The National tribune., 1879-02-01
ARREARS OF PENSIONS.
The Law ii is and the construction given in the
Pension Once

since the passage of the act to give arrears
has been sdudicated or settled which is within the
provisions of the act, and thus the law which was
meant to be benefit has been made burden and
added another fatal drag to the slow moving wheels
of the Office.
1t is gravey stated in all the newspapers semi
officially that the whole mind of the Commissioner
has been devoted to the consideration of the law
and it appears from his report, as now published
that his main labor has been to find out how "not
to do it TO devise difficulties and distractions.
We concede that the act in question is not drawn
with such distinctness and cearness it might have
been. But we undertake to say that there is no
difficulty in it's construction, in putting it into
effect if it were confded to hands friendly to the
principle. The truth is that political and monetary
considerations affecting the Treasury, and very d.
rectly related to the questions of currency and
finance, have compacted together very powerful
combination to defeat the law.
1t is very evident that the general of the
nation cannot be relied on to meet this sudden de-
mand for very large sum of money in addition to
the ordinary charges of carrying on the Government.
1t is also evident that certain pending
in Congress, notably the reduction of the tax on
tobacco, will reduce the revenue 1t is certain that,
by the law there funds in the Treasury avail
able at this time.
Then it is reasonably certain either that Congress
must repeal very substantially modify the law or
it must provide means in some way to meet the
payments, or confess its ncapacty and leave the
law dead letter
Several modes have been proposed to raise the
money.
Mr. Burchard (of Illinois) and Others propose the
issue of per cent. bonds for this purpose
General Ewing (of Ohio) and others propose a
better way We are entitled to issue s40O, 600, 900
of legal tenders More than $50, 600, 900 of these
have been withdrawn from circulation, but can law
fully again be issued. These gentlemen propose to
issue this $4,000, 900, which will not cost the Gov
ernment anything, will pay all the arrears promptly,
and put so much more money into circulation.
This is undoubtedly the right thing to do but be-
cause it is the right thing is that it will
succeed, for the whole money power of the great
cities will be against it. the Treasury Department is
likely to be against it, and there comparatively
few who can stand this pressure.
Now the law, to its intent, is perfectly plain.
1t says "All pensions granted under general
laws or which may be hereafter granted, shall com
from the date of death or discharge from ser
vice of the person on whose account the claim has
been or may be granted that is set of cases
cor from the termination of the right of the party
having prior title to said pension That is the
second class of cases.
Then comes the proviso, which declares that for
the intervening time from such death or discharge
to the date of allowance of pension, the arrears
shall be only at the original rate"
All this which constitutes the first section of the
law, is perfectly ineligible.
The I'd section gives the Commissioner power to
make all needful rules and regulations for making
such payments to the pensioners or in of DEATH
to the persons entitled to the same.
The Sd section repeas the ive-year limitation
in section 4Tl7 Revised Statutes, and does no more
The 4th section forbids any claim agent or other