The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-10-25
An Important Article by Repre-
sentative e. N. Morrill, :. s
On Pension Systems-C;rowtho Of tho Pen
sion List-Pension OHice Administra-
tlon-Spirit and Aims of PARTIES
Action Of Congress-. T
[From THE Republican Party-Its History,
PrdnEif1laa md


husbands and fathers. While provision has
been made for service pensions to 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 the late war OF the rebel
lion, Us shown by the report of the Commission
er OF Pensions, made June 30, 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 lnvallds. and eighty
i've thousand and ten widows, orphans and de-
pendent parents of soldiers. The pension law
OF July II, 1862 was the foundation OF our pres
ent system, and to this amendments have been
made from time to time extending its benef-
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 dcyolved 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 a matter Of
history and requires no explanation or apology.
Rebellion suppressed, the Government pre-
served from destruction, tho Union restored,
the public credit established, ample revenue
provided. its brave defenders pensioned, patri-
otto service for tho 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 rebeln n, has the audacity to put forth
the claim that 1t Is better friend to the soldier
who fought for the preservation of the Union
than the party which called him into the field
and 1t 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 a. inst the United States
or given aid and support to the rebellion.
The Democratic party signalized Its return to
power by perslstently demanding the passage
OF a bill to pension Mexican soldiers whether
disabled or not whether dependent or in attiu-
ence, to pension them Notwithstanding their
having borne arms in the Confederate army,
and to pension them from the date OF the 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 law, and in the con-
test over it the Republicans attempted to in
corporate some more liberal concessions to the
Union soldiers, such Us that Union soldiers now
sick and disabled should be pensioned without
having to prove the army origin Of their disa-
billty; that the widows and orphans OF such
hQ 1a1 fnry thn1 VIM
that the fatal disease which resulted in death
had its origin in the service; and that depend
ent 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 he pensioned for disa-
bllities received while serving in the rebel
army.
COMMISSIONER BLACKS CLAIMS CONSIDERED
But it is claimed that the Democratic party
hos shown its iiberality and frendliness to tho
Union soldier by its Pension ONCE administra-
tlon, inasmuch as it has placed that bureau un-
der the charge OF a distinguished Union soldier
General John C. Black, himself wounded in
battle, and who has signalized his friendship to
his late comrades by granting more pensions
than we're ever granted by any OF his Republic
an predecessors during the same length Of
time.
1 would not detract single iota from the
military record of this gallant officer, and it is
crue that a 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
Gle organization of the Office by his predeces-
sors. 1t is also owing to the fact that more
than three hundred thousand claims we're 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 formalties to COM
plete the cases.
During the administration OF the office by his
predecessors 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
it. 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, and 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
offices 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, 1887, he admits that
one hundred and iIty-eight thousand two hun
dred and twentyse names and their post
once 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 due the credit OF in
creased number of allowances.
PRETENDED LlBERALITY.
General Blacks pretended hberality in the
administration of his office is very clearly shown
in his orders, rulings and decisions for the gov
eminent Of his clerks. It is fact which can
not be gainsaid, 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:
He has ruled that widows are entitled to pen
sion only from the date of filing their claims.
and has Overruled their appeal in repeated in
stances, although the law has been pressed
upon his attention. Section 4.7t2 of the Re-
vised Statutes provides that 1.-The widows pen
sion should commence at the date OF the hus-
bands death"
An appropriation bill, passed March g. 1879,
provides that pension claims filed after June 30,
1880, should commence only from date Of fling.
This was const ued to include widows pensions,
although, as Senator Teller says, nobody
dreamed of any such result" To correct this
mistake, on the 9TH of August, 1882, Congress re-
enacted section 4, ZOE, again providing that 1.-The
widows pension should commence from the
date Of the husbands DEATH" but General
Black has persistently refused to recognize this
law, and has withheld part Of the pension
money honestly due thousands Of poor widows.
To overcome this determined refusal to obey
the law, Congress has been compelled to put
into the pension appropriation act just passed q
mandatory clause to compel him to pay them.
No doubt the payment of these widows under
this compulsory process will be claimed as re-
suit of the 'liberality'' of the Commissioner
and his party.
In many cases filed in the Pension Once claim
ants have been unable to find evidence to COM
plete their cases, and wearied with the long
waiting and destitute and suffering, have ap-
pealed to Congress to relieve them by special
cate Contion A Tx oft tina Roviced StatufoG mn.