The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-05-17
Editer.
TROY, KANSAS:
Pensions.

There il more trouLle and fraud, and stealing,
IN the pension business than in any other matter
connected with tine Government. There
thousands Of men drawing pensions, who
more entitled to them, according to the laws
and rules governing the matter, than many
men who were never in the army; and there
thousands Of applicants working up their cases,
who are just as little entitled. Thousands upon
thousands of men, upon coming ont of the army,
were in pretty good shape, enjoying excellent
health, and felt able TO make their way in the
world. They did not like the idea of applying
for pension, but wouid have thonglt
of begging. But years pass, they run behind,
and become poor. and begin Ia feel old and stiff.
Then they think what comfortable thing a
pension wOuid bc, to help them in their old age,
and finally imagine they trace ailment
or a pain to some injury exposure they suffer
ed in the army. Then the ever-ready pOnsion
agent is ready to work up their case, aud the
next thing their neighbOrs know. they are al
lowed a pension. Until recently. il was accom-
panied by a good round sum Of back pay: but
the time for that is past.
Now: We have Il theory this pension ques-
lion. that We believe is not far from right, and
which would harm nobody. We are in favor of
allowing pension TO every man who served in
the Union army and has an honorable discharge,
not only in thn Rebellion, hut in previous wars,
except such have forfeited the right by helm
ons aeiS of treason against the Government. We
believe that harlshiPs and exposures incident TO
army life seriously damaged the constitution of
every man VIII" in active service, although
for wears the effects did not show themselves.
H. an
begin To break years before they would have
done 80, had il not been for that hard service.
Every mans life is shortened hy il: but much
more those who received wounds, however
slight. gumrhot wound will last forever, al
though apparently triling at the time. As age
creeps on, and in sudden changes of weather, or
when the person takes cold, that wound will
trouble him, and finally terminate in chronic
rheumatism, paralysis, some other permanent
disabling alment. Therefore, on general princi-
pies, pension to every man who served in the
army would not lie aIniss.
Ii pensions were granted TO all soldiers, it
would put end to the pension frauds. It
wonld take away the occasion for it. The pen
sions could then be regulated by the reports of
the examining surgeons. Those who were disa-
proportion, while those who had no wounds
could draw the smaller allowances to he in-
creased, as disabilities appeared. 1t wonld be
in much the same manner that pensions are now
regulated to those who are entitled to them.
To avoid eolluson between the surgeon and the
subject, the surgeons could he changed TO differ
ent and distant districts, each quarter, year,
or whatever time they have 10 re-examine, so
that n stranger would always be in each district,
in which ease he would he likely to make cor
rect reports, as he would avoid the abuses aris-
ing from too intimate acquaintance and personal
favoritism.
This money w0uld not be a burden on the
Government, lie wasted. Government has
millions upon millions of dollars living idle in
the Treasury, offering temptations for gigantic
iobbery and steals Paid ont in pensions to sol
dieIs, 1t could scarcely 20 amiss. Then, the
man who draws pension does not hoard it up.
Ii goes :" buy the necessaries of life. Ii would
reach every community in the land and go into
circulation there, and keep trade thriving; and
due proportion would go back to the Govern
ment again, through the various channels by
which revenue is raised. The pensions now paid
are an immense help TO the business of all sec
lions. The money it puts in circulation quar-
rerly, il withheld, would he, severely felt in ev-
cry community, to say nothing of the distrss
IN time Of sickness or scarcity of work.