The National tribune., 1889-01-17
TIE CoaIMrssroNER oF PENsIoNs.


1t is natural that, earnestly as the veter-
Grams may feel in regard to all the men
whom Gen. Harrison may summon to posts
Of duty under his Administration, their chief
interest viii yet center around the Commits
sioner of Pensions. For the other officers
they have only the general concern of citi-
zens and patriots. They want the affairs of
the country administered by as able and
pure men as there are in it. Wherever 1t is
practicable they want the preference given
to comrades in filling the Offices.
But the Commissioner of Pensions is of
direct and peculiar importance to them.
Their interest in his personality is much
greater than in that of any other official
This is not merely that very many of them
desire pensions, and wish a man in the Office
who will be fayorably inclined to their
claims. 1t goes much deeper than this per-
sonal view of the matter. A very large por-
ton Of them have already received pensions,
and another large portion have no present
intention of applying for such allowance from
the Bureau. But whether they are receiving
pensions or not; whether they expect to re-
ceiye pensions Or not, they are all,strongly
interested in having at the head of the Pen
sion Bureau man truly representative of
the character and feeling of the mass of the
veterans. He is and ought to be their Off
cial representative. He is constantly called
upon to speak for and of them to the whole
country, and to present their character,
services, dues and needs as they should be
presented
Therefore it is necessary that he should
have not only the qualities of ability, in
tegrity and devotion to the interests of the
country such as are required in every office
holder, but much more than these. He
should have peculiar qualifications. He
should have a record of services and sacri-
fees for the Nation in the field which will
place him in line with those who served
their country best and most faithfully. He
should have wounds received in the fore
front of battle to attest this.
Much the best of the limited number of
commendable acts of the present Admins
tration was the appointment of that splen-
did and terribly-wounded soldier, Gen.
John C, Black, as Commissioner of Pensions,
and to him is due the major part of the
credit which the Administration has gained
in its four years of power. The successor to
Gen. Black should not be inferior to him in
sOldierly record Gen. Black instituted
many excellent reforms and allowed many
thousand claims; and would have allowed
many thousand more had he been able to
get his recommendations enacted into law
by Congress-
The coming Commissioner of Pensions
viii have an important influence in shaping
the liberal pension legislation which we all
expect from Congress. His recommends
tons and opinions will be constantly sought
for, and viii greatly influence Senators and
Representatives.
| The veterans want man who feels with
them on all questions relating to the war
and the men who foughtit. They want man
who knows by personal experience what
standing in line of battle in front of the saw
age foe means, who knows what hard march
ing and patient waiting means, who knows
the suffering of terrible wounds. They
want man who believes in his heart o
hearts the sentiment so well expressed BY
Gen. Harrison when he said This grea
Nation cannot use an apotheeary's scale il
determining what is due the men who saved
its life"
Among the comrades who are being urget
for the position there are several who fl
all these requirements admirably, and Their
is little fear that one such will not b
chosen The main difficulty is in deciding
among so many good men, who, takin
every thing into consideration, is the bes
and most fit.
We will be pleased to hear from the com
rades as to their preferences in the matter.
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