National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-07
BRAVE SOLDIERS, PENSIONS.
Tic tIuC.nud.CrS of the NhitcInw RcIds
mud alihnr Hnmhracrinin.


The following, from the La Grange Standard, of
Indiana, hit, the nail exactly the head relative
to pension matteis ii Is ain article that should be
favorable ~ the claims of the soldier rather than
the bondhoder TIE numbcrO IT claimants under
the urrCarUpc of pension law has had M alarming
effect upon many newspapers, bringing mtOaCtivc
use such epithCts us frauds thieves robbers
nnd the like the terms being applied to Congress-
men who voted for the bill, aud more or less
directly tu soldiers who have nyailcd themselves
of It's benefits. amount required TO foot the bill
presented under the law is indeed vastly greater
thRn the estimate made when the law was pend
lug IN Congress, aud had its magnitude been
dreamed Of at toe time no such Gn act could have
been passed. Yet, when the surprise is over and
claimants viii not appear so very marvellous. The
official records OF the Government show that
2aj,aib soldiers were discharged on account of
disability during the rebellion, ana there are
graves OfSi5 800 who died IN the service. Besides
tucac, thousands died at home and elsewhere.
whose graves are unrcCOrdcd In the Government
archives. Here are COL 100 cases giving probably
LEGITIMATE BASIS FOR PENSIONS
Besides these, there were tens Of thousands of
men who incurred disabilities in the service as
severe, and many more severe, than thousands of
those discharged on that account, who served out
Their terms OF cnl istmcnt. Altogether there are
.Gt $50 pensions inclusive of those of the war of
1872 ana of the Mexican war. We have not all
the figures at hand to make the comparison, but
We wifi venture the assertion that there nrc more
pensions to-day in effect. In proportion to sur
NyOrS Of tic war OF 1872 and Of the Mexican
war than of the rebellion. If the number Of
are now, II probably would not be In excess pro-
portiOnatcly TO the number in the service than
those
OF THE TWO FORMER WARS.
Were all the claims now filed allowed the number
might not reach that figure. There are undoubt
Cdlyu great many fraudulent claims, and for these
there no apology whatever 1t is TO the Interest
Oi every true soldier, as well rs of honesty and
good government, that these be wecded out. But
there are thousands drawing pensions honestly
and Justly whom the casual lookcr-on would pro-
noulce sound mem Many men, with oozng
wounds on their bodies, have all the external APP
peannccs of health. Many endure torluring
pains and disabilities without display to the
world II is not to be implied that because man
Is able 10 make living he is not entitled TO pen
sion. Many mon who have lost leg can make a
better living than thousands who have all their
limbs aud all their faculties
PERFECTLY SOUND AND HEALTHY.
The only question under the law TO be deter
mined is that of disability, and was that disability
contracted in the service and in the line of duty.
What Is disability is underlined in the pension law.
The construction, us we understand H. is any in
jury or disease that dsubles the x-soldief for
manual labor and wide latitude is given even to
that construction. A stiff elbow is taken rs the
measure for total disability. Any therdisability
equal in effect is ranked rs total, and all less pro-
pOrtionutely, one fourth, one hall, and three
iourhs. In respect ~ defining disability the law
Enthusiastically as II did before the rebellion.
Under ii the soldier in the rebellion enlisted, and
il was part of his contract with the Government.
The man who would complain of a disabled SOL
der avang himself of its benefits fayorS the re-
pudiatiOn offs solemn contract in which the life OF
the defender Of his own ireside was involved"