The National tribune., 1889-08-08
THE NEW PENSION POLICY.


THE NEW PENSION POLICY.
The present Administration has been In
office now Eve months, and in this relatively
short time has demonstrated that the hopes
of the veterans who voted it into power
were well founded. There has been an en-
tire change of atmosphere throughout the
whole region of official action. While there
have been unavoidable disappointments of
individual aspirants for Office, and very
many pension claimants are still waiting that
which is long due them, there has been, on
the other hand, q vast deal to congratulate
ourselves upoR- While, unfortunately, all
comrades who want Office or public employ
ment cannot be gratifed, since this is quite
limited and while there is yet q mountain
Of unadjudicated claims in the Pension Bu-
reau, it is still undeniable that comrades
have come 30 the front everywhere in public
places, where they have succeeded ex-Con-
federates, or others not in sympathy with
those who saved the Nation. A very large
proportion of the ofices-prominent and
minor-of the country are now filled by act
i've comrades. and the policy of preferring
them for these has been made real and vital.
An entirely different spirit has been in
fused into the pension system, and the good
effects are felt everywhere. A system 30
vast and complicated cannot be made what
it should be in a day, month, or year,
even. It is imperative that haste should be
made slowly, but everyone connected with
its management is in entire sympathy with
the veterans, and has his face resolutely
set in the right direction.
AT the head is, of course, the President,
whose influence snd wishes leaven the whole
mass. He has the active sympathy of a real
| fighting soldier with all who fought and
sacrificed to save the Nation. Long ago be
announced in nc uncertain tones bis earnest
belief in policy of justice to the veterans,
and every act and word since then has been
in entire accord with that declaration.
Nothing has been better evidence of this
than his placing the pension system under
the control Of three such good soldiers and
active friends Of soldiers as Secretary Noble,
Assistant Secretary Bussey and Commits
siOner Tanner.
Gen. Noble, the head of the great Interior
Department, was real fighting soldier, who
wss in the field and at the front from Sep
TENDER, 1861, TO August, 1866, as field
ofiicer-most Of the time commander-of q
regiment which has So engagements to its
credit, and had 100 officers and nncn-abOut
oue-ifth Of its fighting force actually killed
on the field of battle
Next TO him is Gen Cyrus Bussey-the
Assistant Secretary of the InteriOr-a man
Of brilliant record rs Colonel Of q regiment,
commander Of brigade, chief Of cavalry
corps and division, and Department Com
msnder. He il q man Of the finest exeeu-
tive ability, demonstrated in many highly
responsible positions, and his decisions in
pension cases since entering Office have been
50 able and 50 just that the hearts Of the
comrades everywhere have warmed to him
M a genuine and sagaciSus friend in the right
place. If they had received no other benefit
from the change Of Administration they
would have ample cause for rejoicing in the
fact that true-hearted Union soldier haa
succeeded the bitter copperhead, Hawkins.
Of Missouri, who never allowed q pension
that he could find a pretext Cog rejecting
| II Ia not necessary 20 tell comrades how
beats with theirs. They have known him
for q quarter of a century, and from Maine
to California have listened to his unsurpassed
advocacy Of the rights of the soldiers. Now
he Ia at last in a position TO give his words
practical application, and Is striving night
and day to do so.
Ex-rebels may rage, and Mugwumps wall,
but the good work is going on-not with
reckless prodigality, as they would make
believe-but steadily, efficiently and right
Ey-wifh careful regard Of the law and the
merits Of every case. Every precaution
is being taken that no man shall receive
what he is not entitled TO, but equal care ia
exercised that If he is entitled TO il il shall
not be withheld from him, either upon abb
surd tsehnicaIism, or by unwafranted delay,
until he shall be beyond it's reach.
Let the comrades rejoice, for the era of
justice il at hand, and strict justice is all
that they want
THE Free Traders are laboring hard %