The National tribune., 1882-06-03

bringing the c7se before the House, since, on
a motion TO adopt OF reject the report of the
committee, abundant opportunity would be
afforded for a review Of, the evidence and
full discussion of the merits of the rival
claims More than this, it seems TO us, no
lover Of fair play could ask, and even con-
cediag, as we have said, that the evidence
before the committee was untrustworthy,
we do not see upon what ground the OBJ
structive policy of the minority can be
defended. The Democrats who compose
that minority are clearly responsible for the
delay that has occurred in the transaction
of public business, and they should be held
to q strict account for any injury that pub
lie interests may suffer in consequence.
Without stopping to consider the effect of
this delay in all its bearings, let US see how
it touches the interests of the soldier Our
readers have already been made acquainted
with the fact that the pension appropria-
tion bill has been agreed upon in committee
and that it contains a provision for the
employment of some twelve hundred addi-
tonal clerks in the Pension, Adiutant Gen
eral. and Surgeon Generals Offices, in order
to facilitate the adjustment of the two
hundred and seventy-Odd thousand claims
that are now pending. Every day that the
consideration and passage of this Dill Is
postponed adds to the sufferings of our
veterans We have no means OF getting at
the exact figures, hut Of these two hundred
and seventy thousand applicants for pen
sions, many are in destitute circumstances,
ana cannot much longer maintain the 6trug-
Gle with poverty and disease. Deaths are
occurring among them daily, due, in great
part to the lack Of the necessaries of life,
and it was and is in the power Of Congress
to prevent this by eXpediting the granting
of pensions that ought to have been granted
. long ago. II has been shown time and
/ again that without this proposed increase IN
/ the clerical force of the Pension Bureau,
! it will take at least ten years 10 dispose OF
/ these accumulated claims, and it makes our
! hearts ache to think of the misery that this
long period of waiting would entail upon
our crippled heroes and the soldiers widow
and orphans It is vain for our Congfess'
men to urge as an excuse for delay, that 6
few davs or weeks can make no difference tC
these claimants; it is question of life OF
death with many of them, and it is shame
full that those who were so quick to oGel
their services to the country in the hour Q
it's extremity should now be treated viii
such cruel indifference The Government
it is true, profits pecuniarily by this il
ence, since the longer the adjustm
these pending claims is delayed, the
applicants there viii he 10 pay in s-
but we do not suppose tha- even Il
relentless opponent Of pension leg
would urge this as a justification for
But it is difficult to discuss this sal
spirit OF calmness. When one rem
how long it has taken to arouse Con
q sense of the necessity Of making pI
for the speedy settlement Of pension
it is in the highest degree eZaspera
the very moment when this provision is o
,he point Of being made, to find ques,ig
of partisan politics blocking tie way. W
do not know what the general public al
inclined to think of this last instance {
Democratic flibustering, but we are Yer
certain that ii viii meet with the empbai
+ disapproval of our ex-soldiers and sailor
and that when our Congressman go home
, appeal once more to the sufrages of the
constituents some of them viii find it dif
E cult to explain their records.