The National tribune., 1884-02-07
SERVICE PENSIONS.
The Policy OF the Government Since the ReTOla-
tion-Senat0r ingalls, Views.

The Policy Of the Government since the RevOIa-
tiOn-Senat0r ingalls, Views.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
All nations pension the disabled survivors of
their wars and the dependent relatives Of those
who lay down their lives that their country
may live; but no government, except the
United States, has adopted the policy Of pen
sioning its entire armies for service merely,
irrespective of disability.
In May, 177S, less than two years after the
Declaration of Independence, and long before
the conclusion of the war of the Revolution, an
act was passed giving half pay for seven years,
from the conclusion Of the war, to all military
officers who then were or thereafter might be
in the service of the United States In 1730
another act was passed giving half pay for life
to those officers who remained In the army till
the close of the war. In 1878, Congress obliter-
ated the invidious discrimination against pri-
vate soldiers which had hitherto existed in the
dispensation of its bounty by the passage of an
act granting pension for life to the officers
and enlisted men who served through the war
of the Revolution to its close, or for a term of
nine months or longer at any time during the
war; who, being citizens of the United States,
were then, or might thereafter by reason Of
reduced circumstances, be in need of assistance
from their country.
This act was passed less than forty years
after the treaty of peace Great irritation and
discomfort was excited among the veterans and
their patriotic supporters by what was gener-
ally known as the g pauper clause" in this act,
and, after prolonged agitation, public sentiment
became so intense that in 1882 it was repealed
after vigorous and animated debate.
Forty three years after the close of the war
of 1912 with Great Britain, the House of Rep
resentatives passed bill pensioning the sol
diers Of that war. but it was defeated in the
Senate. The Commissioner Of Pensions, MIR
Whiting, was opposed to the measure, and
aided its enemies by extravagant estimates Of
the amount that would be required if the bill
became law. This sum was placed by the
chairman of the committee at thirty million
dollars The country had just entered upon a
financial crisis The ordinary revenues had
fallen so low that the Treasury was not able TO
meet its current obligations, and the adverse
report was therefore adopted.
The anti-slayery debate, the secession of the
States, and the gigantic expenditures of the
Nation TO suppress the rebellion Immediately
followed so that further action was delayed
till 1871, when the statute pensioning the sur
yivors of the war Of 1912 became law. It's
benefcent provisions were subsequently, en-
larged by the legislation Of 1873, so that it may
be regarded as the established policy of the
Government to pension all the veterans of its
a.
within reasonable period after the termina-
ton Of service. 1t is coeval with the birth of
the Nation. The precedents are positive and
definite. They cannot be ignored nor disre-
garded. They present an imperative mandate
which must be obeyed
Such pensions are the recognition which a
grateful people extend to those who have dis
charged the highest obligation of allegiance
Every citizen owes military service, if needed
for the defense of the existence, the honor or
the liberty of his country, and these pensions
are the voluntary Offering of subsequent gen.
erations to those whose heroism, fortitude and
self-denial have given peace and freedom TO
their posterity. Large standing armies are not
consistent with free institutions Our battles
have been fought by volunteers. Our indie
pendence was secured, our honor has been
maintained, our area has been enlarged the
Union has been preserved by the citizens of
the Republic. In the future, as hitherto we
must rely for the redress of wrongs and the en-
foreement of rights, should war become neees-
sary, upon armies. of volunteers organized
every incentive to the passion for military
Il.
feel that the Government will not only observe
the strict letter of its contract, should he be
summoned to the field. but that liberal and
cordial provision will be made for infirmity
and age.
The measures now pending to pension the
survivors of the war with Mexico are, there
FORE not an innovation. They are in accord
ance with ancient usage The precedents are
as venerable as the flag. No principle has been
more formally recognized in our legislation.
The only important question is, whether the
period has arrived when it should be applied
The soldiers of the Revolutionary War were
pensioned thirty-seven years after its close.
Those OF the war of 1872, fity-six years after
the treaty of Client Had the finances of the
country been prosperous IN 1858, they would
undoubtedly have been pensioned at that time,
which was forty-three years after the war
closed; so that reasonable application of the
rule would probably nix forty years after the
termination of war as the period when service,
or gratuiteus pensions should begin. This
would place the average age of the recipient at
| about sixty-tiye years. The war with Mexico
! ended in 1917. Under the precedent estab-
b lew Nf tbf, Nv
| aus weGId be peDsionabie in 1884. Under the
precedent of ISL, they would be pensionable
in 1908. Il The action of the House of Repre-
/ sentatives in 1853 should be considered as a
| precedent they would he peas.onabie IN 1890.