The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-02-14
FOR COMMISSIONER.
Suggestions for Head Of the Pension
Bureau.
James 7. Johnston. Of Indiana.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIsUNE: In your
editorial Of jan IL you truly say, 1t is natural
that earnestly rs the veterans may feel in re-
gard 10 the men whom Gen. Harrison may
summon to posts Of duty as Cabinet officers I'M
der his Administration, their chief interest
viii center around the Commissioner Of Pen
sions"
Awaiting myself Of the kindness Of your in
VitatiOn to hear the preferences Of COM
Tades through The NATIONAL TRIBUNE, ]
desire to present the claims of West
ern comFade, Hon. James L. Johnston, OF the
Eighth Indiana District, for this important
Office. second TO no other under Gen. Harrl-
sons Administration, for many reasons too
numerous 10 embrace in the limits OF an Ordi-
nary letter. You also say in the editorial
above alluded 10, this officer should be " truly
a representative of the character and feel
ings of the mass Of the veterans, and that he
should have the qualities of ability, integrity
and record of services and sacrifices In the
field which viii place him in line with those
who served their country most faithfully; but /
am in position 10 know that thousands upon
thousands of comrades In the West dissent
from the view that Commissioner of Pensions
must necessarily be a wounded soldier. We
want a man for Commissioner under Gen.
Harrison, who was a private soldier for a
large part of his service and who feels with
them on sll questions relating to the war, and
viii voice their claims for justice at the hands
of Congress. Comrade Johnston was one of
the first Representatives from the West to voice
the demands of the mass of the veterans lately
endorsed by the National Encampment at Co.
lumbus, in favor of service-p pensions for the
soldiers Of the late war.
Congressman and Comrade Johnston is
thoroughly qualified in every respect, save the
wounds and his appointment would be hailed
throughout the country as an evidence on the
part Of the incoming Administration of friend
illness toward pension legislation of a more
liberal character, now so generally expected
and demanded by the private soldiers as a body
from the Republican party and 5Ist Congress.
COmrade Johnston is no trimmer on gues-
tions affecting the rights and interests of his
late comrades-iB-arms for the Union but be-
lieves the time has arrived for Congress to pass
a sergice-pension bill placing every honorably-
discharged soldier and sailor of the late war on
the peusion-rOll for life at the age of 30 years,
at not less than S. per month, grading up for
disabilities from this amount and providing re-
lief al the earliest day possible for our disabled
and dependent comrades now and hereafter, at
such rates as VIII secure decent, comfortable
treatment for them in their declining years /;
So per month viii not do this. as recently
recommended by the National GAR. Pension
Committee.
The writer can also say from recent inter
view VIII 0GAt 4Ad4G4SDn LLstA 4lE IL III ldNOE %
more liberal pensions than recommended by
that Committee for totally disabled soldiers.
IN conclusion, COmrade Johnston is known
throughout the country as one of the strongest
friends Of the private soldiers in the 49th and
50ih Congresses, the section of his bill for
service pensions giving widows So per month
having become law. More than two-thirds of
the surviving soldiers Of the late war now live
ln the territory west of the Alleghenies. and
he Gold 90 l1# +NaG
sioner Of Pensions ought TO be chosen. Com
rade JohnstOn's appointment would specially
strengthen the friends Of the incoming Admin
lstFatiOn in Indiana.
We think our friends in other States, for
special reasons known to ali Republicans
throughout the country acquainted with the
Affairs in Gen. Harrison's State, should concede
this appointment 10 Comrade James I. John
ston, OF Indiana.-C. a. Power, Terre Haute,
Ind