The National tribune., 1880-12-01
TRENTON, Mo-, Oct. 18th, 1880.

nm EpTToR The honorable Commissioner of Pensions
his recent letter to Congressman Myers, states that
she does not find the execution OF the pension law an
easy duty many in these days long after the
soldiers discharge when the facts yelled in obscurlty
by lapse time and the natural presumption that the
disability from sickness of little consequence III the
earlier years. else the claim for pension would have come
forward earlier to fix the pension at rate at once just
to the pensioner and the Government agree with tne
Commissioner that in many it isdcut to fix the
pension at rate just to the pensoner and the
Governments but is it natura presumption that the
disability of little consequence in the earlier years
the claim for pension would have come forward earef
Is fact that of the most deserving OF disabled
and partially disabled soldiers have refaned and refused
to apply the Government for pension for various
reasons? There many entitled by the law gov
crning the granting of pensions for services in the late
war who by of means inherited acquired by
trade and speculation do not need the assistance OF the
Government and have not, therefore, applied for it,
Others again. and believe large per cent OF those ap
Flying remote day who have heretofore been
able support themselves and families, but by some un
lucky move misfortune find themselves without means
and physically unable to retrieve their lost fortune have
reluctantly yielded to the demands of the occasion and
the opportunities of friends and applied to the Govern
ent whose service their health lost for assistance
support themselves and those depending upon them
Others again. from what they pure, patriotic
impulse, will not ask the Government for aid, claiming
that when they volunteered they took themselves all
the chances and had already been paid by the Nation all
they entitled to receive Then there are class OF
persons whose PRIDE cali ii false real will more
allow them to appeal to the Government for pension
than would to ask for charity from their neighbors
One gentleman Of my acquaintance his return from
the army 1865 found himself unable to prosecute his
profession of farming account Of disease contracted
in the service He gave up his small farm and engaged
in the occupation OF cerng for Others that he might
thereby the better of his health and do enough
to support himself and family. This man wrote -four
wears in an Office and was often urged by those familiar
with his condition apply for himself He said, Mo- SO
long as able TO support myself and family do not
wish place myself in the attitude OF an applicant foi
charity 1t was years after this when he found hmse
growing older and he State OF
andseted where he realized
that either money or muscle was required to improve
farm He then applied for pension, but not until his
devoted wife wrote to agent in Washington detailing
the and had received the necessary blanks
His case is pending at the Pension Office. Other
might be mentioned but they doubtless famia
TO every one, all going to prove that the natural pre-
sumption that the disability of but little consequenc
else the claim would have forward earlier is not
reliable presumption in thousands OF cases. The Com
missioner right when he says that in order to decd
the rate of pension which shall be paid according TO tn
degree Of the pensioners disability from time TO time,
exdenca cnyerIag the histor