The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-18
Remarks of Gallivan
in the House Recently

Mr.. Speaker, II there be any fear
in the minds of any members that
the proposal in this bill H. B.
1879, granting pension Of $4,000
per annum to Edith Carow Roosevelt,
widow of the late Col. Theodore
Roosevelt, 1t unusual, may l say to
the house that it is according to
precedent? 1t has been the custom
of congress ever since the early days
of the republic to honor the memory
of departed presidents by according
some substantial recognition to their
widows. 1t Is true that the prece-
dents have been singularly varied.
Martha Washington lived some two
years after the death of her husband
and it does not appear to be of
record that a pension was voted in
her behalf. However that may be,
congress granted her the privilege of
sending her letters without the pay
ment of postage, and that privilege
was established in such a manner
that succeeding widows have been
granted it without question, whether
pension was added or not. 1t is
not easy to CLEAN from the records
whether any Of the widows ever
asked a pension of congress. It, is
to be presumed they did not, but
that friends did 80 in their behalf,
whether or not with their knowledge
and consent.
l desire to say to the house that
the widow of Col. Roosevelt had no
knowledge of the introduction Of this
bill until 1t appeared in the news
papers of the country. In presenting
1t simply followed precedent, and
l would like to place before congress
q short story of what has been done
in other cases in bygone days.
Louise Catherine Adams, widow of
John Quincy Adams, received no
pension, but was granted the frank
ing privilege, and the same is true
of Dolly Madison, thus following the
precedent established in the case of
Martha Washington. In these cases
the husband had left the presidency
before his death. But William H.
Harrison died in office only thirty
one days after his Inauguration and
congress voted Mrs. Harrison $685.
900, representing the presidents
salary for the current year. A
straight pension to the widow was
voted first for Mrs. Julia Gardner
Tyler in the sum of $4,000, which
sum has not been varied since, altho
not all presidents widows have re-
ceived it. Margaret s., the widow
Of Zachary Taylor, received only the
ranking privilege, and then $4,000
was voted as a pension to Sarah |
Polk. whose husband had !
John Tyler in the presi-
dental office. Abraham Lincoln was
while president, and his
widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, was'voted |
his years salary of $4,000 as Mrs.
Harrison had been, less any drafts
made upon his salary by Mr.. Lincoln
before his death. In addition, Mrs.
Lincoln was voted pension of $4,000
year and the Thanking privilege,
he whole representing the largest
sum voted to the wodiw of any presi-
lent up to that time.
U. s. Grant lived many years after
he left the presidency, but upon his
leath Julia Dent Grant received
5000 a year and the ranking privil-
,ge, which now had come to be re-
,arded as the established allowance
or presidents widow. Between
he time of Grant and the death of
he next president in office the salary
# the president had been increased
o $4,000 a year, and when James
\. Garfield was assassinated and
lied in 1882, congress voted Mrs.
4ucretia r. Garfield that sum in ad-
lition to the usual pension, of $4,000
md the franking privilege. Ida s.
Mckinley, the widow Of the third
PRESIDENT assassinated in office, re-
eived only. $4,000 a year and the
ranking privilege until her death,
md she was entitled also to draw
he balance of the presidents salary
rom the death of Mr.. Mckinley in
september, 1901 for the remainder
# the fiscal year. Pension bills for
drs. Benjaman Harrison and Mrs.
arover Cleveland were passed by the
enate but objection to their pas
age was raised in the house. and,
understand, the bills were with
lrawn, but both widows were al
owed Tree postage. Inc point was
aised at one time that the marriage
f Mrs. Cleveland to Prof. Preston in ,
912 invalidated her ranking privil-
ge, but an examination of the law
bowed that she was entitled to it
Intil the end of her natural life.
he widows of two vice presidents
lso have received money grants from
ongress. Mrs. Henry Wilson was
oted the vice presidents salary of
10000, her husband having died in
ffice in 1875 and Mrs. Thomas R.
Hendricks received balance of
$3.50 and mileage and stationery
llowances to which her husband
vould have been entitled for one
ear.