The National tribune., 1891-07-09
THE ENEMY.
Discussion OF the Recent Act or Congress ia Re-
gard 10 Pension Attorneys Fees.

A Discussion OF the Recent Act or Congress ia Re-
gard 20 Pension Attorneys Fees.
EDITOR NATIoNAL TRIBUNE: The land Is
full OF people who are enemies 10 the soldier
Many come like the wolf in sleeps clothing"
and as The NATIoSAL TRIBUNE says, aud says
truly. in the iSsue Of the 2Gth, The veterans
and their friends are ia great danger Of making
a fatal mistake. They Do not at all realize the
strength and determination Of their enemies
and the possibility Of success OF schemes Of
deadly hostility 10 their interests. .
The fierce aud lUng.su5tained assault last Win
ter on everything connected with pensions
showed this clearly BY tho act Of Congress
making the fee - for prosecuting the claim Of
a veteran for increase Of his pension under the
pretenso Of saving money for tho soldier.
! take the responsibility Of stating il as
fact that not man in Congress who was a
friend of the soldier voted tor or advocated
tho passage OF that act knowing the true in
Tardness OF the promoters Of the scheme
There was not one in fifty OF them that would
II no could, prepare declaration for increase
pension for 3 with the attendant RESPONSE.
biity by having his name appear therein as the
attorney for the claimant.
IL was the scheme OF the sold -haters know
ing that in very large proportion Of cases
where an application for an increase is filed
more or less evidence must DO furnished TO sat
isiy the Department that the disability was
contracted in the service, or was tho legitimate
outgrowth, or resulted from the disability aud
disease contracted or injuries received in tire
service. And everyone Of them who knows
anything about the business, or the facts there
with connected, knows that there is a large
percentage of the claims for increase re-
ected. And they also know that when the
claim is rejected the attorney gets nothing
even 20 reimburse him for the stationery used
and postage paid. Aud thus while pretending
= 4. & Al. n A.
! have gone so Ear rs 10 declare that il was 3
saving Of 100000 10 the soldiers THAT would
DO $ each TO 100000 mem, knowing that the
statement was false, and that IL would DO almost
| impossible 10 get competent men 10 take the
| case in charge, and il they did il under any cir
cumstauces, il would bs only as a matter of
| friendship, and thus the soldier would be kept
! ont Of his just dues. And thus tho cry Of the
enemy Of the soldier. including tho solid South.
/ aud many veTdaut statesmen in the North fall
| into the trap
"Not since the outbF ak Of the rebellion has
| the country seen sutl wicked and reckless
! lying as that which Was done about pensions"
| During the year past, and not for 20 years past,
was the soldier-hater so successful in his effort
| 10 abrldge the soldier OF his rights "a in the act
| af the recent session. And you well say that
"a large portion Of the people have never had
any special love for tho men who crushed the
rebellion and wiped out slavery" Aud by
crushing the rebellion and wipug out slavery
they saved the Union, made it possible for the
Republic TO live. and proved to the world that
a government of the people by the people, foT
the people" was the strongest form Of govern
mcnt ia tie world. and not a rope Of sand y
as claimed by all opponents Of our form of gov
rrnmcnt Aud yet many who rejoice in the
outcome Of that great unexampled rebellion,
who took 40 personal part ia IL. look down
/ upon those who went Ith and bore tho brunt
o. the batJie, while they stayed homo and grew
rich, look with misery eyes upon every dollar
that goes b. the soldier, and call him "A LeggaI
and a miScTCant il be dares 20 demand a 1.-THE
Of that which is hiss. &. WHEELER, San
| drsEy, %.