The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-27

A few days ago, when the House had
under consideration the bill having to
do with widows pensions, it's author,
Congressman William A. Ashbrook,
made a comprehensive speech fully
explaining the features of the measure.
His speech was as follows:
Mr.. Speaker: The House, an hour
ago, passed the Pension Appropriation
Bill, carrying $15S,000,000 for pensions
for the next fiscal year. offered, as
an amendment to this bill, my Widows
Pension Bill, but objection being made
1t was ruled out on a point of order,
and no one can criticize the ruling.
am delighted, however, that so soon af-
ter the bill making the appropriation
for the best sort of preparedness
pensions-was passed, that we are to
have an opportunity to go on record
for one of the most meritorious gener-
| al pension bills ever proposed. I re-
gret that 1t comes up for passage at
a time when so many members who
desired to vote for it are absent, but
it is more important to promptly pass
| this bill than it is to await their re-
turn.
The bill now under consideration
(H. r. 11707) relates wholly to pen
sions of widows of soldiers of the civ
II war. The Act of June q, 1890, was
the first general pension law passed
by the Congress for the relief Of civil
war widows. 1t barred all widows who
we're married after that date, except
when 1t could be proven their soldier
husband died of disabilities contract
ed in the service. The amount allow
ed by this Act was So per month and
excepted from its provisions all wi
dows who had an income of $3.50 or
more per annum.
The first law, therefore, pensioning
widows of civil war soldiers, was
passed 25 years after the close of that
great conflict between the North and
the South. / had the pleasure of vot-
ing for and helping to pass on April
19. 1908, eight years and two months
ago, a bill which removed the income
clause exemption and increased the
pensions of all civil war widows who
married previous to June 81, 1890, to
$12 per month.
When the Sherwood Bill was being
| considered in the committee and in
the House four years ago, many were
! insstent that the soldiers widow was
as we'll entitled to more liberal pen
sions as the veterans themselves, but
it was deemed advisable at that time
| to only consider a bill for the veterans
of the civil war, with the understand
ing on the part Of many, at least, that
at a later date, in the not far distant
future, a bill would be brought out in
creasing the pensions of the soldiers
widow and removing some of the re.
strlctlons in the existing law. Since
that time there has been constantly
growing demand to more generously
recognize the widows of the old veter-
ans.
About four months ago the House
passed bill, without roll call, giving
a pension of $12 per month to the wi
dows of all Spanish War soldiers. 1t
Is only 18 years since that brief war
closed. | voted for this bill, and am
not finding fault because it slipped
through so easily. refer to 1t only
for comparison and argument in favor
of this bill. II was 43 years before the
widows of civil war soldiers received
$l2 per month, and the Spanish War,
when compared to the civil war, was
a skirmlsh A bill for the Indian sol
diers has been passed at this session,
and, believe, Is now law.
! have the proud honor to be the
author of II. r. ll7O7, which was Sc
lected by the committee from over
25 widows pension bills, introduced
by members from more than dozen
States, as being the bill measuring
nearest up to the best judgment of the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, who
carefully considered these bills and
unanimously agreed to report 1t to
the House might also say that, while
am member of this committee, |
asked no member Of the committee to
| favor my bill and the motion to accept
It was made by member who had
a bill before the committee The Chair,
man of the committee, that griz2led
aud beloved old veteran, Gen. Shor,
wood, delegated me to take charge of
the bill, and have faithfully attempt
ed to do so to the best OF my ability
wish here to pay just word OF
tribute to that grand old man, although
know that II is not necessary to en-
logiZe Gen, Sherwood In this House
Very few of the members of this great
body ever were more generally loved
aud admired than my distinguished col
league, and It Is with supreme salts