New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-20
HARDSHIpS TO PENSIONERS
A REPLY TO THE DEFENSE OF THE PEN
SION RIrREAE

| SHOWING THE EFFECT OF COMMISSIONER BAKER 5
RULINGS.
| TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In the course of a so-called defense OF
the Pension Bureau in TUE TRIBUNE OF June 10, IL ~
made to appear that Gen. Baker is due the credit OF
| an amendment correcting and annung the pernicious
effects described my letter to THE TRIBUNE OF June as
| resulting from the stress Baker laid upon the word
permanent" To carry out the idea that the neutrli
ton OF the evil OF that word In the law was due 10 MS
| efforts, that correspondent says:
Through Of Baker himself and his recommends
tn po,o Of the fourth section in the follow ~ words was
adopted: Provided That the pension for disability not perm men,
equivalent degree provided for in thus section shall during he
counuance Of The disability IN sach degree De at he sane rate ID ni'
herein provided for permanent disability OF like degree
The true history OF Pension commissioner Bakers re-
atons 20 this word permanent is follows The Pen
sion Regulations and statutes" with abstracts OF law
issued by the Commissioner Of Pensions are puOished
by the Department containing all the essential re-
qulremens with which compliance isneeessary this Is
the abstract OF laws to which Congressman attorneys
&c. referred In this compilation no stress Is LAID
upon the formerly harshy used words permanent anu
constant" therefore nothing therein implies that
those conditions are OF preemnent or even eminent ~
portance In fact, these Regulations" &c. the word
constant" is left entirely; but in more private or
exclusive set OF Instructions sent to the examining sur
| .eons who make the awards, tho words permanent
and constant repeatedly italicised, as though
those conditions II no others. must exist to ene to
pension and in obedience thereto the matter was 20
understood and acted by the majority OF the ex-
aiming This stress was laid upon the word
permanent i'll every issue OF instructions, until the
provisO quoted that first recommended and fought
for by one Dr. c. NJ Weeks Of New York, temporarily
residing here. and Congressman Niblack OF Indiana
and not by Gen. Baker. stated by the correspondent
| signing himself 4" Justice"
The first amendment proposed in Congress to annu
| the hardships based the word permanent" was
added after the mention in the about what perma
t.f,. 4, ala An
others o; equivalent severity shall during continuance
IN the degree specified he at the rates" The law
then specified the amounts that should be common to
| both Judge Niback, though unfamiliar with the pen
sion system became convinced OF the need Of the above
amendment which DR.. Weeks prepared for him to urge
the House adopt lie based his speech II favor OF 1t
point, the Doctor furnished him. and oyercame
the opposition OF certain Republican members OF the
| Pension Committee, whom the people have since per
Hitted to remain home. The amendment was adopted
by the House Subsequently the Senate made the slgt
ranspoion Of terms shown IN the prOvisO quoted from
the present law but retained the essential Ian
guage OF the amendment, that other disabilities H. e.
temperament 0ncs) shall durtng continuance ~ me
dcgrces specified be at the same rates"
The fact H. that among all the amendments prepared
for the pension laws there was. neither through the Pen
sion Committee from other quarters any provision
presented to Congress for the OF the injury
from the word permanent until Dr. weekss amendment
proposed a cure, which Judge NDiicK convinced the
| House was the needed
| Gen Rlsk not a member Of the Pension Commit
tee in the last Congress- bu. favored Nioacks amend
mcnt)
Judge Nblack sends letter to the Chairman OF the
Pension Committee as TO the various
inquiries addressed him the subject which is as fol-
WASHINGTON d. C.. June 49, 1874.
SIR In answer to requests tlr the facts concernng
the history of certain amendment and tts author
llY., fall
IN Spring OF 1872 DR.. Grenvli.c NJ Weeks of New
York City explained to very harsh ana cruel course
OF treatment meed out to many invalid soldiers by the
Pension Officers OF the words constant ana per
s" which these words were abolished To provide
against evil of their possible reinsertion, we dis
cu,sed methods, ana then, partly from my sons.
/ the Doctor drew NJ the first aud only amendment
adopted by Congress to correct the evll referred TO.
rights Of the Invalid soldier was glad to advocate
based my remarks in it favor and those which made
in the subsequent debate upon the points ana facts
me by the Doctor, and never received any sug-
gestlons the matter from the Commissioner OF Pen
any other sources The merits OF the case were
apparent that notwithstanding some opposition from
the Pension Committee at first, IL was finally Withdrawn
| and without dissenting voice the House adopted DE-
Weekss amendment that, with unessental changes IN
Senate become the pTOylso OF law in Section Of the
Pension act, Mlrcn 8, 1873, that reads a. follows
Further, the opposition to that amendment made by
the then Chairman OF the Pension Committee, which
can be founl n TIE last column OF the fourth, and first
column of the fifth page OF The Congressional Globe Of
Tuesday May II. 1872, shows very plainly either that
Gen. Baker made any recommendation for any
such amendment his friend credits him with or If he
did he only succeeded In arousng opposition to it,
which, with the powerful aid Of Judge Niblack, Dr.
Weeks had some difficulty in overcoming.
The article by Equity, published June and the sub
sequent "dcfense" in THE TRIBUNE OF June 49, have
given rise certain correspondence among which the
following from the letter of member of Con
gress ana additional letters also from members sub
stantiate the truth OF the above statement.
WASHINGTON, ID. C.. June f. 1874.
Judge Nibidck-SIR Some one undertaking the task
,f defending the present management OF the Pension
,ystem in THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE Of June 10 at the
,ame time credits Baker with recommending and
through his efforts having Congress adopt the amend
ment that provided remedy for the former harsh
AZ Won had great deal TO do with the passage Of that
amendment viii you please give the facts of The case
the invalid pensioners wrongs 80
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON. ID. C., June Is. 1874
Hon. w. H. Yiblack, II. R.-DEAR SIR: Ny attention has
been called by one OF my state papers toa TRIBUNE letter
Congress that you oIered the amendment which was
adopted by the House in relation to the word per
manen" and wish ask what the facts in relation
| thereto. Very respectfully, J. NJ RCsK.
Provided. that the pension for disability not per
shall during the continuance OF the disability in
such 1S al se iRe INK ike ID @ herein provided
In closing, will say that the Efforts of Dr. Weeks in
this been those OF personally disnteresGed
gentleman, who during the past two years has devoted
his spare time and money 10 advocating through the
By pamphlets, ana by personal appeals To mem
bers OF Congress and more just treatment of
pensioners. These the facts OF the within my
knowledge. Very truly yours. W. f.. NIBLAC2.
To j. NJ. Rusk Chairman Pension Committee.
For years this Doctor kept the knowledge Of
his in getting the laws amended to nus
ce to the soldier within the limits Of his family circle
But when the pablo press the credit OF is sought
be appropriated bodily to Gen. Baker, who had nothing
whatever TO do with its orginaon or introduction,
those In authority aud familiar with the facts to
have thought II time the truth should be Just as
| risei y publ