The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-12-14

than has been allowed in any year
save one since 1861. The names OF Z, 229 pen
siOners which had been previously dropped
| from the rolls were res Ored during the year
and after delucting these dropped within
the same time for various Cause, n mel
increase remains Tor the year of 30,65S
names. From Jan .ary /, 1861, to Decem-
Der ], 1885, ,967 private pension acts had
been passed. Since the last mentioned
date, and during the last session of CON
gress, GA such acts became
laws. Ii seeIIe to me that
no one can examine our
Pension ESTABLISHMENT
and Its operations without being convinc-
ed that through its instrumentality justice
can be very nearly done to all who are en-
tilted under present laws to the pension
bounty of the government. But il Is I'D
deniable that eases exist we'll entitled To
relief in which the pension bureau is pow
erless To relieve. The really worthy cases
of this class are such as only lack 10y mis-
fortune the kind or quantity of proof
which the laws and regulations of the bu
eau equire, or which though
their merit is apparent, for
some other reason cannot be
Justly dealt with through the general laws
Thee conditions fully justify application
To congress for special enactmentS, but
resort to cGng ess for a special pension acI
To override the deliberate and careful
determination OF the pension bureau on
the merits, or to secure favorable action,
when il could not be expected under the
most liberal execution OF the general laws,
il must be admitted, opens the doors To the
allowance of questionable claims and pre-
sents TO the legislature and executive
branches OF the government, applications
conceded not iO be within the cUntempla
ton of the law and plainly devoid Of merit,
but 80 surrounded by sentiment
AND PATRIOTIC FEELING
that they are hard to- resist. | suppose il
will not be denied that many claims for
pensions are made without merit and that
many have been allowed upon fraudulent
representations. This has been declared
from the pension bureau, not only in this,
but In prior administrations. The useful
ness and justice of any system for the dis
tributiOn OF pensions, depends upon the
equality and uniformity of its operations. Ii
will be seen from the report OF the Cum
missioner that there are now paid by the
He estimates, from the best information he
can obtain, that 5000 of those who have
served in the army and navy of the United
States are now supported in whole OF in
part from public funds or by organized
charities, exclusive of those in the soldiers
home under the direction and control of
the g yernment. Only thirteen per cent
OF these are pensioners, while of the entire
number of men furnished for the late war,
something lie twenty per cent, including
their widows and relatives, have been or
are NV in the receipt of pensions. The
American people with patriotic and
GRATEFUL REGARD
for orr ex-Soldiers too broad and too sacred
to be mOnopolized by any special advO-
Gates, are not only willing, but anxious,
that equal and exact Justice should be done
to all honest claimants for pensions. In
their sight the iriendle<S and destitute SOL
dier dependent upon public charity, if
otherwise entitled, has precisely the same
right to share in the provision made :or
those who fought their countries battles as
those better able, through friends and in
hnence 20 push their claims Every
pension that is granted under our
present plan upon any other grounds
than actual service and injury
or disease incurred in such service, and
every instance OF the many in which pen
sions are increased on other grounds than
the merits OF the claim works an injury to
the brave and crippled, but the poor and
friendless soldier who is entirely neglect d,
or who mus. be content with the smallest
sum allowed under the general laws.
There are far too many neighbOrhoOds in
which are found glsriDg cases OF inequalI-
ty OF treatment In the matter of pensions
and they are largely due 10 a yielding in
the pension bureau to importantly on the
part of those other than the pensioners
who are especially interested or they arise
from
SPECIAL ACTS PASSED
for the benefit of individuals The men
who fought side by side should stand side
by side when they participate in a grateful
nations kind remembrance. Every consid-
Grafton OF fairness and justice 10 our ex-
soldiers and the protection of the patriotic
instincts OF opr citizens from perversion
and violation, point to the adoption of n
pension system broad and comprehensive
enough to cover every contingency and
which shall make unnecessary IN objec-
tionable volame OF special legislation. As
long as we sdherr To- the prin-
ciple OF granting pensions for service
and disability as the result Of the service.
the allowance of pensions should be res
tricted to Gases presenting these features
every patriotic heart responds TO a tender
consideration for tho'e, who having served
their country long and we'll are reduced to
destitution and dependency, not as an
incident of their services, but with adyanc-
ing age or. through sickness or misfortune.
we are all tempted by the contemplation
of such a condition to supply relief and
are often impatient of the limitation of
public duty
WELDING To No ONE
in the desire TO indulge this feeling
of consideration, cannot rid
myself of the conviction that If these ex-
soldiers are to be relieved, they and their
cause abe entitle 10 the benefit of an enact
.,nIar xyhsnl SO