The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-23
EIGHT DOLLAR PLAN
Commander in Chief Burdett'S Speech
in Opposition.

[Ertraei from, ae OFFICIAL Report ofae Proceedings
Of the 7Iceniieth National EHeampmentl
Comrade Burdett, Commander-in-C Chief, call
ing Junior Vice Commander in Chief Lewis to
the chair. said:
COMRADES: 1t is perhaps unusual for the
chair 10 take the floor for the purpose of par
ticiPating in general debate, but trespsss if
so 10 is, under very deep sense of duty and
responsibility. j think that very much for our
honor as individual veterans and that very
much for the peace and prosperity of the Grand
Army of the Republic depends on the issue OF
this debate. Whatever results must be accepted
as the deliberate Judgment after sufficient in
quiry of this great representative body.
First Of all let us have an honest statement
Of the case, and, if we may a clear perception
of the ends proposed. 1t will help TO this if
we refresh our knowledge as TO the theories
and facts of the present situation. Existing
pension law. setting mp the standard capacity
for the performance of manual labor, thoreupon
provides that such as have been so incapaci-
tated by reason Of their military service as not
TO be able to do a mans task shall be "eyened
up" or Unidentified on account of that loss by
receiving cut of the National Treasury such a
sum as, added TO their remaining capacity for
labor, Will make them equal in earning power
with their uninjured comrades. In other
words, the sum of money paid ont for pensions
each year represents in theory the amount of
strength and skill, if devoted TO manual pur-
suits, which the incidents and fatalities of war
have subtractcd from the pensionable classes
as thus far ascertained; and the pending un-
adiudicated cases represent a remaining num-
ber who allege that they have suffered such
detriment
Bearing this in mind, and turning now to
the form Of bill which the minority ask us 10
indorse and push TO its enactment into law we
hall hat la 81 hat
there shall be added - per month TO every
pension now paid aud IS 10 the sum hereafter
found due by existing law in any unadjudi-
Gated case now pending or 10 be hereafter pre-
sented and like sum per month 10 that great
body Of US who took no detriment by reason of
our service. / have made this statement of the
situation that it may, As the very truth is,
appear
First. That along the whole line the basis of
this demand is good health.
Second. That since it is impossible to con-
ceive that for the purpose OF aiding the strong
aud vigorous TO get their hand into the Ma
tional Treasury any facility now provided 10
enable those actually disabled TO obtain COM
penssting pension will ever be withdrawn, it
follows of necessity that the machinery now in
vogue for that purpose must and will remain
In operation, and that the claim so persistently
made by the eight-dOllar advocates that
the passage Of their measure will put
an end 10 expensive administration, TO
delays in execution Of the law, and 10
the profits of claim agents IL not only without
foundation, but requires the exercise OF large
charity 10 classify as anght else than founda-
tiOnleSs appeal To prejudice. No man
quainted with business methods Will doubt that
the passage of the bill of the minority would
for years materially increase the present enor-
nous expenses of the Pension Bureau, or that
IL would prove a veritable bonanza TO the fra
alaf.y N1aa.
and more of claimants for this annual bounty
of more than one hundred millions Of dollars
that fraternity may safely be relied upon TO get
its accustomed share, and none but the hope
lessly verdant will believe that this scheme has
failed up 10 this point 10 win the earnest sup
port of due share of that class of patriots or
will in the future fail in the receipt Of their
most assiduOus attentions. The picture drawn
for US of the necessary millions piled up behind
the barrier of the boxes OF our thousands of
postotlices ready 10 be handed out without
expense TO any applicant who may present
| paper which he declares 10 be his honorable dis
charge is Acadan in simplicity and testiies
that somewhere in the ranks of the supporters
OF the bill there is an imagination which scOrns
all knowledge of sublunary things.
But 1 have affirmative complaints to make
| against the doing Of this thing. You cannot
wink IL out by reference TO the great wealth of
our country that the addition of hundred
millions yearly 10 our present tax list rs a vast
! burden 10 place on the shoulders of our people
Grand Army men as we'll ss others, nor can
| it be disguised that by SD much the available
! funds for the sick aud disabled will by this
bounty 10 the strong be curtaiied and imperiled.
| That is neither charity fraternity, rs | un-
derstand the import of those terms. Say what
| you may about our having earned il by our
sacrifices, enlarge much may be on the
assertion that il would bring present relief 10
some and / grant II that there you have your
penny's worth of bread against your shilling's
worth of sack, in the end the deliberate judg-
ment of our fellow citizens will be that your
| bill sends patriotism To the auction block aud
measures il by price AS does the huckster his
wares. / protest that If we must 20 upon
/ the market the measure of compensation has
been put at too low a figure. Eight dollars
month is not my price. / will not sell even
the right 10 be proud above my fellows who
never stood in ranks for SO poor a sum. God
help us 10 keep the time a long way off when
] by any ACT or omission of the National Eucamp-
ment we shall give just cause TO our fellow
! citizens 10 hail the Grand Army not AS the
Lcgonaries but as the Mercenaries of the Re-
| public. Only one more word. No such bill as
| this pass. Ii the Grand Army were a unit
for il, il would lag for many year; with even
a minority actively opposing II, il can never
become law. Ii can become the means of max
ing our Order the football of nasty politics.
| Why imperil our name and fame and honor by
the advocacy of a cause foredOOmed TO defeat ?