Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-05-08
RObbjng the Old Soldiers.

acts pcrpetratcd by the Legislature on the
eve Of adjournment, was the repeating of the
Act passed session Of B0G, giving a pen
sion to the soldiers Of the war of 1872
The main argument adduced for its repeal
was the manyabuses that had grown up
under the law inqucstion. That while many
were justly entitled to MI the benefits under
it, others were drawing from the fund who
were not in 'ncce~itous circumstances, as
was contemplated by the law Granting
that some were fraudulen,y using the funds,
it was not just or honorable 10 punish the
honest for the sake Of getting rid of few
rogucs. There is nothing in this to justify
the Legislature in repeating the law, and
by one fell swoop deprive thousands Of these
old veterans, many Of them on the brink Of
the grave, of the little pi.tancc begrudging.
ly awarded them by the State, FOR gallant
and ard,tous service in her defence The
law cealdneyer have been repealed on the
naked proposition. 1t was attempted dur.
ing the early part of the session. A bill was
introduced into the House the object Of
which was stated to be to reform tho abuse
that had grown up under the old law, but
it was soon discovered that one of the sec
tions in the Bill oilGctually repealed the law
inas'nueh as it compelled every one who
had been drawing pension TO renew bis
application, which in most eases would have
to be done through Claim Agents at az ex.
pcnse Of from $40 to sl5 each. This caus.
cd the Bill to be defeated by decided vote
What the enemies of the old soldiers coul
not effect by directness they accomplished
by indirectness. They took advantage while
the Appropriation Billwas before theSenate
after it had passed the House ts fas;en an
amendment on to it repeating the pensoif
law. knowing that when the Appropriation
Bill wcntiack to the House for action on
the amendments of the Senate, i, could not
be stricken out without voting down tic
whole Bill which the ,rickstcrs never dream
ed Of. But they mistook the temper Of
the House. The Bill was voted down.
Previous to this action the talented Demo.
cratic member from Fayette, Mr.. Boyle,
scored the Republican majority in betting
language. lie showed the inconsistency Of
their oction in robbng these old soldiers Of
their small annuity under the pretence of
economy, when at The same time they didn't
hesitate to appropriate $1,000 to enlarge
the mansion o! his Excellency Gen. Geary,
the same mansion that Governor Curtin had
lived in during the whole period of the late
war when there was constant influx OF
strangers TO Harrisburg to visit him. They
had also appropriated $4,000 to useless
State Agency at Washington, the whole of
which work could be performed by the At
tornsy General, And sl2,0 more was to
be placed III the hands of the Adjt. Gen'l.
forsome mysteriousanl unexplained purpose,
with numerous other useless appropriations
Of like character. Thcs, pung-n, and tell
ing arguments induced several lberally dis
posed Republicans t. join with the Demo.
Gratis to vote down the Bill, but the fl. vas
nomentarily. BY skilful manipulation Of
the Radical leaders, reconsideration was
brought about-the Bill passed, and the
Pension Law Ir the soldiers cf 1872 ceased
to exist. !
To cut OF the supplies to tho men who
fought our battles in 1912, is an outrage,
which should excite the warmest indigna-
ton Of every Pennsylvania. These men
are few in number, and very aged needing
now, more than ever the suppor. hitherto
extended to them by the State. |, is dis
grace 10 tic commonwealth that the Lesis-
lature should have St cut this appropria
ton and passed aany Others Of a doubtful
nature Bat to the Republicanrary belongs
the responsibility az :hey had the power 10
haveproyentnl so con'emp.ibea prolccding.
Donio,rat