Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-01-08
PENSIONS OF sOLDIRs.
Toledo Sunday JOurnal.)

Secretary OF the Interior Lamar is called
a Rebel Brigadier, and yell was set up
against him in certain quarters, fearing
that lie might be hostile TO pensions to
Union Soldiers. We are glad to know
that the Secretary is not hostile TO liberal
pensions. His report shows him to be
keenly alive 10 the broadest iustincts OF
patriotism. Under his administrations of
the Department OF the Interior (Which in
Guides the Commissioner OF Pensions) more
soldiers claims for pensions have been al.
lowed than during any corresponding per-
iod for the past decade, and he is vigor-
ously pushing the good work. The fol-
lowing Ia an extract from his official re-
port:
"Upon the presentation by the Commits
sioner of Pensions of his report Cor the
past fscal year, and his estimates for the
ensuing year, / was startled by the mag
nitude of the sums required. But close
examination Of the details OF the report of
estimates showed me that the amounts
asked for were less by S2,O00,00 to $1,000
900 than those appropriated IN one guise
and another Tor the past year, and yet am
ply sufficient to meet the probable de-
mands of the service. recognize that n
strong effort is being made TO bring up
this long retarded business to the current
lime, that great expedition has been given
to the settlement vi claims, and that the
estimates seem reasonable and just, and
therefore i recommend that the amounts
asked for be granted. i have also con
sIdered the statements made in said report
as 10 the formation of new divisions and
the increase OF pay RECOMMENDED to the
chiefs. To Offset this the number Of en-
ployes and their total compensation IL re-
quested to he diminished, and as 1t seems
to me that the recommendations are in the
line OF just compensation, properly distrib
| uied, and in the direction of true economy.
/ know OF no burden of government that
il more cheerfully borne than that of the
pension System. l concur fully in all
efforts to demonstrate that il is universally y
regarded as n noble benefcence and in the
view that when well and cleanly admins.
tered it ia noble in its purpose and good
in its results, diffiising with liberal and
Just hand the whealti of wealthy people
among those who suffered from the strokes
OF war, and have become impoverished by
its misfortnnes. From statement in the
report OF the Commissioner il appears that
the amount Of money paid as pensions
does not equal the amount of interest paid
upon the public debt incurred during the
war. So long as the premium pnid to
those who contributed the money exceeds
that paid to the defenders OF the country,
| think the complaint Of excessive pen
sions is not we'll founded"
The last sentence Of The above ia es.
pecially commended to the large class,
(Which includes nearly all the New York
press) that are continually complaining
OF the large amount OF money paid TO dis.
abled veterans. The statistics show that
we are paying lsSs 10 the men who fought
the battles OF the country than to those
who purchased Government bonds and
slaid at home.
While statesmen at Washington and
elsewhere are discussing the question, how
TO dispose OF our surplus revenues, we
trust they will profoundly and patrloiical-
ly consider the recommendations OF Sec
retnry Lamar, and seek frat to do justice
to the old soldiers, who fought the war,
(many OF whom are now in utter want and
,lestiiutlon) rather than in devising means
TO distribute the revenues in steel cannon
and iron ela,ls and Notifications. The
Republic ia safer against internal and for.
eign foes, when fortified in the grateful
hearts OF its snvlors and defenders, than in
all the iron clads in the world.
Every veteran soldier Of the Republic
should thank Secretary Lamar for his
splendid contribution to patriotism and
| yalOr.
1.-THE above illustrates another singular
turn OF the wheel! 1t isa most singular
state Of affairs when The government. and
the soldiers who preserved II as a govern
mont, should look 10 those for their beat
fr'ends who twetiy-onc years ago were
seeking the life Of both. Truth is really
stranger than iclion.]