The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-06-04
AN ODIOUS ACT.
An Ohio COmrads Voices the Plea or a Host Of
Veterans.

An Ohio COmrads Voices the Plea or Host Of
Veterans.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have been
a regular subscriber and reader of your estima-
bic paper for the last II or II years and be-
lieve that you, through its extensive columns,
have been Of more real, permanent benefit to
the sOldier-interests direct and Indirect than
any other three editors in this country.
Now, / suggest that you can do a very great
benefit to the soldiers, widows, orphans of sol
diers and all friends Of soldiers. as well as the
entire country, in the event, BIZ advocating the
repeal Of the obnoxious act or bill passed by
the last Congress NEAR its elOse regulating, re-
ducing, and cutting the fees of pension attor-
neys in such a manner that no competent or
able attorney will attempt TO solicit further
collections Of pensions not now on file in his
name unless, indeed, he should be induced to
do so as an act Of charity or for a particular
friend.
This bill was passed near the close Of the 51st
Congress without due consideration as TO its
ultimate results. 1t was introduced and urged
TO its final passage by its creators under the
pretext Of saving 100000 to the old veterans,
while its real effect, if allowed TO be in force 10
years, will withhold from these same old vet
Grams and their families not less than S70OO0-
600 rightfully their due under present laws,
which they will be unable to collect because
deprived of the aid of competent attorneys
No doubt those who got up this bill and
rushed it through the late 51st Congress viewed
its effects exactly in this light and will ask
the bloated bOndhOlders and those not inter
ested in the welfare of the soldier element TO
remember them for it and recompense them for
their practice, under the pretense Of saving
s., 100000 to the old veterans, but they can't
Whitewash and softsOap us with such bosh.
Now, some may ask, How do you compute
this great loss 70 the veterans in 10 years?"
Within a year, IN round numbers, there will be
100000 pensioners on the rolls. The majority
Of these within another year thereafter viii be
entitled to an increase, re-rating, etc. Some
dropped from the rolls will Of right wish to DO
reinstated. Now, if in all these claims appli-
cants were allowed to employ competent cOun-
sci they could obtain their dues; but as 10 is
now, not one-fourth Of the old soldiers are suf-
fciently conversant with the rules and requi-
sites Of the Pension Office to present their
claims properly, and consequently they will be-
come discouraged by reason Of these facts and
let their claims go as they now stand. Most
likely 10 years hence One-half Of us old vets
now, or year from now, on the pension rolls
will be dropped from those rolls by reason of
an order issued by the Great Commander to
retire % the eternal camping-grOund.
But those who favor this bill will tell rs we
have provided for this act of clearing out PEN
sion sharks referring to the pension agents,
really the best friends to the interests of SOL
ders they havel by making it possible for
the Commissioner of Pensions to have a special
additional force allowed aud appointed to adj
Just and collect these same claims. True, and
this is worse than jumping from the frying
pan into the fire. For although fee OF $40.
is not subtracted from the claim when allowed,
these clerks will be paid a salary by the Gov
eminent for an indefinite period, generally
during life, and consequently have not the
least interest in the thorough or completes
prosecution Of these claims presented and
placed before them. For lack Of proper pre-
sentatiOn and efficient prosecution the claims
will generally fail, while claims presented and
prosecuted by intelligent attorneys, if meritO-
rious never fail.
/ do hope the next Congress- though it Is
Democratic, will distinguish itself as q body by
repeating this odiouS act, and / think / am
backed in this by over million soldiers and
their friends, now vOters.-J. M. GRosvENOR,
First Lieutenant and Regimcntal Quartermas.
ter, 18th Ohio, Stewart, o.