Montana labor news., 1936-05-28
PENSIONS THEN AND NOW
Continued from Page u

In the year Of klolo) tooA
further steps to provide allowances to
all officers and men OF all ranks who
were in the service at the termination
Of the War OF independence, or had
served therein for a period OF nine
months. The pensions ranging from
eight to twenty dollars per month.
In the year 1882 Congress granted
to all surviving members OF the Revo-
~lutionary army who had served more
than six months allowances varying
according to their term OF service,
those who had served two years being
| entitled to full pay. Both invalid and
service pensions were from time to
time granted to those who had been
| engaged in the war Of QSl2), the
| Mexican war, and the wars with In
dian tribes. By acts OF the Congress
1880 and subsequent years, provis-
ions were made for the widows OF de-
ceased soldiers.
Various pension acts have been
passed since. The Civil War brought
a great expansion in the movement for
pensions. There were 993,529 citizens
on the pension roll in 1900, but in 1910
there were 72,446 less persons being
paid pensions. In the United States,
up to 1918, the railways were the only
public bodies to make provision for
their employees, however, this practice
was not uniform and was not governed
by law, therefore it was a failure.
In 1920 Congress passed a bill pro-
viding for the retirement OF employees
Of the Civil Service, under which the
employees contributed two and one
half per cent. This law perhaps has
been given more thought and study
than any act OF pension legislation.
By 1880 over 100000 employees were
embraced if we consider all acts that
were passed, however, the foregoing
statement does not mean that the last
number mentioned were drawing pen
sions, but that they stood in line in turn
as they grew older.
In 1880 Congress passed, over Presi-
dent Hoover's veto, a Spanish War
pension bill.
In March u, 1882, Hon. Kent Keller
Of Illinois introduced in Congress H. R.
1891, known as the Railway Pension
bill. The companion bll was intro
duced Feb. 10th, 1882, by Senator
Brookhart OF Iowa, but the bill was
Withdrawn from the Senate body
within 48 hours. Within a very few
days thereafter the same pension bill
was introduced in the Senate by Hon.
Henry D. Hatfield, Senator from West
Virginia. Both Houses understood
that the above mentioned bill called
for a pension not to exceed $Z40.Ot
per month, but graduated to an aver
age earning rate. The Seventy-second
Congress adjourned without passing
this particular bill, but Immediately
after the 73rd Congress went into ses-
sion and the same Railway Pension
bill was introduced by the same
Congressman. The bill was pass
ed. Each and every Senator pres
ent voted for the bill after the TOP
Pension to be paid would not exceed
$4,000 per month. Senator Wagner
of New York introduced a bill known
as the Brotherhood Insurance bill ant
Bob Crosser introduced in the lower
house a bill identical to that introduced
by Senator Wagner. It was discov-
cred that the so-called insurance bill
would not be fully effective for 81
years after passage and therefore wa.
discarded by all concerned. Senator
Wagner Joined Senator Hatfield il
their respective body, Congressman
Crosser of Ohio joined Crosser. TIL,
notice of Introduction in the Lowe.
House OF Congress reads thus B,
Crosser H. r. 1896, by Keller H. R
1897. Note this is in the session OF tn
Seventy-third Congress. The mum
bers changed fast and Congressma
were out to get their names in Their
as sponsors and to avoid confusion
those interested refer TO the railroa
retirement bill as the "Royster Pensior
Bill Just as We no doubt will all thin.
of the original bill by McGroarty H. +
1877 as the Townsend Pension Bill.
The Railway Retirement act a
passed in the manner heretofore men
= toned was declared UNCONSTITU
TIONAL by the United States Su
preme Court. The "Royster BilP wa
re-introduced together with a tax bi
by Hon. Bob Crosser in the Lowe
House Of Congress and by Senate
Wagner in the Upper House and b
the supreme efforts Of Hon. B. +
Wheeler in the Senate and Hon. j
septh P. Monaghan, the "Royster
pension bill became a law.
Congressman Monaghan introduce
a very remarkable pension bill in til
Seventy-third Congress. The bi
would require the government to pa
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS pit
month to each citizen retiring at tf
age of SIS years.
The United States is faced with II
+ greatest problem during its existenC
as a nation. Young men must go
work and the older men must be r,
tired. The Townsend Plan will az
Just this matter and we can make Il