The National tribune., 1911-01-05
The Officers, Retirement Bill.

| The CfltcerS' kctIIelnenC Dill
Editor National Tribune: Turning
to the bill still pending in Congress for
1 the retirement of the volunteer officers
Of the civil war, it does not seem pos
sible that an old soldier after due con-
sideration of his own personal interests,
could throw his influence against the
same Just measure, the benefits OF
which has been extended to the volun-
teer officers OF all previous wars.
The Warner-Townsend bill would
have been enacted into law last Win
ter but for the opposition it received
from the enlisted men. The Warner
| Townsend bill, which extended its bene-
fits to quite as many enlisted men
| in fact, moTe-than commissioned Off
GERS. was fayorabIy reported from the
| committee. The Interior Department
favored it, and all it lacked TO make
| 1t law by the unanimous consent oG
| Congress was to put it to vote. It was
not put to vote, simply because en-
| listed men were writing to their mem
bers in Congress, telling them not to
| vote for the bill, as it would politically
iniure their prospects in the next cam
paign. / have this information in a
private letter from one OF the cham
pions of the Warner-TOWnsend bill. /
am very sorry that n COmrade could be
so selfish as to offer the least oppoSi-
ton to such relief as Congress might
WISH 10 eSItHu 10 LIltlE bIb tlllttl~ " {
are few, and some of US are in dcsti-
tute circumstances.
1t is a well-known fact that volun-
teer officers of the line have not the
same chances in the Pension Bureau
Of obtaining high ratings that the en-
listed man enjoys. As & rule we are
forced to accept the rank pension pro-
vided by an act of Congress when our
disabilities would entiuc us to much
more.
Taking my own case as an example,
entered the service as Captain of GO.
c, 18th Mich, Sept. II. 1861, and am
to-day the only living Captain OF the
first organization of that gallant regi-
ment with its bloody record at Shiloh
was transferred to the 9th Mich
Cav, and discharged as Captain, Co. c,
of that brilliant cavalcade, under the
leadership of one of Michlgan's most
daring cavaliers, Col George S. Archer
at Jackson. Mich, Aug. 9, 1865. 1
came home with severe wounds and
have been on crutches at least three
quarters of the time since the war. l
have no use of my right arm, caused by
q shell wound and an injury of my
right shoulder; my right leg is worse
than a complete amputation; the old
wounds on my foot and ankle have de-
veloped into active ulcers which re-
quire dressing twice a day-having
only the use OF my left arm and hand, I
cannot dress my own wounds
The Interior Department says that !
am entitled to $50 a month. I know
of no enlisted men that are drawing as
little as $40 month for the same dis
ability but l know four enlisted men
who are drawing s72 a month pension
for less disability than mine. Their
disabilities warranted the granting of
these ratings, or they could not have
obtained them; but know of no yolun
teer officers of the line who are draw
ing like ratings for like disabilities.
We are not finding fault with any Of
the high ratings the enlisted man gets;
as officers we want our men to have the
best grade of pension they can get and
so far as we can, we always help them
along In their pension claims.
Comrades, hereafter be as generous
to us; be generous to all. Dc not op-
pose any pension leGislation; It only
darkens your own chances in Congress.
The methods employed last Winter TO
defeat the WaTner-Townsend bill are
not looked upon by your Representa-
tiyes as the real good feeling for each
other that should pervads the hearts
OF comrades OF the same cause, and
therefore 1t fails OF its intended effect.
When the volunteer officer is retired.
as he certainly will be before the close
of the fret session of the Sixty-frst
Congress, the enlisted man viii have
the very best obtainable foundation for
his claims for higher ratings, and in
many other ways more equitable PEN
sion esislation.-Will H. S. Banks,
Captain. Co. G, 9Th Mich. Cav, 304
East Porson street, Kalamazoo, Mich.