The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-01-28
IN THE INTEREST OF THE WIDOW.
A Feature of the Pension Law that
Renuirea Amendment.


~ read with great interest THE CRITICS re-
port OF the discussion OF Commissioner DGd-
ley and tho House Committee on Invalld Pom
sione," said an onlclal connected with the
Pension Bureau TO n CRITIC reporter recently,
"but there was one subject noticed that was
not spoken Of, and in my Judgment IL was ono
OF considerable Importance. The Government
is at present guilty OF gross Injustice, aud now
that the pension question Is being agtated
think It would be emnently nt for me TO call
your attention to it,"
Tho reporter said that he would BIO most
happy 10 be the vehicle to carry tho informa.
tion to his journal, which was ever eager to
espouse the cause OF Justice.
SIN this case" the other continued, "you
Will be doing great service to widows ali over
the land, who, by somewhat remarkable de.
cieion OF n former Attorney. General, are do.
prived OF what belongs to them IL is a fact
that many soldiers widows are unable 10 sup.
port themselves on tho small pensions allowed
them by tho Government. The same is also
true OF dependent mothers who lost sous either
by death In the service or by disease contracted
In the service. or courHc, tho mere fact OF
thelr restitution does not entltle them TO re.
lief from tho Government" ho continued, In
answer TO the reporters questioning look,
"but II makes their demand, 10 1t be tust, all
tho moro Imperative. But this decision OF
which was speaking Is that, II n soldier APP
plies for pension, and his case Is not settled
and the pension granted until after hts death
and his widow applies for and IS granted
pension, then the widow Will receive all tho
nrrears that the soldier (her husbaud) would
have received and tho arrears Will begin from
the timo OF his discharge and continue until
his death. Now" the pension officlal contlu.
ucd, "mark the other part OF tho declsion: ia
case the man falls to apply for u pension and
dies OF disease or wounds contracted in tho
service, and his widow Is granted pension
on account OF such wounds or disease, then
the widow Will not receive arrears from the
time the soldier was discharged, but only
from the timo OF his DEATH
"well," remarked the reporter, "that IL cor
tainly putting premium on asking for what
ever is due you"
''This decision was rendered." replied tho
der had wanted the pension he would have
applied for II, and that since he did not apply
he did not want II, and hence his widow can
not take arrears from the time of discharge,
but only from the time OF death OF her hus-
band. Now this seems to me manifest injus.
tice. The question of applying or not apply
ing should not enter into the subject at all.
1t is by virtue OF her husbands disabilities
that sho receives n ponsion at all. It Is only
by reason OF what lie has done that she re.
ceives anything. II her husband was entitled
TO It, she f. entitled TO It, and the mere fact
that he did not apply for IL does not discharge
tho Governments obligation 70 him. That
debt 10 sacred one. Because he did not ask
Tor HIS duo does not, In Justice, excuse the
Government from paying him. This Is a mat.
ter OF few thousands to tho Government, but
IL fe great matter TO the widows who are
struggling to sustain themselves on the pit
lance given thom. But it Is on the higher
ground OF Justice that this question should be
placed. 1t can be made right only through
tention OF the Committee on Invalid Pensions
is called to it, that tholr sense of what Is
proper Will influence them to right this gross
wrong"