The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-18

1913 N-~ 4 ANsAN~AAA sA ANE5e+hNA -
tain matters connected with the admins
tration of the pension system, which we felt
likely had never been brought to his notice.
We now take the same liberty with you,
and upon the same grounds. You have re-
Gently, and with the hattering approval of
the country, been placed at the head of one
of the greatest Departments of the Govern
ment, and one which, in common with the
Treasury and PostOfice Departments, has
most direct relations with the entire people.
You are now diligently acquainting yourself
with its organization and requirements.
The Pension Bureau is one of its sub
divisions, and, with the others, is impOrtu-
nate for close knowledge of its work
ings and reform in its administration. In
each you Will find much to correct. many
evils to remedy. At every attempt at
reform you viii encounter determined hos
tility and an astonishing amount of misrcpre-
senfation and falsehood, but nowhere will
you find as nearly as much of this as befogs
the pension system, and chills to the marrow
every attempt at reformation. A desire to
forestall some of this is what moves us to
address you.
We viii not speak now of the deserts of
| the men and women. to administer the Ma
tons Justice TO whom is the Pension Blu
reau's sole function. On this head your own
admirable service in the field has given you
more Information than any words of ours can
possibly communicate. Leaving out of con-
sideration the equities and merits of the
! pension system, we invite your attention TO
its purely executive aspects: to the power
conferred upon the Pension Bureau by the
laws as they stand at present, and the way
that power is exercised. Even were you not
in fullest sympathy with those laws you
would yet unhesitatingIy admit that since
they are laws they should be executed in en-
tire harmony with their spirit and purpose.
There is no other course for anyone charged
with their execution. If he does not do this
he is either unfaithful OF incompetent.
Above the torrent of mendacity of the sol
dier-hating press two facts stand out unques-
/ El0aSG. these are
L The laws provide that every man who
WAS injured by his military or naval service
shall have relief for his disabilities.
2. Efficient and honest administration o.
these Laws require that be should have this
| relief without unreasonable delay
We repeat that, whatever may be thought
of the wisdom or justice of these laws, the
fact they are lars is all-controlling. fthey
are not executed according to their terms
and spirit, then those charged with thei
execution are open to the accusation of in
efficiency or dishonesty. If a system ha
grown up which nullifes the clear purpos
of the laws, then that system is law-break
ing and criminal, and reformation is al
official duty.
Having laid down these premises, the cor
rectness of which no one viii more willingl
concede than yourself. we submit the follow
; ing deductions, which we are sanguine 70
viii accept with equal readiness:
l. OF the 127 ratings for invalid pension
which appear in the report of the Commii
siOnerOf Pensions Or1888, 31-or nearly on,
fOurth-are for So month or less 20 are ft
, Sc a month or less; - are for 81 month ,
S less; nine are for So month or less, an
= three are for 81 month or less. The va
number of 8, 600 pensioners, or one-tenth
|, the entire number, get but 50 month
!, less; 1O3,556, or nearly one-third the enti
number, get 81 monthly cents a day
y or less. We respectfully but firmly mai
: 1 4asr RFr Cacrafarv fbot n svs4an, ,,I,;ot -,