The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-24
RAISE SPANISH
WAR PENSIONS
Bills Before Senate and
House Raise Minimum
Pension Scale.
ADVISE LOCAL CAMP

Dewey camp No. q, United Spanish
! War Veterans, has received important
announcements from legislative head
quarters with regard to the Spanish
War Veterans pension bill, which has
been pending in the senate and house
| of representatives
The letter which he received con-
corning the bill gives accurate and de-
tailed information on the provisions
of the bill. In part it says: "Def-
mite action this week is expected from
the pension committees of both the
Senate and house of representatives on
the proposals to grant an increase in
the rates of pension now granted to
aged and disabled Spanish War vet
ans.
Senator Bursum last week issued a
call for meeting of his committee on
JANUARY 8, at which time it was
thought that definite action would be
taken showing the sentiment of the
committee toward the veterans.
Minimum Pension Of $40.
while at this writing it is not pos
sible to give definite statement as to
The exact amount of increase that will
be recommended, it is a safe guess that
the new bill will provide for mini
mum Of $50 per month instead of the
1912 now being paid, with the other al
lowances being increased up to max
inun Of $50 per month for total dis
ability, with proyiso for $72 per
month for, those totally disabled who
need the constant care and attendance
Of another person.
"If the percentages of increase are
maintained all the way through, which
is the present intention of those spon-
soring the bill, the new rates would
be: For those now drawing S12 per
month, an increase to $40; for those
now drawing SIS per month, an in
crease to $25; for those now-~drawing
1913 per month, an increase to $50; for
those now drawing $24 per month, an
increase to $40; and for those now
drawing $50 per month, an increase to
$50.
"Care will also be taken in the
drafting of the bill to see that the
amendments carried in the act of
Sept /, 1922, which provided for the
computing of time on furlough for
pensionable status, is made applicable
to the new measure, as well as chat
amendment which gave the status of
veterans to the army nurses.
"a provision for increased rates Of
pension for the manned soldiers will
also be included in the bill, the max
imum rate probably being $125 per
month for the blind.
In House of Representatives.
"Two Spanish war bills have already
been introduced in the house of rep
resentatives, one by Mr.. O'Connel of
New York, providing for the raising Of
the rates to minimum Of $50 and
maximum of $50, and the other by Mr..
Vinson of Georgia, providing for
minimum of SIG and maximum Of
$40 Both of these bills have been
referred to the committee on pensions,
and will be considered by them when
they take up the report of the sub
committee.
These bills are but indications of the
prevailing sentiment in congress that
justice demands some raise in the PEN
sion rates of the Spanish War vet
Grams.
"Commander-in- Chief Alcorn, who
has been confined by illness to his
home in Cincinnati since Christmas,
expects to be able to come to Wash
ington in time to be present at the
committee hearings in order to pre-
sent the veterans side of the> case.
Realizing as he does the desire of the
country to curtail expenditures in or
der to permit tax reductions, he strong
lily feels, however, that the place to
economic is not in the pittance
granted to the disabled defenders of
the nation"
An important meeting Of the local
camp will be held Tuesday evening,
January %, at 81 Main street, when
discussion of the pension matter will
take place.