The National tribune., 1886-12-16
ON PENSIONS.

In his annual report the Secretary oil the
Interior makes some utterances on the sub
ject of pensions which do the greatest credit
TO his head and his heart After paying the
management of the Pension Bureau high
but weIl-deserved compliments, he says:
In considering appeals from the decision Of the
Pension Office find some classes Of cases Of such
peculiar hardship that deem amendatory legisla-
ton advisable. call attention TO Sections 1926 aud
47G7. Section 4O7 limits the claim Of dependence on
the part Of am aged parent or minor child and fixes
it's initiative at the moment Of time Of death OF
soldier account Of whose death the dependent Is
made Pensonable.
il seems 10 me 10 be a wiser rule and more just
one, that where the dependence has occurred In
the natural order Of events at time subsequent 10
the death Of the soldier account Of increasing
years, of misfortune, not contributed 10 by the
beneficiary, the dependent pension should then
have its foundation and point Of beginning.
suggest such a change in the law as that IN the
case Of parents Of increasing years, or children oil
tender years below the age Of l6. where their con-
dition of physical dependence is not due 20 their
fault. or habits, but is merely matter OF misfor-
tune or time, that they should be allowed pension
from the date at which the dependence in the nat
ural and ordinary state Of human affairs would
prospective. and in TO anticipate the date OF
the approval OF the law authorizing its granting.
This is distinct affirmation of a principle
Of truest justice. Secretary Lamars recog-
milton of il shows most praiseworthy incli-
nation to lift pension legislation and the
practice under il TO higher and more hon.
est plane. As the laws now stand they seem
framed to take advantage of the dependent
parent OF minor child of a deceased
soldier, in order to deprive him or her
OF pension if any pretext can be had
for doing so. Secretary Lamar's sense
of justice is superior to this, and he
asks that truer equity govern the Nations
treatment OF those TO whom it owes so
much. This is in full harmony with the
belief and desire Of the GAR, as expressed
through its representatives, the National
Pension Committee.
On another serious injustice to the soldier
the Secretary is equally explicit and posi-
tive. He says:
Section 1885, Revised Statutes, provides that pen
sion shall be issued at rate 10 be fixed dependent
upon the rank held 10y the soldier at the time lac re-
ceived the injury or contracted the disease which
resulted in the disability on account Of which he
may be entitled TO pension. Under existing law
il has very often happened that soldiers have been
disabled or have incurred disease or have suffered
from injuries in certain degree, and that in spite
OF such. injury or disease they have continued TO
perform military service and have been promoted
for efficiency gallantry or meritorious conduct
They have not claimed pension until alter dis
charge. Under existing law when pensions is grant
ed il is necessarily fixed at the lower rate allowed
for the claimants original rank, or, 10 speak more
accurately at the rank held at the time the original
disability was incurred
Isuggest that the law be so amended 50 that the
pension shall be allowed for the rank subsequently
borne bona idc before discharge, at date Of dis
charge where the disability is shown 10 have origi-
mated in the service and in line ofduty, and subject
10 the further condition that in event shall the
pension antedate the law allowing such increase.
Innumerable wrongs have been committed
under the law as il now stands, and no power
was lodged anywhere to correct them. The
terms Of the law are SO clear and specific
that no power was left the Pension Bureau,
the Board Of Pension Appeals or the Secre-
tary of the Interior to mitigate any hardship
arising from its application.
A case which has just been adjudicated
in the Pension Bureau illustrates this forci.
bly,. J. Cushing Edmonds, of the 32d Mass.
entered the service as an enlisted man, and
while a Sergeant incurred the disability
which afterward Frustrated him. He was {
spirited, patriotic man, however, and in spit'
of his injury he remained in the service
where his gallantry and soldiership secured
him rapid promotion, 50 that he was a Briga
dier-General when he was mustered out
But as he incurred his disability as an en-
listed man, the Bureau could only pension
him as an enlisted man. His promotion
could not be taken into account. Thus tn
encouragement was all for the man who tool
advantage Of the first hurt he received, t
abandon his flag and return home; there wa
none whatever for the ardent patriot VIII
was determined TO fight for his country a
long as he could strike a blow.
Secretary Lamarls utterances will be we
coined by the veterans everywhere, as show
ing a proper and laudable feeling towaT
them.