The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-09
A FAR-orF "yEAR OF Jun1LEE.n


country, are somewhat stirred up over an
Associated Press report of "an important
discussion of pensions" which took place
at meeting of the Military Service Insti-
tute, on Governors Island, in New York
Harbor.
Then Gen. o. O. Howard read paper of
some length on 1.-THE Military and Naval
Pensions of the United States" and others
made remarks, notably Horatio C. King, who
usually succeeds in having himself spoken
Of rs General though we do not know by
what warrant. In the century and more
that we have had IN army there has never
been on its rolls "Gen Horatio c. King"
even by breyet. The only appearance of the
name we can find on the rolls is that of n
man from New York who was appointed Cap
tain and Assistant Quartermaster Aug. 10,
1862, aud resigned May 10, 1865.
The main Importance" of the discus
sion was to the gentlemen who succeeded in
getting the Associated Press to give them
little free advertising
Their opinions are worth just as much,
and no more, than those of any other similar
number of gentlemen in the country who
have had no special interest in the pension
question or reasons for making it a study.
The pith of Gen. Towards argument was
contained in the following remarkable rec
concentration:
think we are so circumstanced rs TO
wait and see whether Congress will not
grant some wholesome pension act, rs in the
case Of the Revolutionary pensioners, 35
gears after the RcroIution, or better, 81 gears
after the 'rar Of 1912.
IF are begin scrrice pension 50 years after
The Far Of the Rebellion, ii 'CH be in ample
time.
ut is not long, in my eyes, to 1915, the
Jubilee year"
Coming from man who has for 10 years
fed quite literally from the public crib,
there is a sleek insolence about this PROPOSE
tion to postpone relief for veterans of the
rebellion for another quarter of a century
which is simply amazing.
No man in the country has been more
generously dealt with by it than o. O. How
ard. On the list of September next it will
be just 30 years since he began drawing pay
from the Government, as Cadet ut West
Point. The country educated him, and sup
ported him while it was doing so. Upon his
graduation in 1854 he received n commission
in the Regular Army, and the outbreak of
the war found him First Lieutenant lie
was Immediately given the Colonelcy of q
volunteer regiment, and three months later
was promoted to Brigadier-General. In No
yember, 1862, he was promoted 10 full
Major General--pay SOL year. besides
by some curious maHipula-
tion was allowed this rank and pay till Jan.
], 1869, nearly four years after the most of
the other volunteer Major Generals were
mustered out and removed from the pay
roll! Even then he was not turned out TO
make his own living, as were numbers of
other officers who had rendered quite az dis
services as his, but be fell back
upon his Brigadier-G eneralcy in the Regular
$500 year, besides allow
ances-and held this until March 49, 1ssG, |
when he Wac promoted TO the Major
Generally he now holds, with pay of s., 500 |
a year and allowances, and almost nominal |
duties. We risk nothing in saying that of
all positions under the Government the one
in which the most money is paid for the |
least work and responsibility il that Of
in the Regular Army in time
Of peace.
What shall be said of a man who, having |
landed in such a costly feathered nest, turns
around and eooIly proposes that his COM
rades, who shared equally with him the
perils and hardships Of the great war, shall
be denied for % years longer meager
allowance Of s. a MONTH
Gen" Horatio c. King said-but, on
second thought, it is of no consequence
what lac eaid