New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-13
TAFT FRIEND OF VETERANS
Lost No Time in Signing Bill Dis
bursting $4,000, 1000.

Washington. May l2-As told 'u = lat"
edition Of to-day's Tribune. Prcsid ~ Tart.
-uqt bcfor. midnight last night JHiN"d his
name 10 IN" pension b.ll which p'sacd CON
gress late FRIDAY carving an a 'dit"ral
81; 90 0ur ,o- the veterans Of tu' 'lyil War.
The importance Of acting immediately "u
"a. bll il manifested by the facf th't IN"
old soldiers are DYING at such "a rapid rat"
that a delay Of even tpcnty-forr hours
would prevent several hundred from enjoy
ing the fruits OF this legislation.
For the frat three years OF its operation
the bill carries S-2,co"". IN" mnNimum
amount under the provisions ~ the at
being 100000.
Throughout the campaign President Taft
has been mlarcpres"ut"d by his political
opponents with respect 10 IA" pension
legislation The charge las been persist
emily made that the President was opposed
To pensions altogether. and would slgn
no pension bin at all IL Congress passed
one How great vas this misTc! res"nta-
ton is shown hy III" followinE extract
from President Tnft's inaugural address 81
March T. lg9.
The uniform policy Of the government in
gallant and devoted men VINO fought 10
save the M" Of the nation ia TN" Perious
days OF the great tiVil War has always
h.,u OF the most liberal character. These
men are now rapidly passing away. Tn"
best obtaiuabc statistics show that they
are diving At In" rat" Of something over
three thousand a month, and III Vie" OF
their advancing years. this rat" must in
ryitably, In proportion. largely Increase. ~
70 Ia. man who r!Sked everything on TN"
field Of battle to say" IN" nation IN the
hour Of it's direct need v" ow" "A dcbt
which has not been and should not b" com
puted In Il bcsrudging or parsinonlous
spirit. 49,
spirit to the soldier himself. care should he
exercised not to 20 to absurd lengths, or
disburse the bounty Of the government 10
classes Of persons who may. at inns idte
day. from "A m"r" mercchnrF im".,N', S''H
to obtain som" legal relation win an nlh
veteran now lettering on the brink or inc
grave. The tru" spirit OF the pension laws
is to be found I'm the noh" sentiments "N
dressed by Mr. Lincoln In his last Inaugural
uddrcaq wherein in speaking OF the nation =
dutv 10 It's soldiers. when the SttuSS'
should be over. he said we should car" loi
him who shall have horn" the phttie' anu
for his widow and orphans. ,i
mo nrcs.ut pension bin makes provision
ouly for veterans who are sixty two year
old or over. and II Is estimator lHd' 1870,
veterans Rave now reach"d thil NIX '1''.'
,otc,au vino has reached the minimum db'
limit nfter serving ninety days In rlther me
naval or military servic" during th' W.
War and who WAS honorahly discharged Is
entitled 10 receive II pension under the Dill
at the following rates; II.
Those. sixty-two years old and over VINO
carved ninety days Sl3 month. win IN
creases up 10 sl6 a month for three, years
Of service; those sixty-hve years ola ana
over. from SIS month for ninety days 10
go FOR three years: those seventy years olh
and over for ninety days. fb month, up
to So a month for three years ana those
scvrntv-nyr years OLD and over. 81 a month
for ninety days, up 10 >" Tor thr'e !ca'H'