Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 166, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1916 — PROVISIONS OF PROPOSED WIDOWS’ PENSION BILL [ARTICLE]

PROVISIONS OF PROPOSED WIDOWS’ PENSION BILL

Will R. Wood Champions the Bill In Rousing Speech in House.* If the proposed bill to increase pensions for the widows of soldiers of the Civil War becomes a law it will afford relief to four classes of widows: First. It will increase the pension of a widow who was the lawful wife of a soldier during the period of his service in the Civil War from twelve to twenty dollars per month, no matter what the age of such widow may be. There will not be many, however, of this class who will be benefited by this law, for those who were the wives of soldiers dumg the period of the Civil War have for the most part passed away. Second. This bill, if it becomes a law, will give a pension of S2O psr month to all Civil War widows who have now reached, or may hereafter reach, the age of 70 years who are now on the, pension roll, or who may hereafter be placed thereon. Widows of Civil War soldiers were not pensioned at all until 1890, nearly 25 years after the close of the war. Those who were then pensioned only received $8 per month, which was increased to sl2 per month in 1908. Third. This bill.also restores to all widows of Civil War soldiers who were dropped, or who may hereafter be dropped, from the pension roll by reason of their marriage to another person, who is now or may hereafter become a widow by reason of the death of her husband, or who may be divorced upon her own application, her former pensionable status. Fourth. This bill raises the marrjpge limit 15 years by providing that all widows of Union soldiers will be entitled to the benefits of its provisions who married prior to June 27, 1915. Representative Will R. Wood, when the bill came before the house of representatives for consideration, made a stirring address in favor of the bill, which has been printed by the government for distribution. In his speech he took the democratic party to task for trying to prevent such legislation. Among other things he said: Whom do we find opposing this measure ? There has been but one test vote on this bill. Thirty-two members of this body arose in opposition to its becoming a law. Thankful am I to say that but 1 of these 32 appeared upon the republican side; the other 31 appeared upon the democratic side. I have only pity for the republican who voted against it. I have only regret for the democrats who voted against it. A striking commentary this vote affords at this particular time. Within the week Jihe democratic party adopted as a part of its national platform the following: “ ‘We renew the declaration of recent democratic platforms relating to generous pensions for soldiers and their widows, and call attention to our record of performance in this particular.’ “And here on this floor within a week after this fine-sounding declaration is adopted we behold a beautiful performance on the part of the democratic majority in this house, where 31 of their members declare their unalterable opposition to the increase provided for in this measure.”