National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
OUR PENSIONS.
NEEDY AND DISABLED SOLDIERS.
Why the Government Should Provide for Those Who
Fell In It's Defense--A Few Interesting
Facts and Figures-Whht the
Soldiers Desire.

For months past considerable attention has been
given by the newspapers IN every section Of the
country TO discussing tho policy and wisdom OF
existing statutes IN regard to the payment of pen.
sons and the fear has been expressed that these
are far too liberal in their provisions, having a
tendency to open the door 10 innumerable frauds
upon the public Treasury and lead the Govern.
ment to n state bordering upon bankruptcy. The
charge has been openly and fearlessy made that
n large number OF pensions are annually paid to
parties having no legal right to the same and who
have never performed any military or naval ser.
vice on behalf Of the Republic Fraudulent claims,
1t is further charged, have been put through by
mereenary and dishonest claim agents, aided by
employees Of the National Government and that
the National Treasury has been,defrauded In large
amounts ofmouey. This beliefs entertained by
many, and among them true and brave soldiers
who have been in active service, and who would
scorn TO wrong their Government out Of a single
penny. In addition to this
THR VAST NUMBER or CLAIMS
expected 10 be entered under the moro recent
pension acts has given risc to the suspicion that
| the burden placed upon the Government will bo
greater than II oan in justice to ITSELF resllystand
That these charges or at least some OF them, are
| In measure true admits not of doubt. There
have been dishonest claim agents. fraudulent
pensioners do exist and II II moro than likely that
Notwithstanding every .precaution, u few more
fraudulent pensions VIII be grantod but, admit
ting nll these facts they AFFORD no solid or sub
stnntial reason why the Government should refuse
to provide for the needy md disabled soldier who
in battle bravey upheld the flag Of his country or
tTc s The state State and and Nation A are S'S ever " to be
honoted which caro- for their defenders,
and they are recreant both TO duty and human.
States statute providing for the payment OF
arrcaragcs Of pensions has lattcrly been made the
subject OF criticism and OF Investigation by num-
her Of Congressman, who contend that II has been
carelessly drawn TINT II grants too much, and that
| Il will tako an amount almost equal TO the ma.
| tional debt to liquidato them. Some members Of
Congress, having no statesmanlike Ideas and pos
sesSing but modeum OF common sense, have
man who served in the Pederai army should re-.
| celve pension and come under the provisions Of
the arrearagcs net. This idea Is ono Of repulsive
nature, offensive to the true soldier, and savOrs
| too much of the froth of the demagoguo for u mo-
mcnt TO be entertained,
THE ONLY CORRECT PRINCIPLE
which should govern pension act is that It make
provision for only the needy, disabled, and de.
serving soldier and but few members of Congress
can be found who would oppose the adoption OF
the resolution which states that in the opinion
of the Senate the act Of January 25, 1873, COIN
monty known ns the arrears of pensions act ought
amendment to the samc-viZ., and that Congress
ought to enact lazy granting a pension to the
much stress was made by several speakers upon
| thu point that Il was only the latter class which
should be pensioned-i e, the needy and dis,
I
was moreover, pleasing TO notice the eloquence
with which Southern members advocated the
! payment Of pensions and arrearages to
Union soldiers who had battled against
them IN the rebellion. They exhibited decidedly
more manly and patriotic feeling than did u num-
Der Of their colleagues from the North. In this
connection, and in order TO form OH idea ~ tO the
amount Of moneys likely to be paid under the
cnce TO the late report OF the Secretary OF the In
terror, In response to resolution OF the House Of
| Representatives requesting an estimate founded
ltf,Va linz
claims for pensions arising from the war of the
rebellion shall be ndjudicHted within the seven
the end of that period the survivors Of the war
with MeSico and their widows shall then be pen.
stoned at O. per month, what appropriation Will
next twenty-five years. Iii this report It ap.
pears that there are 1885, P62 invalid and 45,O6s
widows, Sc, clair claims 70 9e adludicaled Within me
per cont of these will be hereafter rejected, 1t fol-
lows that l5S0GS invalid claims and SS03S original
widows claims viii be allowed.
THE AMOUNTS OF THEIR P1Rsr PAYMENTS,
and thereby the annual appropriations required,
will depend on the rapidly of their adjustment
II settled in equal numbers each year during the
seven years the numbers allowed annually would
be 22iSl and 5i72 respectively but in fact, during
the earlier years Of the seven the claims which are
free from complications would be adjudicated
leaving over to later years the more difficult
II is matter Of ofimposslblity 10 estimate the num-
Der of claims that VIII be filed in tho future; the
, number of invalid claims may grow less, while
widows, &C., claims Will be likely to increase In
number for some time TO come. The Secretary
closes his report (Which by the way, is able and
exhaustive one) by estimating that there will be
required for the payment Of pensions for the
twenty-five years ending with 1906 the sum oi
3i7 6j1 5g3 Ofwhich 81 26i 977 for rebellion
claims filed prior to June go 1880, and $Sl 800 O0C
for rebellion claims fled after that date. For the
Mexican war claims s5l,92l 6lG will be required
The amounts TO be appropriated yearly would
range from SCI 100000 In 1881 up 10 SSgG926 6iS In
the year 1887, and from the latter date gradually
decrease to between twenty three and twenty. four
millions of dollars. Aside from the question o.
obligation and duty to pay these just claims, there
arises the other Is the Government able TO pay
these arrearRges? To this there can be but one
answer and that in the affirmative The policy
of paying them may bo assailed, but the people
admit its justice, The soldiers desire nothing
more than Is honorably due them, aud while It 4
natural for them TO look with contempt upon thI
; Congressman who would vote against aiding the
the disabled defender of his country, yet they a
the same time do not allow themselves to be lee
away with false admiration of those who advocate
the payment OF these claims solely for the purpos,
Ofmaking political capital for themselves The!
look upon the arrears Of pensions act as ont
founded in justice and equity and which shoulC
be kept upon the statute books, and we think w
can safely say there is no danger Of its being re
peaed.