The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-10-26
PEnSlUNS.
An Important Article by Repre-
sentative e. N. Morrill,
On Pension Systems-Growth of the PEN
sion List-Pension Office Administra-
tion-Spirit and Aims of PARTIES
Action of Congress.

Action OF congress-
from The Republican Party-lts History,
Principles and Polcies.'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 pension 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 q SIN II 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 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 lato war Of the rebel
lion, as shown by the repor: of the Commission
er of Pensions, made june 80, 1857, the whole
number of pensioners on the rolls was only nine
thousand seven hundred and flfty-two. The
annual report OF the same officer for the year
1887 shows a total of four hundred and six
thousand and seven. of which number two
hundred and ninety-four thousand four hu1.:ed
and forty-five were army Inyalids and eighty
Eve thousand and ten widows orphans and de-
pendent parents of soldiers. The pension law
of July IA. 1862 was the foundation OF oJlr 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-
If n N the and
millions OF citizens to encounter the dangers OF
ba tie 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 a 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 pensioned, 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 dest-uc-
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
the claim that 1t is better friend to the solder
who fought for the preservation OF the Uaion
than the party which called him into the Held
and it further claims that it is more liberal in
its provisions and administration concerning
pensions, To determine this question, let facts
he submitted to the American people Under
the general pensicn Laws O. the Republican
marty. inyalids and widows of soldiers in the
Mexican war stood on an equal footing with
Union soldiers provided they had not subse-
ouently borne arms against the United States
or given aid and sr:puort to the rebellion,
The Democratic r,arty sirna,ized It's return to
mower Inv pers,stently demanding the passage
of a hill, to pension Mexican soldiers whether
disabled or not whether dspendent or il anu
ence to nension 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
fling their claims: while Union soldiers were
only nensioned from the date the claim was fled
This measure has become law. and in the con.
TEST over IL the Republicans attempted to in
.corporate some more liberal concessions to the
Union soldiers such a. that Union soldiers now
sick and disabled should be pensioned without
having 10 proye the army origin OF their disa.
6,ity: that the widows and orphans of such
soldiers should he provided for without proving
that the fatal disease which resulted in death
had its ,rigiu in the service: and that depend-
emf fathers and mothers should only be required
70 chow that thew are nov denendent upon
others for sunnort. and not 20 move their de-
I,sence If the date of the death Of the SON
But Democratie votes in Congress- and Dem
o,ra,;c vetoas from the White House defeated
ali srcb ,ttemnts The onlv CONCESSIONS thar
corI6 ha Contained we're that MEXICAN war
soidia,s snonId no. he nensionea for disa
hI;ties received while serving in the rebel
Co>,y,ssroSrp pJacV,s crarss coSs1npern
pr, :, is cioir,od that the Damocra,ic nartr
hos shown its rheraIitv and fr;andIiness 70 tho
TTn;o, soIsin- nv, its pension Oe1ca ,6ministra.
.,o, inasynucb as !. hos nIaca, tina, buraau nm
ao- ,he c,orcn of =. ais,i,gnisbad yTnion soldier
Co,aro, Io,n n pi.oI- h,r,ss,. ,ronnSad IN
,,o,,Ia ord rho has s;enaIizad hi. triendshin 10
b;s Ia.o co,,-a6es nv eranting move nansions
.ho, ,o-s .To- e-,r,sd hr anv Of bis kannbI;c.
a. ,,radocosso-e dur;no the s.ue ,angth q,
-,ra
,r,,,a 40. d.,r.,, , s,,r,o toto ,r,,, Tho
,;,;,.rt- 5000 ~ mis- Gallant oe,cer ana :, Is
--.a ,hot a I,--ar ,nmhar ~ nansions have
-, -.r.oa s1r;r,- ,ha ,,as. 80 .r5 ar-;,c
- sr.;-i.atto,, .h,,, 80, go hosora -
al 5,-;rn eve S.-,a Iangth Of t;r,e. hnt ~ is
rorou 80 ,ha, ,h;s ;s nv,n, 20 ,hs I;h.-oI
Dan,h,;o.- 49, ,,d en- .d-n;r.h,o .,a afs
-. or',aH,-a,;a, % ,ha ofsco Nv, h,s ,,-odacas-
80 - ,Iso o,vins 20 the TO-, ,h,, ,,or.
Than .hree hp,dred thonsand claims wore nend
g. ubo, he tnor- ,ossess;on % tho of,ca~
cle,r,s tho. r,any 81 ther, Ma haer nsndinc
for wears. and nearly ain the evidence reouired
20 cor,nIe,e the,n had bean furnished and ,bev
were only awaiting sligh, formalties 10 com
r,lete the cases.
During the administration of the Office nv his
predecessnrs a largo number of cases had aeon
INFLATED IN which claimants had been gradually
obtaining evidence to complete the cases and
owing 10 the large amount of business before
o,so ,ha, HE rzaaa.aeso. IA