Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-08

tute for the Sherwood bill. This
amendment lessened the amount of
pensions for the old soldiers by about
$50, 100000 year. In Committee the
Smoot amendment of substitute bill
WAS opposed by Senators Curtis,
Brown, Poindexter, Shively, and john
son of Maine who favored the Sher-
wood bill and has at all times stood
for it. \ majority of the Committee vot-
ed to report the Smoot amendment as
a substitute and the Sherwood bill as
such, dad not come before the Senate
al I'LL TO be voted upon.
TO show the votes on the important
amendments offered to the Snoot bill
interested persons are first asked to
see page 422a of the Congressional
Record of March 18th:
Mr.. Brown offered the following
amendment WHICH was taken from the
Sherwood bill as it passed the House:
THAT any person who served in the
military or naval service of the United
States during the Civil War and received
an honorable discharge and who was
wounded In battle or in line OF duty ana
is now unfit for manual labor, through
causes not due to his own vicious habits,
or who from disease or other causes IN
Cured in line of duty resulting IN his
disability is now unable to perform man.
ual labor. shall be paid the maximum
pension under this act, to wit, $50 per
month. without regard to his length OF
service or age.
This amendment passed the Senate
by vote of 81 to %, Senator Johnson
and myself both voting for it.
The next important amendment was
offered by Senator Curtis and is Sec
ton / of the Sherwood bill as il passed
the House. This amendment provided;
SECTION l. That any person who
served in the military or naval service
of the United States during the late
Civil War or the War with Mexico, ana
who has been honorably discharged
therefrom, and all members of state or
CARNATIONS that are now penslonahie
under existing law, shall, upon making
proof of such facts according to such
rules and regulations as the secretary
of the Interior may provide, be placed
on the pension roll and be entitled to
receive pension as follows: For a ser
vice of 80 days or more in the clFil war,
or so days or more in the war with
Mexico, and less than months, SO per
month: for a service of 8 months or more
and less than months. $50 per month:
for service of 8 months or more and
less than | year, SO per month; for a
service of ! year or more $50 per month
Provided, That any such person who
served in the War with Mexico shall be
paid the maximum pension under this
act. to wit, $50 per month
This amendment was lost by a vote
of Il nays to Is yeas, Senator john
son and myself voting in favor of the
amendment.
From this Il will he seen that not only
was the statement erroneous as to the
vote of Senator Johnson ana myself
but we both supported such portions OF
the Sherwood bill as came before the
Senate.
The final vote on the amended Sniooi
| bill was II to is, Senator Johnson and
myself both supporting. believing 1t tc
be the best pension bill then obtain
able. The Senate bill and the House
bill are now in Conference COMMITTEES
and rs our records and votes up to the
present have proven, we will continue
| TO support the best measure obtain
able that will give the greatest posi-
| bic relief IL those to whom this country
owes a debt It can never repay.
o. Gardner