The National tribune., 1890-10-16
ACTION OF DEAF MUTEs
Resolutions Passed at the Recent Session In Re.
gard to the Totally Deaf Veterans.

!
gard to the Totally Deaf Veterans.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The inclosed
resolutions were passed by the Association of
Deaf Mutes which recently closed a weeks
session in indianapolis. Some dozen States
were represented in the assembly. The reso-
lutions were ordered published in the PRINCIPAL
deaf mute papers, and will. through them. be
placed before $4,000 or 10000 deaf mutes
throughout the United States. Thew have
taken up the cudgel for the totally deaf soldier
whose rate of pension, when compared with
certain large classes receiving 500 and SIP
rates, shows that our legislators do not COM
prehend, or disregard the degree Of disability
produced by total deafness. His pension, until
recently, was bat SIT, and is now only go
The pending bill, which passed the Senate in
April and was Endorsed and urged by the House
committee, has been withheld from submission
In the House. through dread of the soldier
hating elements or the scare about the Treasury
surplus. 1t matters little whether a deaf man
Is able to perform manual labor or not, if he is
totally unable TO obtain employment
While the other classes are deprived of none
OF their social privileges, it is fact that
National, State, County or town ticket is re-
garded rs incomplete without a good represent
alton OF our crippled soldiers upon it. and thew
are sought in business pursuits and employed
as clerks, etc
The able report by the Hon. S. A. Craig of
the House Committee, tersely presents the
matter to the House in a true light. One extract
reads:
without In the least intimating that any Of these
Me Eetung enough the fact Is that the beuei-
Charles IN several of these classes DO more or less
constantly occupy positions as business men doe
tors, lawyers, editors preachers teachers con-
tractors, elective and appointed County, State aud
National Offices every one OF which OCCUPATIONS or
professions, and many others are entirely and for
ever closed To the totally deaf soldier Iii the loss
OF one OF the most important Of tine five senses and
eaNlpg out OF the count the loss Of social enjoy
hlent5' tue acute suherings peculiar TO deafness
aud the constant danger TO life and limb the
DISABILITY OF this class cannot be measured bv the
usual misunderstanding to perform manual Ia
oor-nut rather upon the ground of their practical
Inaoiity toootain - Al first thought appearance
Is against them; they have hands and feet but r
porlehce, extended acquaintance. and actual can
Vass OF tue living totally deaf soldiers show that
not three per cent. OF them can get employueut
Ihey are Stunned, avoided, aud refused by employ
ers and debarFed from nine-tenths of the gaiufuI
occupations OF life. This results from a strange
Ahupathy among mos, men, or indisposition to
employ them because of difficulty Of e.,nnnunfca-
ton with them and their inability TO be useful in
so many ways, and their liability TO accident and
danger from deafness. No man, unless AN actual
sufferer himself can appreciate the awful silent
loneliness and profound sufferings and denTiva
lions OF The totally soldier.
While the Government is having the bonds
in advance, appropriating money for new pub
lie buildings, aud devising ways how to curtaiI
the annual revenues, justice would seem TO saw
That, II necessary, new buildings could wait a
lew years on these old soldiers, who are diving
every day, and bit less reduction might be
made IN the annual revenue. squad of Totally
deat soldiers Is an unfortunate place 70 draw
the line. Let justice be done