The National tribune., 1891-06-25
A NEW YORK SOLDIER SPEAKS.

hallng press upon veterans generally nave
stirred Charles H. Freeman, Department
Commander Of New York, GAR, 10 raise
his voice in defense Of his comrades In
Circular Letter No. ., he makes an admir-
able presentation of the cause of the yeter-
ans aud their dependent ones. We give the
letter almost entire, for il is a most valuable
contribution to The discussion Of the pension
question:
lie Is moved to this 10y higher considerations than
thc mere love Of controversy. The effort Of these
Journals, aud OF those who aid aud abet them Co
aiscredit our pension system. goes 20 something
deeper Than the pockets Of the people on The one
hand or TO tie pockets Of the veteran on the other
We're the question of dollars and cents alone in
yolved, this effort might well be left 20 run its
cour-c-and dig its own grave at last But I'M
fortunately this Is nat the case. This persistent
attack on our pension system aud its method
strikes at the very root Of patriotism. To seek TO
impcach the good name Of one who had served his
country In The hour Of danger. and served Il WELL
20 impugn lis motives and betle his services can
have no other effect than TO blunt That warm pa
lrioic sentiment essential 10 the highest good Of
our common country.
The means by which all this is sought TO be ac-
complisAod are more despicabIe If possible, than
The purpose itself. have spoken Of these slate
nlcuts ~ false; they malicious well ~ iaise
malicious bccaase their falsily Is well known 10y
those who make them.
but let briefly outline the methods Of these
people;
l. The actual cost Of pensions IS constantly and
persistently overslaied; being placed at from fifty
TO one hundred aud fifty million dollars above the
amount actually disbursed
. The estimated cost OF future expenditures Is
placed nj figures that seem TO have no limit short
Of the imn siuation. Official data and estimates are
ignored.
g. The length Of time during which the fabu-
lous and reckless" expenditure OF public mosey
must continue is extended many years beyond its
possible duration.
T. The veterans attacked; not personally
Ghere would Toe some sembance Of manliness in
/ that) but en- masse. They are characterized as
treasury hooters when they apply for a pension,
and ns frauds when their applications granted.
The purpose Of all this IT Is not difficult to see;
the clec, is equally apparent The appeal isto the
gro'spr sentiment. 1t costs money la view OF The
I very grave considerations involved. the Depart
ucmt Commander cannot but believe that con-
else statement Of the important facts involved
viii be 81 interest aud profit both Co the veteran
and his fellow-clizen. The figures herewith sub
miued are from the last official reports Of the Com
missioner 81 Pensions. from other official
I sources.
Aud, first. touching the amount actually ex-
pended. sIO6 1913 $50 70 represents the total exc
penditurc on account Of pensions during the last
/ fiscal year. This includes every item Of expense:
pensions 10 widows Of Revolutionary soldiers, sol
diers Of The war Of 1872 aud their widows Of the
4 Mexican war and their widows Veterans Of the
4 war Of the rebellion aud their widows aud chill
dren, navy pensions aud pensions for disabled sol
diors OF the Regular Army, lights, fuel, clerk hire,
/ salaries Of Special Examiners attorneys aud PEN
sion agents fees fees Of Examining Surgeons and
printing, the pensions of disabled veterans who
ceive Sl2 per year aud the widows OF General OIL
I Gers who receive $ 010 per year are included in
/ this estimate The difference between this amount
and 900 or $50 10000 represents the extent
| 10 which the INSCRIPTIONS falls fcaliOns above
alluded 10 have gone
II we deduct from The sum above given the cost Of
administration, aud The amount of first payments
or accrued pensions. we find that the total amount
properly chargeRb!e tie last fiscal year 10 be but
s72072Ig849
While Il is not the purpose Of the Department
Commander 60 go extensively into this question Of
cost, still there j. significant fact that should be
presented. The total average yearly payments on
81 pen sions since the first year Of the war
have boon but S3s,G237il4i-liitle more Than 30
cents yearly for each cizen-.OlO9 per cent. on the
/ total average valuation OF property. in no sense
can this tax Ice said 10 be burdeRsOme ia the man
Hcr % iis collection j. puch a. 10 exempt almost
absolutely. the citizen 81 limited means. While
the amount contributed Individually Is small Il
may be stated also that the average amount re-
cvcd by "a" pensioners j. also Of limited proper
tions being bat 20 cents per day. nn| this includes
the Pcn-ioner who receives but Sl2 per year aud
the peHsiouer at 600.
Estimates made by the Secretary Of the Interior
from the best data obianab!c. place the probable
expenditure Tor The present year at sl2G 600 COO
Wild predictions touching the probable cost OF
pensions la years 10 come may well be left 10 the
iuaginatons that breed them. They are destitute
Of every attribute e subsiautiaIiiy-w guezses
nothing more. No answer to them Is possible
The death rate during the past year among ths
I veterans. assuming tie accuracy 81 the Commits.
-iouer'7 estimate Of the number now living wai
2iDJO--a whole Army Cors wiped ont-gone 1,
return no more forever. Speaking Of the e1pen
dsure on account 81 interest aud pensions sine,
l5G7, the Secretary Of the Treasury says: Sine,
4 the aforementioned period the population Of IA,
country has nearly doubled, 40 that the burder
borne by each individual taxpayer from these tv,
sources. which may be set down rs the grea
burden Of lhe wal. IL about one half what It wa
when the war ended"
That the veteran has not rushed in hot hast
to securc the small granted him. aud tlIa
The Pension Bureau has not been TecklesaI,
administered in his interest j. best shown la ID
fact that 81 the I,702GG9 soldiers who survive
the war but So gii LEES than n per cent are b.
. tie Commissioners last report on the pension
rolls. Aud this, too more ihnn % years after ia
fret gun fred. less Than 90 per cent Of thoz
who fought The more than 900 battles Of the wa
have much presented their claims. 4
the charge Of trcasury-ooling ave only preseu
e these facts But they conclusive.
. The reckless manner ia which fraud is charge
I upon the veteran Is evidence OF the INSCRIPTION
D character 81 those who make H. A paper put
lishcd Ia a. our Western cities few days sine
said this: "Our pensions FOR 1899 will cost as ia
enormous sum OF sljOUOJ.OJ0. aud Of this al lea
p 500 10000 will go FOR making paupers aud pei
jurers, supported parasites the labor Of u
= county, Even more far-rcachinR II the lauguag
4 of one Of our Eastern publications.: The Iarg,
part of this vast sum Is pure robbery"
= Paupcrs. periurers, and Tobbcrsl somebod
q fought the battles Of the war. The long lists
killed aud wounded show that IL was no child
J. play. Paupers, perjurers, and robbers! II mu
have been foT the very same names that are tod
on Gle iR the Pension Office the same nam,
), that found place on the rolls Of the army
A. II IL difficult 20 answer this charge 81 frau
because 81 The lack Of specifications Fraud
- charged not against this veteran or that vetera
" bat ngainsl the veterans a class. u is safer
far ~ the uccuser Is concerned but infinitely mo
y despicable.
IA Tlis may be taken as incontroycrtible: one vi