The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-02-01
A PENSION BILL FOR
INDIAN WAR VETERANS


terested in the enactment into a law
of the bill submitted by Congressman
Edward Heating from the committee
on pensions in the early days OF the
sixty-third congress to pension In
dian war veterans. The bill provides
a pension of twenty dollars month
for every soldier who has reached the
age of siXty-two years who can to
the satisfaction of the commissioner
of pensions establish the fact that he
rendered ninety days or more of ac-
tual military service in any of the
various Indian campaigns during the
period from 1865 to 1891. 1t also pro-
vides a pension of twelve dollars a
month for every widow of a soldier
who rendered the requisite ninety
days or more of actual service
who has not remarked; the rate of
her pension being fixed by an act of
congress, approved April 10. 1908.
which declares that from and after
that date no widows pension rate
shall be less than twelve dollars a
month.
The bill to pension Indian war vet
Grams was favorably considered by
the country at the time of its introduc-
ton into congress and gave promise
of prompt passage by that body. 1t
later found its way into the hands of
the Conference committee where it
now rests and where, like many an
other meritorious measure before it
has done. there is danger of it remain
past. The members of the commit
tee from the upper branch OF CON
gress are Senator Johnson of Maine.
Hughes of New Jersey and Smoot of
are Congressman James of
Michigan, Key of Ohio and Keating
of Colorado. The members of the
committee are understood to
want the Utah militia included in the
provisions of the bill, but the house
il is reported. has baked
at this proposition and there the
matter stands. Until the differences
between the two factions can be rec
onciled the measure seems likely toI
repose indefinitely in a pigeonhole in
the conference committee rooms un-
less an aroused public opinion de-
mands that 1t be brought out from its
hiding place and be laid before con-
gress for its determination.
The men who SO patriotically offer
ed their services and lives. If neces-
sary, in the pioneer period of the
west to protect the settlers from the
savages of the plains cannot
be commended too highly for their
sacrifices and devotion 10 the flag and
should be given in their old age de-
served recognition by the government |
Tor what they did TO uphold for the
and their families the
rights guaranteed to them under the |
They fought bravely 4
against merciless foe whose mode !
Of warfare recognized neither age
nor sex. To fall into his hands !
meant death or indescribable barbar-
ties worse than murder. Some OF
hese volunteers were in the military
iervice of the government for years
md suffered uncomplainingly hard
'hips from cold. hunger and captivity
hat were as heroic as any in the
history of the country. Their sacri'
a Il ~, g..flt s.Tf
hat great stretch of territory from
he Missouri river to the Rocky Noun
aims. now occupied by millions of
iappy. prosperous people.
w. II. Sanford of this city is a vet
.ran of the Indian wars of the west
ind served from 1882 to 1887 with
ieneral Crook in the famous cam
,aign against Geronimo. the famous
'iors, to secure tie safety Of the set
lers Of Nevada. Arizona. and the
southwest from the incursions of that
nurderous band OF cut-throats and
-obbers. He knows fIom five years
,f experience what Indian fighting Is
md what 1t meant thirty years ago
o go into the army and help run
lown the willy red man who had gone
ipon the warpath and was indis-
muroering the settlers
md applying the torch to their homes.
Mr.. Sanford says 1t called for nerve
o volunteer for the suppression OF
he Indian savagery in those days
md that those who did 1t deserve well
,f the government.
The bill TO pension these patriotic
soldiers has the backing of the Unit