Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-25
PEaSlONS.
An Important Article by Repre-
sentative E. n. Morrill,
On Pension Systems-Growth of the PEN
sion List-Pension Office Adninistra-
- tion-Spirit and Aims of Parties
q Action of Congress.

Principles and PolicIes."l
Pensions are periodical payments OF money
from the public treasury on account of services
rendered to the Government or to the public,
or on account OF losses sustained in such servi e.
The United States has no civil persion list,
such as are provided in other countries, except
in a. few special cases. as those of widows of its
former Presidents Its pension roll is almost
exclusively for service or disabilities incurred
in the army and navy. Having but SIN III mil
itary and naval establishment. and dependent
almost entirely upon the patriotism of the peo-
pie in the event OF war, the policy of the Gov
eminent is TO provide liberal laws for invalid
pensions, and for widows and children who,
through the casualties Of war. have lost their
husbands and fathers. While provision has
been made for service pensions 70 the survivors
OF the Mexican and former wars, the principal
part OF our pension roll is made up OF invalids
and dependents of the late civil war.
At the beginning of theIate war of the rebel
lion, as shown by the report Of the Commission
er OF Pensions made June 80, 1861, the whole
number OF pensioners on the rolls was only nine
thousand seven hundred and ffty-two. The
annual report of the same officer for the year
1887 shows total of four hundred and six
thousand and seven. OF which number two
hundred and ninety-four thousand four hundred
and forty FIVE were army Invallds. and eighty
five thousand and ten widows, orphans AID de-
pendent parents OF soldiers. The pension law
OF July II 1862 was the foundation OF orr pres
ent system, and to this amendments have been
made from time to time. extending its BENCH
cent provisions and increasing its allowances
as rapidly as public sentiment demanded and
the condition of the treasury would permit.
Upon the Republican party devolved the re-
sponsibility of calling into the army and navy
millions OF citizens to encounter the dangers OF
battle and the hardships of military service in
order to suppress formidable rebellion; and
upon that party devolved the responsibility OF
providing an adequate pension system, that
those who received disabilities in the service
and their widows, and those dependent upon
them might be properly cared for. How they
have met these responsibilities is matter OF
history and requires no explanation or apology.
Rebellion suppressed, the Government pre-
served from destruction, the Union restored,
the public credit established ample revenue
provided, its brave defenders pens1oned, patri-
otto service for the future assured-these are
the indelible inscriptions on its monument OF
fame.
WHAT FOLLOWED REPUBLICAN DEFEAT.
But in the rush of events the past is forgot
ten, dissatisfaction grows. and desire for change
prevails The party that saved the Nation is
defeated and the one which sought its destruc-
ton has control of the Government; and now
this party, which was the mainstay and support
of the rebellion, has the audacity to put forth
who fought for the preservation of the Uuion
than the party which called him into the field
and it further claims that it is more liberal in
its provisions and administration concerning
pensions. To determine this question, let facts
be submitted to the American people. Under
the general pension laws of the Republican
party. invalids and widows of soldiers in the
Mexican war stood on an equal footing with
Union soldiers, provided they had not subse
quently borne arms against the United States
or given aid and support to the rebellion.
The Democratic party signalized Its return to
power by persIstently demanding the passage
of bill to pension Mexican soldiers whether
disabled or not, whether dependent or in atfiu-
ence, to pension them Notwithstanding their
having borne arms in the Confederate army,
and to pension them from the date OF tho pass
age of the act, without regard to the date of
filing their claims; while Union soldiers were
only pensioned from the date the claim was filed
This measure has become a Law, and in the con-
test over it the Republicans attempted to in
corporate some more liberal concessions TO the
Union soldiers such as that Union soldiers now
sick and disabled should be pensioned without
having to prove the army origin of their disa-
bility; that the widows and orphans OF such
soldiers should be provided for without proving
that the fatal disease which resulted in death
had its origin in the service; and that depend
emit fathers and mothers should only be required
to show that they are now dependent upon
others for support, and not to prove their de-
pendence 1t the date Of the death Of the son.
But Democratic votes in Congress and Dem
ocratic vetoes from the White House defeated
all such attempts. The only concessions that
could be obtained were that Mexican war
soldiers should not be pensioned for disa-
utilities received while serving in the rebel
army.
COMMISSIONER BLACKS CLAIMS CONSIDERED.
But it is claimed that the Democratic party
has shown its liberalty and friendliness to the
Union soldier by its Pension ONCE administra-
ton, inasmuch as it has placed that bureau I'M
der the charge of distinguished Union soldier.
General John G. Black, himself wounded in
battle and who has signaliZed his friendship to
his late comrades by granting more pensions
than were ever granted by any of his Republic
an predecessors during the same length of
time.
military record OF this gallant officer, and it is
true that q larger number OF pensions have
been granted during the past year and during
his administration than were ever before grant
ed during the same length of time; but it is
equally true that this is owing to the liberal
Republican laws, and the admirable and eff
ciert organization Of the office by his predeces-
sors. 1t is also owing to the fact that more
than three hundred thousand claims were pend
ing when he took possession of the Office
claims that, many of them, had been pending
for years, and nearly all the evidence required
to complete them had been furnished and they
were only awaiting slight formalities to COM
plete the cases.
During the administration Of the office by his
predecessors a large number of cases had accu-
mulated IN which claimants had been gradually
obtaining evidence to complete the cases and
which the office had been unable to act upon
owing to the large amount of business before
il. 1t is also true that his predecessor had
rapidly disposed OF many Of the cases pending
and that the Office was prepared to, and did, act
much more promptly upon cases than ever be-
fore SINCE the close of the war.
The present Commissioner had the benefit of
all this work done by his predecessors, ana he
also had the benefit Of the organization OF a
division by Colonel Dudley, his immediate pre-
decessor in Office, to collect the names and post
of1ces OF surviving officers and comrades for
the use OF claimants, thus enabling thousands
of them to find their old comrades and to OBJ
tain the necessary proofs which they could not
otherwise have done.
In his report for June 80. 1851, he admits that
one hundred and hfty-eight thousand two hun
dred and twenty-seven names and their post
offiee addresses were furnished the claimants
in twenty-eight thousand two hundred and
ninety cases, by this division. during the year
preceding. and this Republican provision en- a.
bled thousands of claimants to complete their
cases who could never have done so without its
aid, and to that is largely dae the credit of in
creased number Of allowances.
PRETENDED LIBERALrrY
General Blacks pretended lberality in the
administration OF his ONCE is very clearly shown
IN his orders, rulings and decisions for the gov
eminent OF his CLERKS, II is a fact which can
not be gsinsaid. that as general thing the lib
eral rulings OF his Republican predecessors
have been largely restricted or entirely re-
versed. In proof of this the following examples
are given: