The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-07

HtIOuuL hOIh nao Nll
in any year during the organization of
the bureau; and il has been done at
cost than during the previous year
in every division. On the Both day OF
Nav, ISL, there were 3, 057, 0C3 pensions
on the rolls of he bur eau. Since ISL
there have been lois, 135 appl.ca-
:ions for ptn>ions filed, Of which
/. S34 were based upon service IN the
war Of 1872. There were 62i, 20 OF
these applications allowed, Including
Sgn.l-O 20 the soldiers of 1872 and their
widows. The total amount paid for
PENSIONS since tie war Of 1872 i SetS,-
81 SIT -. The number OF new PEN
sionS allowed during the year ended
Jaus S0th, 1856, is 40, So, q larger num-
Der than has been allowed in any year
b1t one. Since 1861 the names Of
!. 80 % usionerS which bad previously
lten dropped from the rolls were re
stored during the year, ana Ter
various causes an Increase rtma:Bs
or the year OF 20, e3S nance.
From January l, 1861, 10 December 1,
1881, ! e6S private pensions had bfen
ygauted. Ii seems TO ne 40
,ne can examine cur pension eS-
Enlistment aud IFS operations, vi u
out being convinced ttat 'hToGsh rs
fns,rumeUtality Justice can be- vsIy
nearly done TO all V no are entitled M
der the present laws TO the peusion
bounty OF the government. But u j.
aadeniable that cases exist, well en-
Tiled TO relief, in which the pension
bureau is poweTless TO relieve. Tie
really worthy cases of this class are
-uch as only lack by misfortune TIE
ki I'd or quantity of ! roof which . e
iaw and regulations of the bureau re-
ugire or which, though their merit is APP
rlsreut for some other reason G2nnCt be
lastly dealt with thro Ga general laws.
These conditions fully justify applica-
ton to Congress for special enact
ments. But To report 20 Congress for
4 special pension act 20 overruie the
deliberate and careful determination OF
the pension bureau on he merits or TO
secure favorable action when Il could
not be expected under he most liberal
execution of general laws, it must be
admitted, opens the door To allo vance
of questionable claims, and presents TO
the legislative and executive branches
of the government applications con-
cededly not within the law
and plainly devoid o. merit,
but so surrounded by sentinei 1
and patriotic feeling that they are haTu
TO resist. l suppose II VIII not be
denied that many claims TO pensions
are made without merit, and that
many have been allowed on fraudulent
representations. This has been de-
clared from the Pension Bureau not
only in this but in prior administra-
tions. The usefulness and the justice
of any system for the distribution OF
pensions depends on the equality auc
uniformity of its operation. II will be
seen from the report of the Commits
Sioner that there are now paid by the
Government one hundred and thirty
one different rates of pensions.
He estimates from the best informH-
ton ne can obtain that 5000 of those
who have served in the army and navy
of the United States are now support
ed. in whole or in part, from public
funds or oaganiZed charities exclusive
Of those in the soldiers home under
the direction and control Of the Gov
eminent. Only Is per cent of these are
pensioners, while OF the entire number
Of men furnished for the late war,
something like 20 per cent, including
tbs ir widows and relatives, have been
or are now in the receipt of = q 'ons.
Inc American people, with q patriotic,
grateful reward for our ex-soiGierS, too
strong and too sacred 20 DC mcncTCi-
lied by any special advocates wlO are
not only willing but anxious that
equal and exact justice Should be given
to all honest claimants for pensions.
In their sight the friend c,S and destl-
tUte soldier, dependent on public char
ity,it otherwise entitle J, has pr, cissly
the same right 10 share la the row.
SiOnS made tor those who fought ihtir
battle as those better abe,
through friends and i7f enc, 10
push their Claims. Every coz
dition that i granted uLC9r
our present plan upon any other
than actual service. injury
Or disease incurred 70 sIca service aId
every instance of tie many il witch
p .nsionS are Increased Oh other
grounds than the merits cf tie Calm,
mark an injustice % the t.Sve snd
but poor ard fiiendiess
soldier who Is eut .TeiN ngg.t Ctei or
who must be CONTEXT with the mallest
sum allowed under ths general laws.
There are far too MAJ y e "a hoods
N which are found SlaGDg CaS5S u in
equality Of treatment ~ the natter OF
pension, anG they are al gvly cue 10
in the pens on bureau 10
on toe part OF
hose other than the pensioners, f..
who are especially Interested, or they
lrise from special acts passed for me
)enent OF lnuiNiUual-. Inc Epu MO
fought side by side sh nd stand side
)y side when they participate N !
grateful nations Kind remembrance.
Every CONSIDER alton OF fairness and
Justice 10 our CX-SoldieTS sad = pro-
-ectIcu of TIE patriOtic instincts 81
our citizens from peryerSlou and ViC-
ence, point 10 the adoption Of a PEN
SION system broad and cCm9Ienon i've
enough 20 cover every contingency, auC
which shall make unneces Sary au OBJ
ectionsbic volume of special le-isla
ton. Is .OTS IS we adhere 10 ~,
principle OF granting pensions
or services, and disability IS
.he result OF the seryic
-he allowance OF pensions should
De restricted 10 cases contain
NJ those features. Every patriotic
heart responds 20 . tender cJBSiGers-
ton for those who, having served
heir country long and Well, are re
iuced 10 restitution ana dependence,
not as an incident ut their service but
with advancing age or IL. oUgl sick
ness or misfortune. We a!e tempted
Dy the contemplation of such q cOICl-
ion 20 supply relief and are often i'm
patient OF the limitations vi military
duty. Yielding TO no one in