Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-07
URGE SPANISH WAR
WIDOW PENSIONS
Veteran Camps Fight Taken Up
by Congressman
HamiII.
TFrom a stan Correspondence

TFrOm "A STAR COrTespondent.1
WASHINGTON, April 1-Repre-
sentative James A. Hamill, at the
behest of various camps of Spanish
War veterans is making a strenuous
fight for pensioning the widows and
children of those who took part in
that war. In his speech before Con-
gress advocating the cause of PEN
sions for Spanish War widows and
children he said:
This is the first request ever
made on Congress by the Spanish
War veterans for the enactment of
pension legislation. There can be no
doubt of the justice contained in the
contention of those who advocate
the passage of this bill. 1t asks re-
lief only for the helpless who are not
able to render help to themselves.
The enactment of this measure
will give another incentive to patriot
ism, and will tend to refute the
charge that republics are migrate
full. These veterans, whose widows
and children are affected by this bill,
brought glory 10 the nation. Their
brave service proved that in the
stress of war the reliance of the
nation can be confidently placed in
the loyalty of Its citizen soldiers.
These soldiers were generous to the
government and the government
ought to be, at the very least, just
TO them.
$4,000 Men Enlisted.
1.-THE total number of men who en-
listed in both army and navy during
the Spanish War and the Phil
ippine instruction was $4,000.
There were 1926 battles and Skin
mishes, and in 525 of these men were
killed or wounded. About 1900 men
died either as the result of actual
fighting or owing to hardships and
suffering incidental to war and SER
vice. There are now about 1900 wId
ows who could claim pension under
this bill These figures are the re-
suit of an investigation conducted
by the various camps of Spanish War
veterans. Taking into account wild
ows and children there should be
about ten thousand claims for PEN
sion presented during the first year
that this act will be in operation. The
cost of carrying out this law will be
during the first year about one and
half million dollars, and for some
years later there will be slight In
crease.
at is fifteen years since the COM
mencement of the Spanish American
War. OF those who enlisted to serve
In it q considerable number have died,
and as tine goes on the list of those
who pass away will, CT course, grow
steadily larger. Most of these men
are survived by dependent widows
and children, for whose maintenance
the government makes no provision
whatever in the way of pensions The
pending bill authorizes the payment
of q pension in such cases. Why
should it not become law?
1.-THE measure is, in the first place,
directly In line with the general pen
sion policy of the government So
far as it applies it follows the exist
ing act relating to the widows and
children of veterans of the Civil War.
Under the present law widows and
EfftnoTgshildren of veterans of the War
of the Rebellion are entitled to PEN
zion, and the widow receives this PEN
sion without regard to the amount OF
her income at the tine of her hus-
bands death. Whether that income
be large or small does not in the
least affect her title to a pension.
Proof of death is all that is requisite
TO validate her claim.
Provides for sI2 Monthly.
The scope OF this pension Dill Is
much narrower. 1t allows pension
at the rate OF s12 per month to only
those widows whose annual income
does not exceed $3.50. 1t pensions
minor children at the rate of 81 per
month until they attain the age of
sixteen years. though in case of dis
ability, or, for instance, insan ~, pay
ment is continued during the lifetime
of tine child or until the disability is
ended.
AT the present time the widows
and children of veterans of the Span
ish war and the Philippine lnsurrec-
ton have to be provided for by the
various camps of Spanish war Veter
ans. It is man'festly unjust for them
to be compelled to shoulder a burden
which ought to be willingly assumed
by the government"