The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
THE PENSION QUESTION.
the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:

suci. form, or, rather, want of definite
form, that its discussion is engaging the at
tention of the people as it has not for several
years past Almost every Congressman from
the Northern States has pension bill to pre-
sent this session, all of them more or less the
creation of their own individual thought. with
out consultation with either soldiers or citizens
ALI with some good provisions. but none. so far
as the writer has seen, that so entirely covers
the ground as the bill introduced by Hon. James
T. Johnston. from the Eighth Indiana district.
which provides for general pension law, plac-
ing all soldiers on the roll who were lonorably
discharged and served sixty days at any time
during the war; and makes a further provision
in favor of the widows, or other dependent rela-
tives Of our soldiers, who died in Southern pris-
ons by which they establish their claims
and some degree Of justice done at this late day
in favor of that neglected and abused class. The
writer had intended writing nothing for the
press on this subject previous to the mass con-
vention. called at Indianapolis for Feb. 16. but
for the fact that this movement" on the part of
the surviving Union soldiers without regard to
party differences to secure an act of simple
justice from Congress, and their proposing to
hold a mass convention to consider the matter,
and devise ways and means for their own pro-
tighten the people on this subject is made the
text for s'ridicule and derision" through por-
ton of the press at Indianapolis and elsewhere.
This may deter some weakened soldier from
fairly investigating the question or assisting by
his presence and influence in making that meet
ing great success in attendance. and hoped
for results in the future Of all men
living who before the soldiers have better right
to assemble in public capacity and discuss
measures for their own relief and that in effect
wi md hnpa tha vho IF
country should they be successful in securing
general pension law2 Ridicule and much
warmer opposition" than we shall encounter
now, did not turn us back from "the front" dur
ing the war, and the writer believes will not now
1t is getting rather fashionable to sneer at any
thing soldiers may now attempt to remedy IN the
existing laws or ask that they be simplifed in
their application. Recent editorials and articles
in some of the papers of our State capital in
sinuate they are no more worthy of recognl-
ton than ''spittoon cleaners" in the public
service. and some have begun to write
that those who staid at home suffered"
about as much, and are equally as
worthy of pensions All such writer's have a
ceived according to ''the contract" made with
him by the government, patriotism, bound
less hberality of our government to its defend
ers, etc, and that anything we now say in our
own behalf is very much like a negro minstrel
ap2lauding his own performance. We may ex
pect opposition, and it will hurt US less in this
form than in any other. Comrades, our cause is
just; it is reasonable; it is right and if we have
common sense enough left to lay aside, just
once before another presidential election
the divisions politics has divided US into
since the war closed. step into line once more as
comrades and friends, touch elbows. and with
our influence and votes in favor of lone" broad
fair, just measure to all classes of our comrades
we shall succeed in settling this matter
and take it out of politics. The present
laws and rules of evidence have become
so complicated that justice to thousands of our
suffering comrades who have applied and prose
cuted claims for years without success is out of
the question under them. 1 am for remodeling
the entire pension system by an act (such as has
been presented by our comrade, who was pri-
vate soldier, from the Eighth district) simple and
mandatory in its provisions. around which web
of technicalities cannot be woven by the Secre-
tary Of the Interior or the heads of bureaus in
the Pension Department many of which would
be considered sharp practice" and dis
graceful against prisoner in the most cor
rupt courts of our day. Without exception, all
writer's and speakers opposed to any measure OF
relief that favors the soldier who saved 1.-The life
of this Nation" and secured the liberty our
fathers brought into existence, and the
titles to ''al forms" of property in our
country, both north and south, is the danger of
''bankrupting" the treasury" and the moment
any measure is proposed in Congress in favor of
the soldier "a parade" of figures is made as to it's
cost, which is intended to scare timid congress
count the cost, and know, if possible where the
money is to come from to pay the bills they
mature; SO let US 90 back few years and foot
up accounts, and see if what has been done in
the past. may be in the future. for the soldier
will bankrupt the country. The great mass of
our citizen soldiers were poor men, having mo
money" to contribute for the defense of the
Union, 'they" offered their lives" and were
paid in deprecated currency and patriotism"
for their services" while the government cred
rsoE od 0u1xy in hs1vi
our bonds at slow prices" with the
currency of the times Congress having
long since made Ibis claims" and credits a pre-
ferred class. payable in coin; but which the Sec
retaries of the Treasury have construed to mean
'gold coin" in payment of his sacred Claims"
baser stuffanserwing the purposes Of the common
people. am in favor of paying our national
debt and the interest thereon to the last penny
according to the contract" of 1862 and no true
soldier real friend of our country, its interests
and its honor demands less than that. But [
am in favor now of an act of equalization for
my comrades at this late day that will place him
on the pension-roll 'for life," as a payment in
part interest on his risk andsthe broken-down
lives and bodies of the gaen who saved our Ma
tion's life, and secured to bonds and all other
property its title and value. It will
be cheaper for the government and the people
to do this than continue the present expensive
system, increasing year by year. and which the
official classes and claim agents who live out of
it will endeavor to maintain. In 1884 a simple
measure of the kind we now propose was offered
by Comrade Lowering, of Massachusetts, backed
up by the petitions of near two thousand Grand
Army posts, and three hundred thousand citi-
zens, which be could never get the pension COM
mittee to report to the House in any form; but
the same Congress, filed with lawyers, prompt
" passed bill raising claim attorneys fees in
''pension" leases" from $40 up to $25 Draw your
own conclusions Now let US go back and state
the account of the government creditor vs. the
soldier fofficial report From June 30, 1862 to
June 80. 1885, there has been paid for sin
terest alone the public debt 81 205 019 419 49,
Paid on pensions, for the same period Including
pensions from the war Of 1872, $31, 165, 286. 20)
$765, 092, 64018, excess of 81, 439. 926, 1901
paid for interest alone over the amount paid to
soldiers within that time. Draw your own con-
illusions, Citizens and soldiers, to how pa
triotismn and life have Jared at the hands of
Congress in comparison with the government
creditor. We have also, within that period, paid