The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-09
THE PENSION ROLL.

How Claim Agents Add to the Already Over~
crowded List-Treasury Pirates.
Washington Special.
In the perfect food of bills introduced into the
House at the beginning of the session there are any
number of devices to further increase our already
overcrowded pension list. Most of these meas
ures are prepared by claim agents and lawyerC
who are interested in getting money out of the
treasury for their clients, with whom they di-
vide the spoils. These claims have been pushed
through before under the cry of patriotism
which should deny nothing to the Union
soldier. Few of the politicians have
dared to vote against these socalled
soldier measures for fear of incurrIng
the wrath of the professional soldier element
which is united in compact social organizations
throughout the country. Among the PROPOSE
tions submitted for consideration this winter Are
bills providing for the payment of female nurses
during the war, for the pensioning Of every man
who has ever served In the army navy in any
war OF the United States. or in time of peace in
the army of the United States; for the granting,
of pensions to the widows and children of the
soldiers and sailors of the Mexican war and the
late war of the Rebellion; for the equalization of
the bounties of soldiers of all grades who served
In the late war; for the pensioning Of prisoners
of war who were confined in confederate military
prisons during the late Rebellion; for the pension
crease the pensions of soldiers and sailors who
have become permanently and totally disabled;
for pensions for the surviving soldiers of the
Florida and Black Hawk wars; and last of all,
to pension all honorably discharged persons of
the army and navy whether disabled or not
have given but few of these bills Enough,
however, to indicate their general character.
The claim agents at Washington will never rest
until they shall have on the pension list every
ex United States soldier of any war; and every
man woman and child who has been remotely
connected by blood ties marriage with any
citizen who has ever worn the uniform of the
United States. Some day some statesman will be-
founo strong enough to stand up IN his seat and
denounce the schemes of these treasury pirates
who, under the cover of patriotism, are con-
stantly knocking at the doors of Congress for
more money 1t is curious fact that no man,
however high may be his position, appears to be
above taking pension however small. The
original idea of granting pensions was to give
them to men who were actually disabled, as an
aid to help really disabled soldiers to live yet
great many men are on the pension list who are
in active business and have no need of the
money There are number of senators and
members who are on the pension list. know
of one particular senator who. to all appear
ances, is as young and active q man as there is
in that body, and yet he is on the pension rolls
and draws $15 month for disability.
A number of these men who are drawing pen
sions for disability have life insurance policies
in reputable companies In order to obtain
tnese pollcles tney nave TO pass pnyslcal exam
ination as sound men, In orderto obtain PEN
sion they have to pass another physical examina-
ton. What kind of physical examination is it
that certihes the same man to the Pension Office
as disabled, and declares him to be sound to the
life insurance companies? Either the government
or the life insurance companies are defrauded,
1t is probable that some of the statesmen who
are pensioners, and who also carry insurance,
were at the bottom Of law which was passed
several years ago, declaring that nothing related
by man applying for life insurance, or his
pie should be used against him in his application
for pension. Two or three years ago Congress
required the printing of complete list of the
pensioners of the government. 1t would be an
interesting thing for the officials of the various
insurance companies of the country to take the
list of the people they have insured, and find
how many of these men who are drawing pay
upon the grounds of serious disability are on
their records as sound men.