River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-12-09

The Question of Private Pension Bills
Knr.IYe SnroInI AttenItmn.

The Question of Private Pension Bills
Receive Special Attentt"n.
The reporI Of the com mis-, Toner OF pensifns
daring he lsst f,eal year tays The amount Of
work done was the largest IN any year -ince
the Organization Of the eareau; and It has
been done al les cost than csring the pre-
vious ear IN every division Ga the 1871 day
Of June. 1856, there were SG5,75s pensioners
Or She oils Of the bureas.
applications for pensions hied, of which
S's. s3f w bssed upoH service in the war OF
1873. There we're 6tl ,554 OF these apphca-
tipns Hllosed ire fudinR SEQ l7s 70 he soldiers
OF 1879 aud heir widows The total amo1ut
paid for pensions since 1861 Il sos ga sll.57.
The number OF new pensions allowed during
the year ended June 80, 1886, Is
SO, S57. larger number than
hz- been allowed in any year cave one finee
1865. The names OF 2, % pensioners, which
bad been previously dropped fIOm the rolls.
were restored curing the yesr, aud after
de0 HrtiBg those dro ped within the same
time for various causes a net Increase remalGs
for tbe yesrr n &c 55S nance. From JaaHEry
!, 1881. 10 Dccem err I, 1885 1881
PEITATB PsEsiOS ACTS
had been passed Since he last mentioned
dale and during the last session Of lhe con
eress GA sueh acts became laws. II seems
TO me that 10 ore can examine ear pension
e=lADlirU Ut huu us ilUHs h'fAt bElhs
convinced that through its iustrumeI tally
jns'ics can be very nearly done 10 all who are
entitled under present LAYS 10 the
pension bounty Of the government.
But it is undeniabe that cases
exist well entitled to relief In which the
pension bureau is p0werless to relieve the
really worthy cases OF this class are such as
only lack by misfortune the kird or quantity
OF proof which the law and Re yHlstions Of the
tuuau require OF which, though their merit
is apparent for some o Der reason cannot be
justly dealt with through general laws. These
conditions fully justify application to the
congress and special enactments. But
report 10 the congress for special pension
set TO override the deliberate and careful de-
termination Of the pension bureau on the
merits to secure favorable sotioR when It
could rot he expected under the most liberal
execution of general laws. il must be admit
ted. opens the door 70 allowance OF question
able claims, and presents TO the legislative aud
executive branches Of The government sppiiea-
iioH4 earl Lot within the law, and plaiLlT
deYeid Of crit. bat so
SURROUNDED BIT tENTrNBET
and patriotic e cling that hey are hard to re-
ti-t l suppose Il viii rOl be denied mat many
claims for penriOn are made without merit,
snd that many have been allowed upon fraud
uleDt representa- ne. hi has been de-
clsr, from the tension bureaus, not only in
This but in prior somi. istTa ions. The use-
fn uess aud the justice OF any system for the
distribution 81 pensions deperd upon eQuality
a. d uniformity Of its operation II Will De
.sen ftem the report or tue commissioners thst
there are now paid by the government enc
hundred and thirty one different rste~ OF peu-
ion. Estimates from the best information
he can obtain, show that 1000 OF those who
have served in the army and navy
OF TIE Unied States are row cup
p0r.ed, iu whole or in part. from
II oh
c,u-tve Of those in soldiers homes under the
direction. and control Of the government. Only
10 per cent Of these pensioner-. while
Of the number OF men furnished for
the late war something like go per cent. in
ending their widows and relatives, have been
or now are In the receipt Of pensions. The
american people, With
PATRIOTIC AND GR' rEFBL REGARD
for our ex-soldiers. are not only willing bat
snxiuGs that equal and exact justice sh1uid Dc
done 10 all honest claimants for pension. In
their tight the ffieDdess and desiitnte colder,
dependent public charity, Or Otherwise en-
titled. has precisely the same right To share in
the provisions made for those who fought their
conntry's battles as those better anle, through
friends and Influence, 70 push their Claims.
Every pension that is granted under our present
plan upOa any other grounds than prscticai
service injury or disease incurred In such
whirh pensions are increased on other grounds
than the merritt sf the claim work at injustice
TO the brave and crippled, nut poor and FREUD
less soldier. who Is entirely neglect d. or Who
must be content with the smallest sum
allowed under general laws There are far
too many neighhOrhoods in which are found
aLARINe CASES OF INEQUALITY
OF treatment In the matter u pensions ana
they are largely due to ayieldlDg IN the pen
eioa bureau to importantly on the
part OF those other than the pensoner, Who
are especially interested: or they arise from
special acts passed for the ben
edt Of individuals. The meR
who fought side by si.s
should stand side by eide when they participate
Ia = grattful cations hiud remembrance. Every
cousid ration Of fairness ana justice to cur
ex-soldier ard lhe protection Of the patriotic
instinct % our cilzens from perversi"n sud
violence point to the adoption Of pension
system bT ,sd and comprehe nsive enough 10
cover every contingency, and wuich
shall make unnecessary an Objectionable vol
June OF special legislation AZ long ~ We ad-
here To the principle OF granting pensions for
service aud disability rs the result Of the ser-