The National tribune. [volume], October 01, 1877, Image 1

About The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917

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A Monthly otxrnal devoted to the interests of the Soldiers anOMilors of the late war. and dU Mehsioners of the United tSiaies.
TERMS, ONE tf.OLLAR tER yEAR.
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GEORGE E. TiKMON & CO..
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ul Projmators. f ' VmViiIJ, ' ' I Slnglc.Cops, 10 Cents In currency or postage stomps.
. ,.' ' h11.'? according to Act'of Congrea In the year 'of our Lord, 1877, by GMR?'if tiaios & Co Jn thd Office of tlio Librarian of Congrcee.iit'Washtngton, D. 0. 1J !
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HISTORY OF THE BOUNTY BILL.
At nearly every session of Congress since the
close of the war, some sort of a measure has been
proposed for equalizing the "bounties paid to sol
diers of the late war of the Rebellion. No nation
on earth was ever more grateful for the services
of its soldiers than the United States has shown
ft.
itself. Yet 1ho laws under which these services
have been rewarded, and in which this gratitude
has found tangible shape, have lacked the spirit?
of equity; have foiled to extend to all the de-f
serving the blessings that some have receive'd;
and have not been framed so, as to give exact and
equal justice to each' soldier living, and to the
family of each soldier dead.
Of all the numerous attempts that have been
made to secure some legislation that should extend
equal justice to all soldiers, none have been suc
cessful. "While the great majority of the people
have admitted the propriety and the necessity of
such legislation, and have urged, from time to
time, that Congress should take such action as
would do away forever with tlie special legisla-
rected under a general hill, still, something has
always occurred to prevent the passage of the
measure; or, when it had passed, to prevent its
becoming a law.
No great popular measure was ever so con
tinually and persistently delayed. Ever since
it was first proposed.it has seemed to be fated to
misfortune. "While its opponents were few and
its friends were many, it seemed to stumble
along, while measures of less than half its
strength have gone through without meeting an
obstacle. It is the only great proposition grow
ingvout of the war that has received the cordial
support of both political parties. State Legisla
tures have indorsed it, and petitioned Congress
for its passage. The National Conventions of
both of the great political parties have declared
in its favor, and many State political conventions
have followed their example. In lact it has
seemed as if the two parties were competing with
each other to see which could give the Bounty
Bill the strongest support
In both Houses of Congress its advocates have
included nearly all the men of influence of all
political complexions. Its opponents have been
few, and practically insignificant, with one or two
exceptions, and have been men who, both from
babit and from principle, have resisted every en
deavor to recognize the courage and the patriotr
ism of the Union soldiers.
Several times a bill to equalize bounties has
passed plier House of Congress; but as it left
one, the other would change it, and in a squab
ble over technicalities, it has failed of becoming
a law. On the evening of tho last day of the
Forty-third Congress, it finally passed both
Houses, and lacked only the President's signa
ture; but President Grunt let it die on his hands.
He had written a veto-message, but in the eon
fusion of the last hours of the session.it failed .to
reach either house, anqas never officially pub
lished. In that mese President Grant, we
regret to Say committrji la, great wrong against
the soldiers who electe5&m President and for
whom, in every or fjghe has always shown
the greatest consideraM!' , He gave as his rea
sons for refusing to sijfthe bill, that it was not
vyjjuaci, wiu. wv &uiuj!wantea it; ; wnen peti
tions for its passage, sifed by hundreds of thou
sands of theni, were tf Am his reach. He said.
again, that the bill w?firiore for the relief of
claim agents than thefeldiers' ; when he knew
the fees of attorneysMted by law, andthey
Could get only a smaltrcentage for then serv
ices. Again, he saidSwJt the revenues of the
frovernment would rilfltiow the expenditure of
money the bill woiu&Jjiessitate ; the fallacy of
this last reason is sholn another column.
It is said that the Bfeijdent was persuaded to
make this veto by Sec!a&ry Bristow and others ;
but, however that mfe,itwas his duty to sign
it and he should hear' blame.
Early in the sessionJ the Eorty-fourth Con-
ex-Confederate CoHgtalthough the Demo
crats had a majority of no-thirds, it was passed
again, "in June, 1876, b; vote of 141 to 46.
It was sent over to theenate, .referred to the
Committee on MHtarytAfFairs, and reported
back favorably by Senate! Xogan, who tried again
and again to secure its consideration by the Sen
ate, but failed to do so ; aid, in the confusion con
sequent upon 1he counting of the Electoral Yote,
it was laid aside, and f&led again of passage.
The bill will be revised at the approaching
session of Congress. There are already enough
members of the House of Representatives pledged
to its support to secure lis' passage by that body;
but there will probablyfbe difficulty in securing
the Senate to act upoa it. The parliamentary
rules of the Senate are such that one or two
members, if they are shrewd and determined,
can delay a measure almost indefinitely; and
that has been the system, of tactics resorted to by
Senator Edmunds of "Vermont, and other oppo
nents of this bill, whenever it has been brought
before that body in the regular order of business.
But the friends of ika measure must unite in
securing it early attention at the hands of the
Senate, inorder to insure! its passage.
1
ARREARS OF PENSIONS.
Among the other measures of vital interest to
the soldiers and the finjnklies of those who were
killed or died of worls received during ike
war, which has beenimeatedlv br
Congress, and wilMnn1, trodueed
f
ought before
asram at the
' i rv ..-. J
opening of the comhgf session, is a bill to pro
vide that all pensions i;on account of death,
wounds received, or disease contracted in the
service of the United Sfejes since March 4, 1861,
which have been sratF cl, or which- shall here
after be granted on np (Ration previous to Jan-
unary 1, 1880, shall commence fr6m the date of
death or discharge. , ,
The bill provides that all pensions which have1
been, or may hereafter be, granted in conse
quence of death pecuring froni a cause which
originated in the. service of the United States
since the 4th day of March, 1861, or in conse
quenc6 of wolmds or injuries received or disease
contracted since said da'te, shall commence from
the, date of the death or discharge from the
United States service of the person on whose
account the claim has been, of shall hereafter be
granted, or from the termination of tne right of
file party haying-prior title to such pension ; prc
vided that applications for pensions growing out
of the war of 1801 have been, or shall hereafter
befiledwrih'fne Commissioner of Pensions on
or before the 1st day of January, 1880. In all
other cases, unless the applicaton shall be filed
within five years from the accruing of the rights
the pension shall commence from the date of the
filing of the application ; provided further that
the limitation herein prescribed shall not apply
to claims.by or in behalf of "insane person
trvS&Sn
The second section provides that immediately
upon the passage of this act the Commissioner of
Pensions shall cause a copy of the same to be
furnished each pension agent, whose duty it shall
be to notify each pensioner upon his roll who
shall be entitled to arrears of pension under this
act, and it shall be the further duty of the. Com
missioner of Pensions to pay, or cause to be paid,
to such pensioners, or if the pensioner shall have
died to the person or persons entitled to the
same, all such arrears of pension, as the pen
sioner may be entitled to, or if dead, would have
been entitled to under the provisions of the first
section gf this act had he or she survived.
Section 3 repeals all acts and parts of acts in ;
conflict with these provisions.
This bill has passed the House of Representa
tives several times, but has never been able do
find its way through the Senate. v
A very slight examination of the subject will
convince the reader that the present law is de
fective, and works palpable injustice to thous
of the brave defenders of the flag, and their wjf J
children, and other heirs, by depriving them of
pensions and arrears justly due them. If a soldier,
or his representative, is entitled to a pension at
all, it is clear that it should be granted from the
date of death or of the time of discharge ftgo..
service, provided the discharge is on aceomitotr
wounds, or injuries received, or disease contracted
in the service and in line of duty, or from the
date of the development of the disease by which
he is incapacitated for labor, provided the dis
ease is traceable and due to the military service
of the United States. This is eminently proper
and right, and great injustice has been done, and
is being done, to all who, from whatever reason,
patriotic, or otherwise, did not apply for pensions
within the time required by existing law.
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