The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-06-25
Rate OF Pension.

speech made by Congressman William
A. hshbrook In the house Of rcprosen.
tativos on tho Sherwood bill to In.
crease rates of pensions of soldiers !
and sailors of the Civil War:
Mr.. Speaker. | gladly support the
amended Sherwood bill not because I
think II is tho best bill that we could
enact into law for the benefit of the
Civil War veterans. but because by
accepting this bill 1t will mean an I'm I
mediate increase of pension for near
lv every one of these old soldiers.
Surely IL we honestly intend to do
anything for them It must be done
quickly. as they arc dying daily at an
appalling rate. An amendment Of any
kind. no difference how unimpOrtant
or insignificant, would send the bill
back to conference. II would then be
necessary for both House and Senate
to agree to the conference report,
which might not be made for weeks.
or possibly defeat its passage. In the,I
meantime hundreds of these old COM
radcs would have passed over. There
rorc there is but one thing to do. and
that is TO forget our own pet notiSns
on this legislation and let 1t go
through without amendment or pro-
longcd debate.
In this connection am proud to
cite to you tho magnanimity and high
position taken by that grand old man,
Gen. Sherwood the chairman of the
House Committee on Invalid Pensions,
who without a moments hesitation
surrCndcrs his own honest convictions
levcs should be incorporated in this
bill and moves to concur in the Senate
amendment. He docs this because he
wants no further delay in this lcsisla-
ton and understands, as VIC all do.
that all legislation is made up of
compromises.
Tho House passed the sherwood
till on The 9Th, of last month. The
Senate amended the bill by substitut-
ing what is known as the SmoOt bill
and passed it on June 4. It was re-
fcrrcd back to the House on the 5th.
sGen, ,sshorweatl Was then lying III bed
al his hotel suffering from the effects
of being Knocked down by street
car in this city a fow evenings ago.
Vie Immediately called the committee
together TO meet at his hotel ycstcr-
day morning. am pleased to say this
bill was agreed to without dissent
Ing vote, and feel honOrcd that am
member of the committee which has
TO do with this legislation Tho com
mittce believed that II was wise TO
accept tho bill. oven though the mem.
bcrs felt as | did that it could be I'M.
proved, rather than take chances OF
delay "A
And here comes the splendid clEnl-
aX of this deserving piece of pension
legislation. II was indeed a nOtewor.
thy sight to see hobbling through yOn
door of this historic Chamber that
grand old veteran, Gen. Isaac II. Sbcr-
wood respected and loved by all, now
in his S1th year. and who enlisted on
April 6. 1861, as Il private and was
mustered out as a brigadier general
Oh October S, 1865, after four and one
half years of distinguished and faith
full service to his country, and who
today. though considerably disabled,
has lost none of his fine spirit. as is
evidenced by his cheering assurance
To friends who assisted him to enter
this Hail. He said 81 do not think !
was born to be killed by bullets, shrap
mel. or street cars" and puts his seal
of approval on this bill by moving to
concur. And stu there are some cheap
and partisan enough who would like
to rob Gen. Sherwood of the credit 'Ol
this legislation. is there man IN
this House today who has plead long
ar or more consistently and zcalousl,
for liberal pensions than my distin
tsuiSbNu IL lHGTc Is i WOull
thank some gentleman TO namo him
There is not another Member here1i,
his class MS Il true friend of the ole
soldiers.
! was fortunate to come here will
Gen, Sherwood in the Sixteenth Con
grcss. and have boon daily associate,
with him for the past II years. re
call how in the Sixticth and Sixtyfirs
Congresses IL was impossible for Gen
Sherwood to even get hearing Oh
his dollar,a-day bill, and not until tn
Sixty second Congress did the SheI
wood act of May II. 1912, become
law. 1t WAS the most generous pc,
sion law ever enacted at that daft
and think no ono will fail to give fu
credit for this law to General Shel
wood. Because this bill today come
InIk IN n l,npulnI tuk ,,nun ,r I,