The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-01-25


at hand to sustain it's charges. Why not
produce them, then? Let us have the names
and cases: TIE TRIBUNE is even more in
terested than the HcrdId in exposing frauds
on the part of claim agents, for It has far
greater circulation than the Herald, and the
majority Of its subscribers are ex-sOlders,
and if it had the actual knowledge of fraud
which the HeraId processes to have, it would
not, like that paper carefully withhold it
from the public. Nay more, it would be its
duty to expose the fraud, and we take this
occasion to say to our Utica contemporary, in
all seriousness, that, if it really has in its
possession any proof of the preparation of
pension trauds-either by claim agents or
the pensioners themsclves-and neglects to
produce it, it deserves to forfeit public re-
spect and confidence. But the fact is, we
suppose, that the HerdId has simply taken
its cue from some of the New York papers,
and without tallin the trouble to ascertain
the real facts concerning the prevalence Of
pension frauds has passed the lie along. For
/ its information, therefore, we will say once
more that so far from pension frauds being
common" rs it SAYS, the records of the
! Pension Office show that the percentage of
fraud is only about oae-tcNtb Of one per- cent.
! 1t is an open question which is the most
/ phenomenal-the stupidity of the HcraId or
I its malice!
And the deeper it goes into the subject
! the worse it founders. eve have also taken
the position" it goes on to say, that while
the Government IS paying out one hundred
millions a year for pensions, it is not the
! proper time TO enlarge the pension rolls.
/ We believe the sum is already so enormous
! that no bureau can disbursc it efficiently
and TO the best advantage We believe that
! it constitutes tax upon the revenues of the
/ Government quite rs large as the people can
afford to pay" This is fine reasoning in
deed. We suppose the Heraid will admit
that the Government is under as binding
an obligation to pay pensions to those who
ara entitled TO them under the law as to pay
the bOndhOlder, and if the force in the Pen
sion Bureau is too small to disburse this
debt efficiently, the logical deduction is that
it should be increased As for the payment
Of Pensions being rs great a tax upon the
people as they can bear on the same ground
the reputation of the national debt might
be justified.
And now we come to the point where the
Herald, of its own accord, lays aside all pre-
tense OF caring for the soldiers welfare, and
comes out flat-footed against his interests
1t says:
THE Pension Bureau is engaged in settling
the arrears Of pensions under the last law and it
has years of work before it before it can
! abreast with its business When these arrears are
disposed OF, tire annual payments of pensions will
settle again TO normal dimensions, and, in the
nature OF things the total expenditure Oh that ac-
count viii gradually diminish When we reach
thai point, the question of charging the pension
rolls Will DC one which Congress should consider.
Until that time comes, the proposition to make the
pension rolls public ought to he carried into effect
We have thus restated our position on this ques-
ton, in response to the grOsSest misrepresentation.
We glad to he able TO add that it is a position
that has met with warm approval in many quar-
tiers and nowhere with more than from the soldiers
themselves"
In other words, the Hcrdd is opposed to
the passage of the $40 bill, the equalization
of bounties bill, and all other measures of
like purpose, until all the claims now pending
before the Pension Bureau have been settled
Has it ever considered what is to become Of
our WORKOUT, impoverished veterans mean
while? Has it ever occurred to it that they
may die of starvation and disease, victims of
the Nations ingratitude and the Govern
Ment's dishonOred contracts? Let the editor
of the Herald inquire of any Grand Army
Post why it is found necessary to maintain
relief fund. Our comrades Of the Grand
Army can tell him whether or not the Gov
eminent has fulfilled its solemn promise to
care for him who has borne the battle, and
for MS widow and orphans" Aye, he may
see with his own eyes if he choose, the con-
sequence ofiustice long-delayed and pledges
unredeemed.
as there anything in the position of the
Herald that will justify the assertion that it
is an enemy of the sOldier?" The eflrontery
OF the editor in propounding such question
is only equalled by the unblushing impu-
dence with which he declares that its posi-
ton has nowhere met with warmer approval
than from the soldiers themselves" God
forbid that they should ever be dependent
Oh such friend as this!
The FOrty-DOlIar Bill.
SOME of our Senators seem to think that
$40 month is an eXtravagant price for the
loss of a leg, and to those who regard pen
sions as mere gratuities, which the Govern
ment is under no OBLIGATION tO nav If 10