The National tribune., 1890-07-03
IT'S NOW ALAW.


President Harrison has affixed his sigma
ture to the Disability Pension Bill, and it is
now q law. 1t is creditable to the sincerity
of his expressions Of friendship for his old
comrades that he suffered but three hours
and half to elapse after receiving the bill
before returning it to Congress with his APP
prevail. As this was done last Friday the
law has already begun its beneficent work
among the veterans and their dependent
ones.
While, as We have said before, the law
falls far short what the veterans asked, and
what they had every reason to expect-what
in common justice they should have had
it will still do an enormous amount of good.
We are confident that when il gets fairly to
work the veterans will be much better
pleased with it than they are at present.
1t is really much more liberal than it has
been represented TO be. If il is fairly in
terpreted, as we are assured il will be, it will
be in effect service pension bill to n great
mass of the comrades. That is, it gives to
all who are, for any reason not directly due
to their own vicious conduct, incapacitated
for the performance of an average days
manual labor, pension of from So TO So n
month. This will include great portion
of the veterans, for all of them have reached
the meridian of life, and are suffering in o
greater or less degree from the debility OF
advanced age, aggravated by the hardships
and strains they endured in youth, while
serving their country. Consequently, they
are entitled TO the benefits of its provisions.
All that is necessary for them is to prove
that they served 80 days or more were
honorably discharged, and are now suffering
from some form or other of disability. All
that can do this should at once avail them
selves of their rights under il.
1t will do great work in clearing the
way for a general service pension law.
When all that can and will be pensioned
under it are on the rolls, the number re-
naming TO be pensioned under any of the
general bills now urged will be greatly les
sened, and arguments against such meas
ures on the score of their enormous cost will
lose much OF their force.
Then, again, under the present energetic
administration of the Pension Bureau the
vast accumulation of long-standing claims
is being rapidly cleared off, and the S35000,-
| 600 year which is now required to pay
arrearages that have been piling up for from
five to % years can be devoted TO meeting
the expenses of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
Per Diem Service Pension Bill or some other
measure of justice.
We are assured by the leading Members
Of both Houses that Congress intends that
the soldiers and their dependent ones shall
not be defrauded of the full benefits of this
/ law by any delay in carrying out its pro-
visions. The Commissioner Of Pensions will
at once ask for a sufficient increase in bic
/ force 10 transact, with the utmost rapidity
the business arising under it, and Congress
will promptly grant what be asks for. 1t is
likely that 500 clerks will be allowed him
who will be placed on the work at once, and
/ the allowance of claims will go on with as
much speed as possible. Gen. Raum has
shown executive capacity Of the highest
character, and we have the utmost conf
dence that he viii make good use of al
the force placed at his disposal.
Every veteran viii soon be made To fee
that much better day has dawDed for him