
ly adopted resolution in favor of this
measure.
In opposition to the Du Pont inco ne
amendment, Senator Curtis said that
the Government should not require its
soldiers to make poverty affidavits any
more than it required statements as to
their wealth when they enlisted. Tho
service OF the soldier justified his claim
for a pension, and with the income |
amendment the Government would
spend more for Special Examiners than
1t would gain by cutting off those who
had large incomes. These eXamina- !
tions also mean an unnecessary outlay |
in the adjustment of claims.
The Sulloway bill now being gotten |
before Congress, we earnestly advise
the veterans to array themselves in
solid ranks behind it, refuse to divide |
their forces upon other measures and
urge upon their Senators and Repre-
sentatives that nothing less than thel
Sulloway bill will satisfy them. We
can get the Sulloway bill passed if we
present firm front for 1t, and insist |
upon our Representatives in Congress
coming up to its mark.