National Republican., 1880-03-01
THE INTERESTS OF PENSIONERS.

would rob the Government upon any op- |
portunity, desires that fraudulent pension |
claims should be allowed, but there are |
honest pension claims, and there are vast
multitude which should be allowed, and the |
relief they will afford, and which is much |
needed, should not be needlessly withheld. |
1t is in the interest of this class that we |
have lObored and shall continue to labor |
until the right prevails. We ask that just |
and not unjust claims shall be allowed. |
We ask that no trifling distractions and no
needless embarrassments shall be cast in
the way of the invalid soldiers rightful |
claim, for the reason that possibly some un-
Just claims may have been allowed. There
is no sense or justice in this, and the Gov
ernment should, either in its Executive or
Legislative departments, provide that
the pension claim of on invalid SOL
dier, who has given his usefulness 10 his
country and is now q wreck, should receive
attention while he lives, and not subject
him to disappointment and suffering in the
evening of life, and finally allow him to
pass over the river with his claim unan-
swered. This class is so numerous and
their claimsare so just, that the Government
cannot be acquitted Of wrong lift shall neg
lect to provide for them at an early day,
that some degree of relief may be realized.
There are now on file in the Pension Office
near two hundred and fifty thousand cases
awaiting action, while under its present
administration not over one thousand n
month are perfected, and at this rate it will
require twenty years and more to perfect
all these claims. This bare fact, staring the
Government in the face, should startle it to q
new effort to shorten the time when these
MANNED and suffering soldiers should find
relief 1t is a shame and disgrace to fiat
ter these crippled men, who have been ren-
dered mere wrecks by serving their country,
with hope of reward, which dilatory ac-
tion renders impossible in their lifetime.
The Pension Bureau must be rendered more
efficient and prompt in the perfection of
these claims. If there is a lack of roon
then enlarge the Bureau. If there is an
insufficient clerical force, then increase that
to proper maximum. If the head of the
|
discharge of this trust, then let the hand of
reform be laid there. 1t is evident that
something must be done TO bring relief or
the measure of injustice will become too
large and too full to hatter the character of
the second century of the Republic as a ajust
Nation.
Mr.. CoFF ROTH, of Pennsylvania, has ini-
tiated two measures in Congress which look
to relief but we fear that the present Con-
gress does not take sufficient interest in the
welfare of Union soldiers TO assure any
prospect of relief to them. One of these
proposes to place on the pension rolls the
names of all survivors of the military and
naval service of the United States during
the recent war who were disabled in the
service, and the widows or other dependent
relatives of those who died in the service,
and that they shall receive pensions only
from the date of the passage of the law.
The rate of pension shall be So month
for death or total disability, and SO month
for partial disability.
The second provision of this bill is that
on making proof the affidavit of the ap-
plicant himself shall be received but it
must be corroborated by the aflidavits of
two dsinterested witnesses. Persons whose
claims are now pending before the Com
missioner of Pensions may withdraw til en-
and take advantage Of this act
The other bill provides for the establish.
ment of Court of Pensions. This court
, is TO consist of chief and four associate
justices. The court is to have jurisdiction
of all pension cases decided adversely by the
Commissioner of Pensions. The decision
of tile court is to be final.
These measures promise early relief but
the first one, if il becomes law, will deprive
the invalid soldier of his just reward foI
past sufferings. 1t should be entitled q bill
to recognize the rights of the soldier and
then to deprive him of great measure oi
them. But, after all, it is preferable to per-
petual wrong in their cases and hence
would be more tolerable. Under this law
| should it be enacted, some 125,OOO appli.
{ cants would reliuquish their claims 10 some
81 900 each, aud save this sum to the Gov
= ernment which rightfully belongs to the
soldier, and which is stripped from him on
= account in part, il not in whole, of the dila-
torineSs of bureau which Is organized in
the interest Of the soldier and for no other
| purpose than to see TO il that justice is done
! him. We say let something be done in the
interest of honor and right, and, il possible
save the nyalids of the Nation from further
? wrong and humiliation.
AN oHIoANs VIEW.
nroyrts Csrpuf Of DofncgviIIa Ohio