The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-11
Invalid Pensions, made, under the instruc-
tons of the whole committee, The following
report to the House:


The applicant for pension isnow receiving a PEN
sion of S12 per month by an act of Congress, APP
proved May 4, 1882.
On the 9Th day of November 1884. he applied to
the Department for an increase on account of dsa-
bilities incurred while in the service and re-
jected by the Department upon the certificate of
the Examining Board, made Nov. f. 1885, which is
as follows:
Ball entered two inches below and behind the
right angle of the mouth inuring the inferior
maxilla and passing through the structure of the
lower portion of the mouth, coming out an inch
above and to the left of the pomum Adami; cica-
trces are depressed and adherent there is consid-
cradle alilia, probably owing to the injury of the
nerves of the tongue; there is external evidence
of injury to the left shoulder but there is apparent
slight loss of sensation of face and of left shoulder.
Examining Surg. s. A. Lumly certifies to gun
shot wound fracturing inferior maxillary right
jaw; ball entering lower border of the inferior
maxillary, passing inwards and emerging from left
jaw below inferior maxillary, removing several
molars and causing partial paralysis of vocal or
gans and impairing speech; considerable pain in
cold weather; atrophied condition of left jaw;
facial neuralgia; health impaired; degrees OF dis
ability permanent"
Examining Surg. George KeIlog and others GER
tfy substantially last above, and add, that ar
ticulation is much impaired that claimant at times
is unable to speak; has difficulty in mastication.
Claimant says his articuationtyas perfect before
he wounded; has loss of power in left arm
and hand; circulation slightly impaired, probably
due to injury to filaments of cavical hexus.
The claimant claims increase of disability on
account of the injuries received while in the
ice.
He has personally appeared before the commit
tee, and it is evident that he is incapable of using
his left arm that he may earn his livelihood by
manual labor; that he is also afflicted with pain
full and embarrassing stammering of his speech,
arising from the gunshot wound above referred TO.
From the evidence presented and his personal
appearance and examination by the committee the
committee are of the opinion that claimant is en-
titled to further rating than he already has,
namely, SIC per month and that the bill be amend
ed by striking out the words twenty four" in
lines and and inserting instead thereof the word
sixteen"
Consider the pitiable condition of this
veteran. The lower part of his head and
the delicate organs of his mouth and throat
torn and mangled by the passage of a terri
bic missile, and the nerves of his shoulder
so lacerated as to induce paralysis of arm
and hand. All this he incurred by bravely
encountering his country's enemies on the
field of battle. He has suffered, and is suf-
fering, what no man would suffer for any
amount of compensation. No money can re-
pay him for what he has endured, and must
endure to the end of his days.
! After much Importantly his grateful
country" has at last doled out to him SIP a
month-40 cents day. He thinks that
with an overlooking Treasury, with its
bondholders paid three or four times their
original investment, with tens of millions of
dollars in hand that it does not know what
to do with, it can afford to give him S4 a
month"; cents day--more The Commit
tees on Pensions of both Houses think his
request is very reasonable, and the Houses
themselves acquiesee in this view and pass
the bill. Let us see what Mr.. Cleveland
offers as an excuse, not reason" for de-
nying this mangled veteran an additional 13
cents day:
To the House Of Representatives.:
return without approval House bill No. 1926
entitled ''An act for the relief of John Taylor"
BY this bill II is proposed TO increase the pension
ofthe beneficiary named TO SIS month. He has
been receiving pension under the general law
dating from his discharge in 1865. His pension, has
been t1ofce already increased by the Pension Blu
reau and once by special act passed an 1882 Hi.
mound is mol such to his disability TO become
aggravated By time; the increase allowed by thi:
bill, when applied for at the Pension Bureau in
1875, was denied the ground that =" the rate he
was receiving commensurate with the degree
Of his disability, a board of Surgeons having re-
ported that he Teceiving liberal rating"
/ can discover no just ground for reversing this
determination and making further discrimination
| In favor of this pensioner.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION June 10. 1886.
Comment is hardly necessary on this. tt
cold blooded cruelty stands out too promi
nently to need any.
Because the veterans "wound is not sucl
as to cause his disability to become aggra
waited by time"-as if every year that h
becomes older his disability is not aggra
vated-he will not let him have what would
T have been niggardly pension at any TIM
for such terrible wound Think of 40 cent
a day being liberal rating" for a dis
ability and Disagreement which crippled
the veteran in every effort of life, decreases
all social enjoyment, and filled every hou
with pain.
, About the same time that Mr.. Clevelan,
was depriying this veteran of trifling $4
e a year for the few years that remain to him
he was contriying with his Secretary of th
a Treasury to put $60,OOO,OOO of the people
money into the vaults of favored bank
ers,-at no interest," that they NIGH
, loan it out again and enrich themselve
It thereby. If they get so low rate of inter
r est as per cent. on this, they realize tn
9 snug sum of $4,000 year, or enough {
give 62,500 veterans the $48 year whic
;. the comrade asked and which both House
+ of Congress thought he was entitled to.
These are only two vetoes taken at rar
: dom from the great mass, all characterized b
the same maleyolent spirit toward the We
Grams of the Union. Throughout the who
= is the same depreeiating belittling spirit