The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-04-11
AWARDING PENSIONS--A NEW
SYSTEM PROPOSED.
DENVER, Col, March 8.

DENVER, Col, March g.
To the Editor of the Chicago Tribune
SIR: There has been much SAID and
done in reference to dong justice to the
defenders of our country generally, aud
more especially to that class who were
disabled in the wars for this country,
The people, or rather our Legislators,
seem to be at loss to know how to do
ample justice, without involving in un-
warranted expenditures q Government
that has already shown unpreceden ed
llberality, legisating for our defenders,
approaching heir services, and, 10 way,
aiseviatiug their sufferIngs, both mental
and physical, caused 10y irreparable
Losses. But the object now is to make a
suggestion, which Is thought practicable.
The Pension Office shows that there were
2O6 768 pensioners On the rolls on the
3OGh day or June, 1871. Of that mum Der
u small portion, as shown by the rep Drts,
lost Limos or are otherwise permanently
disabled.
Under the present system of awarding
pensions, q man who lost his leg or arm
close up to his body gets no more pension
than the one who lost foot or hand one
VINO contracted chronic disease gets
nearly as much as the one who lost
limb IC is thought his Injustice N y be-
made right by commissioning, or, in
other words appointing and grading, he
disabled ones by COMMISSIONS In q
corps by itself or az retired officers, ire
spectlve OF the rank Cney may nave held
while IN active service, bat rank accord
ing to their disability. A man VIII i0st
Il leg above the knee, commission him d
ColoEel on the retired list, with that p&y;
the same with the man who lost an arm
above the elbow. The one who Lost q
| loot, and has the free use of the kne p
! JOINT. commission him Lieutenant Col
unr, with retired pay. A man who lost
both legs, or lee and au arm, or both
arms. should he Brigadier General, with
that pay. A man blind of both eyes
should have the same pay and rank as
the one who lost two limbs.
| It would make this article too long ard
tedious to detail III full what, in our 0p,n-
ION should be the rank of each lesser Iii -
ability; but Commission of Surgeons 0,
the Army who have had experience
might determine that in q satisfactory
way. IC is not intended that the pension
er should be examined as 10 his ability
to fill che position he is promoted to, but
it is conceded to him because he has
earned it, and the Government remuner
atcs HIM for HE loss. It would elevate
class, today begging on the streets, to a
position Of dignity, and would be an act
becoming this Governm eat
Ftrst-Soms one will say this proiect
is preposterous.
Second-Others will say that it will be
deg radIng to worthy officers in the army
and navy Gas it Is proposed by this t.,
give each disabled soldier the rank and
pay of retired officer, Of whichever
branch of sci vice he may have belonged
to when hereceIVed his injury who W ers
| retired.
njrd-What do you propose to do
with commission officer of high rank
who was disabled while in the service
In reply to the first: The reasonable
ness of the projectwould soon be accepted
by every one, by the report off, Commit
tee, showing the injustice OF the present
system of awarding pensions.
| Second 1t would elevate a man who
had dove his duty to his proper sphcrv
in society. and aid honor to the present
system of retiring officers for meritorious
aud long service.
| Ihird-Promote them to ranks accord.
ing tn their disability, as may be deter
mined by the recommendations of the
Examining Commission. Being an Off
Ger of high rank when he receivad his
injury is evidence that he did good ser
vice, and had the influence to be recor
ulzed To secure promotion before he was
wounded; and so nothing IL due to the
men under him for their Valor, as it is
not QUIZ by his own meritorIuus service
remuneration, but by the deeds of his |
men also, many OF whom we've perms-
nently disabled.
AS an economical system it recon-
mends itself A disabled soldier, 50
commissioned and retired, where he
could fill civil position, might be 80
appointed, and portion of his pension
deducted, as might be determined by
some rule, in proportion TO the pay or
salary of his civil position ~ pensioneS
or retired officer. ft.#
To put this system Ia operation woull
require q careful examination by tb. |
proposed Commission of Surgeons, and
would put an end to the many com
plants of injustice and by this system
The provision authorized by tho act OF
Congress, approved June so, 1870, pro
vlding artificial limbs and appliance for.
the disabled, might be dispensed With
or repealed, as we'll as the many proposed
acts giving privileges to soldiers and ex
soldiers in the way OF land; for it isl
very evident, especially to the pei ma
nently disabled pensioner, that the priv. |
ilsgs to soldiers of q portion Of cha pub