The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
RED TAPE.
The Absurd Teehnicalism That Denies Justice to
Dying Men.


The Absurd Technicalism That Denies Justice tt
Dying Men.
To THE EDITOR: Reading your article in
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of the 18th, entitled
Take Timely Action" calls to min6ia case
which has lately come to my notice. An ap-
plicaton was made nearly three ye$s age
for a pension. The certificate of thu pegi-
mental Surgeon was furnished that tn ppli-
cant contracted the disability in line OF sew
ice, and that he had known the applicant from
that date to time of application, and at his
present cOndition-total disability to e; n his
living by manual labor-was the direci result
of said disability. Applicant has twice en-
examined by order OF the Pension p au.
Each time the Examiner said he &C inly
ought to get pension. Applicant also fur
nished evidence that he had been disabled from
that date, 1865, to the time of application, by
the evidence of personal acquaintance. He is
now informed that he must furnish evidence
of the exact degree of disability existing each
and every year from 1865 to present date. The
evidence so far furnished would be sufficient
TO convict any man of murder in first degree
and hang him. But such evidence is net suffi-
cient to guarantee the payment of few paltry
dollars to a man who blasted his health in the
service of his country and risked his life and
barred his bosom to the deadly hail of rebel bull
lets, that this grandeSt, noblest Nations that
has ever graced this earth might live. And,
not satisfied with the Surgeons certificate that
this disability was incurred in line Of duty
while in service, don't believe this applicant
can furnish such unreasonable evidence 1t is
an impossiblity. Where are those brave boys
who stood by his side when the hail of rebel
bullets was manufacturing widows and Orphans
and stealing away the fond mothers only hope
and reliance by the thousands? Yes, where
are they? For many only the sad echo comes
back from broken hearts now bowed by want
and suffering which those noble men would
have averted had not they given their lives for
their country'S safety. For others, the same
echo comes from the cold, ragged, hungry
widow and orphan who now might be in atflu-
ent circumstances had not that father and
husband been sent home to them tull of
rebel lead, living only just long enough
to kiss those loved ones long GO by.
For Others that same mournful echo comes
whispering in your ear, "Got to Donelson Shiloh,
Corinth, Chattanooga, Wilderness, and a hun
dred other bloody fields, not forgetting Ander-
sonville and Libby" From mere handful
CorpOralS guard-comes the saddeSt wall of all.
(TheSe others of the noble blue sleep that last
peaceful slumber which neither the screech of
rebel shell, the agoniZing cry for food from
Libby or Andersonville, nor the howl of
Southern brigadiers and their Northern allies
against pensions can never disturb.) 1t is not
w
on rebel works to victory and often death,
but it is the low, feeble cry of brokenr down,
hungry, cold, ragged, halt and blind veterans
who in the glory of their manhood eagerly
seized the musket and bravely faced the dan
gers of a soldiers life that we might enjoy the
blessings of this free Republic. Whence comes
this feeble moan and what's the want? II comes
from the poorhouse, the hut and howell And
the call? Is it for volunteers to avenge this
grand Nation or save its integrity? No! If it
was, the sons of these veterans would answer
the call as of yore, and vie with each other who
should reach the front first, shouting we are
coming, Father Abraham, hundred thousand
mOre;" but it is the call for justice! justice !!
justice for the little pittance of s. a month
to help keep their wives, babies or themselves
fed, clothed and warm. 1t is not to be retired
on half or full pay as General, Colonel or Major
but it is the moan of the dying soldier for bread
the noble boy who wore the blue for four long
years that this Government might live,-a call
for only little help, that his wife and children
may not want clothes and wood TO drive away
the chilling hand of old Winter, who is rapidly
nearing their 1oors with his ice and snow ready
to freeze out the little life that remains ia these
manned, blind, diseased remnants Of what
was once an invincible army of grand vet
Grams, the pride of this Republic in those anX-
iOus days of '61 to '65, but now in its glory and
strength forgotten. and left to starve or exc out
bare existence as best they can while the Ma
tons Golfers are running over with millions
fear am imposing on your columns, Mr..
Editor; but when l look around me and see
these old heroes in want, and know til = their
application for this pittance is refused, and that
they are relocated to Gen. Dudley's pension list
(rejected), only because they cannot furnish
impossible evidence, or to Hon. Mr.. Eoar, of
Massachusetts, because they did not apply for
this big So month 20 years ago. my ii,digna-
ton knows no bounds and words won't express
my opinion of the rulings which make it thus.
If the law demands such ruling and compels
this more than Shylock's pound OF. fesh,"
better change the law; for where is the soldier
who can furnish now for every year for 20
years past the exact degree of his disability for
each and every year in that whole 90, whether
he was one-eight, One-fourtb, one-half, three
fourths, or entirely disabled. None have, can,
or will ever accomplish the feat. If everytpfficer
and soldier who would accept were "o'f from
now to their death $50 month the ,ation
would never feel the loss, and the II would
go directly to the people, and the NauC. ally be
benefited, and in place of being burde 20 the
people, increase taxes would furnish there more
money and put in circulation thousands f dol
lars every quarter which now lie idle IN the
vaults of the Treasury, and the hungry, aged
soldier, the widow and orphan would De fed
and clothed-the Nations sayiors wOul2 want
no more.-VETERAN, Nunda City, Col. -