Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-07
THE PENSION BUREAU.

greSS LOT THAT purpose.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions
gives detailed and most satisfactory exhibit of
the operations of the Pension Bureau. During
the last fiscal year the amount of work done was
the largest in any year since the organization of
the bureau, and it has been done at less cost
than during the previous year in every division
On the 30th day of June, 1885, there were 365 763
pensioners on the rolls of the bureau Since
1861 there have been LOIS, 735 applications for
pensions filed, of which 1854 were based upon
service in the War of 1872. There were 62l, 754
of these applications allowed, including SIP to
the soldiers OF 1872 and their widows. The total
amount paid for pensions since the War of 1872
is SS0S, ,S1l 81. The number of new pensions
allowed during the year ended June 80, 1885, is
40 S57; larger number than has been allowed
in any year save one since 1861. The names of
2229 pensioners which had been previously
dropped from the rolls were restored during the
year. and after deducting those dropped within
the same time for various causes. an increase
remains for the year of 20,65S names. From
January /, 1861, to December j. 1881 1853 private
pens ons Acts have been pissed. Since the lat
mentioned date and during the last session of
Congress, GA such Acts became laws. 1t seems
to me that no one can examine our pension
establishment and its operations without
being convinced that through tsinstrumentality
justice can be very nearly done to all who are
entitled under present laws to the pension bounty
of the Government But it is undeniable that
cases exist wellentitled to relief, in which the
Pension Bureau is powerless to relieve. The
really worthy cases Of this class are such as
only lack by misfortune the kind or quantity of
proof which the law and regulations of the bu-
reau require, or which, though their merit is
apparent, for some other reason cannot be justly
dealt with through general laws. These condi-
tons fully Justify application to congress and
special enactment But resort to Congress for a
special pension Act to override the deliberate
and careful determination of the Pension Blu
reau on the merits of the case or to secure ia
yorable action when il could not be expected
under the most liberal execution of general
laws it must be admitted opens the door to the
allowance of questionable claims, and presents
to the Legislative and Executive branches of
the Government applications concededly not
within the law and plainly devoid OF merit, but
so surrounded By sentiment and patriotic feel
ing that they are hard to resist suppose it
will not be denied that many claims for pen 4
sions are made without merit. and that many
have been allowed on fraudulent representa-
tions. This has been declared from the Pension
Bureau, not only in this but in prior Admins
tratious. The usefulness and the justice OF any
system for the distribution of pensions depend
upon the equality and the uniformity of its
operation. 1t Will be seen from the report of
the Commissioner that there are now paid by
the Government 1Sl different rates of pension.
Estimates from the best information he can
obtain show that 1900 of those who have served
in the army and navy of the United States are
now supported in whole or in part from public
funds or by organized charities, exclusive of
those in Soldier Homes under the direction and
control of the Government. Only IL per cent.
of these are pensioners, while of the entire
number OF men furnished for the late war
something ike % per cent, including their
widows aud relations, have been, or are now. in
the receipt Of pensions. The American people
with a patriotic, grateful reward for our ex-
soldiers TOO broad and too sacred to be mOnopo-
lied by any special advOcsteS, are not only
willing but anxious, that equal and exact JUS
tiee should be done to all honest claimsants
for pensions. In their sight, the friendless and
destitute ioldier. dependent upon pubic
charity, if otherwise entitled, has precisely the
same right to share in the provision made for
those who fought their eonntry's battle as those
better sble through friends aud influence, to
push their claims. Every pension that is
granted under our pres ut plan upon any
other grounds than actual service, injury or
disease incurred in such Sc vice, and every
instance of the many in " hich pensions are in
creased on other grounds than the merit of the
claim work an injustice to the brave and the
crippled. but poor and triendless SOLDIER who is
entirely neglected or who must be content with
the smaller sum allowed under the general
laws There are far too many neighborhOOds in
which are found glazing cases of inequality of
treatment in the matter of pensions. and they
are largely due to yielding IN the Pension Bu-
reau to importantly on the part OF those other
than the pensIoner. who are especially inter
ested: or they arise from special acts passed Tor
the benefit OF individuals. The men who fought
side by side should stand side by side when
they participate in a grateful nations kind re
melnbrance Every consideration of fairness
and Justice to our eX soldiers and the protection
of the patriotic instincts of cItizeps from per
pension system broad and comprehensive
enough to cover every contingency, and which
shall make unnecessary an Objectionable vol
ume of special legislation. AS long as we adj
here to the principle of granting pensions for
service and disability as the result of the serv
ice, the allowance of pensions should be re-
striet-d to cases presenting these feat
ures Every patriotic heart responds to
tender consideration for those who
having served their country long and
well, are reduced to destitution and dependence,
not as an incident of their service, but with at<
vancing age or through sickness or mi fortune.
| We are all tempted by the contemplation OF such
a condition TO supply relief, and are ofen impa-
tient of the limitations of public duty. Yielding
TO no one in the desire to indulge this feeling OF
consideration, cannot rid myself of the con-
viction that if these ex-soldieTs are to be re-
lieved they and their cause are entitled to the
benefit of an enactment under which relief may
\ be claimed as a right, and that such relief
should be granted under the sanction of law,
not in evasion of il; nor should such worthy OBJ
jects of Gaze all equally entitled. be RENTED TO
| the unequal operation of sympathy, or the ten
| der mercies of social and political influence,
I with their unjust Determinations The dis