Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-06
PENSION REFORM.
A sOOIKIY OF fHs OLD SOLDIERS TO BE
FORMED
R,r tho Purpose Of Correcting Abuses and Ex-
posing Fraud--A Ysisrau Declares That
These GgSiuihes Should Only b Given
70 the D.Sablsd Victims Of the Wa.

War or tho heOeln0n, whose purpose IL
is 10 reform existing abuses in the Pen
sion law, is one OK the probabilities of
the near future. 1t is proposed TO found
this society In Washington, with
branches in every locality throughout
the country where any considerable
number OF old soldiers reside.
The pioneer In this work, the Peter
the Hermit Of the new crusade, Is Mr..
Allen FOOte, at present employed as
special agent of the United States Cen
sus Office.
Mr. Foote Is a veteran soldier OF the
late war. He entered the army as a
private in the Third Michigan infantry
in June, 1851. He remained In the SER
vice until the surrender at AppOmat0x.
he is an intelligent student OF political
economy and has given much thought
to the pension legislation Of the past
three decades. He believes 1t is in the
main wrong. lie believes that one
third Of those who receive the benefit
Of the law are not entitled 20 it.
HOW To REDUCE THE COST.
Another third. II entitled to it, do not
need IL, while the remining third-thOse
who are helpless and incapaciated for
wOrk-OuEht 10 receive far moro than
they do. He argues from this that two
thirds Of the pensioners ought TO be
stricken from the list by Congressional
enactment. Such a proceeding would
reduce the annual pension appropri-
alton from sl4O, 600, 900 10 so, 600, 600.
~ n..ff 40 "a trsorl nf
reforming the pension abuses must
come within and not from without.
He believes that neither party dare deal
honestly with the question, nOtwith-
standing its abvious injustice 20 tho
taxpayers OF the country. His idea is
that the veterans themselves should
first move in the matter and urge upon
their representatives In Congress such
notifications Of the law as will limit its
benefits strictly TO the deserving class.
lie has already received assurances
from a number of Grand Army friends
in Washington that they will cooper
ate with him in this movement, and the
formation of the society will begin al
once.
HOPES REFORM WILL FOLLOW.
MI II QOLt Dftltht~ AAiAb tAA0 CNNtNL1 a
year hence will include a membership
of two hundred thousand and that It's
moral influence will operate as power
full auxiliary Ia securing proper Congress
sional action. Mr.. Foote has pr0mul-
gated q declaration OF principles for the
new Societ which he proposes, so far as
his means will permit, TO print In
pamphlet for and distribute gratuitouS-
". He has been FOR some years drawing
: pension Of $40 a month for a bullet
wound 10 the chest. lie frankly admits
that the wound does not affect his ca
paeity for intellectual work, and he adj
mitS with equal franknesS that he ought
not 10 be allowed TO receive it.
Iasked him why, entertaining the idea
he does, he did not surrendert. He re-
piled that he was willing 90 do so; but
until the law is changed he pnrpOsed
drawing It and applying it to the dis
Semination Of the literature be IS pre-
pairing on the subject. If other MEM
bers Of the society dOlikewiSe there will
be no scarcity Of funds 20 carry on the
work of the reformation.
PERMcIoUs SENTIMENT.
Sometimes the sentiment Is ex-
pressed, said Mr.. Foote, "that the old
soldiers are entitled to everything the
nation can give them because they saved
the nation. To urge this claim it is tri-
umphantly asked, What would have
become of the nation II the old soldiers
had not saved it?'
"a more perniciOuS or unworthy sem
timent has never been born I'm the minds
Of men. The question is much more
pertinent. What would have become
Of the old soldiers If they had not done
their duty manfully and had not been
succeSsiUl?' Because 8 man ruSheS to
the rescue Of his family and property
when his house is on fire and incident
ally saves the lives and property Of
others shall he claim a reward and in
sist that he Is entitled TO all those
others can give him? Those who
claim that the loyal volunteers saved the
nation for others diSlnherit them.
They went to the rescue of their own
country and saved +. for themselves.
For so doing honor, not compensation,
is their true reward.
MADE TO APPEAR PAUPERs.
ga grateful people have been glad to
make good the material losses sustained
bv volunteers. Their ready willingness
10 do this has led TO lll-conSldered
methods OF doing Il, until the duty Of
honorlng, as well as making restitution
for material losses, has been so lost
sight OF that old soldiers have been
placed in ths position, economically
considered. Of psupers. In my opinion
. ex-PreSideut Hayes sounded the key
. ..ota Of aDDrecfatiOn whph ut the ham
ouet OF the Loyal Legion, Cincinnati,
E May, 1883, he said: No soldier can be
E Justly considered the nations pauper.
& He is rather the nations ward
'To place this subject In a true light
Z all phrases about recompenseS for priva-
tions, compensations for hardShlps, re-
muneratiOnS for dangers encountered
and rewards for loyalty must be dis
cardedl With these SOphiSmS cleared
away the true principles involved ap-
pear One gain that must be made is
the teaching OF the lesson that the duty
. OF loyalty and the duty OF gratitude are
moral NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF moral ex-
I cellenCe-and for that reason they can
not De coined into money nor paid for
in dollars"
NO REWARDS FOR DUTY DONE.
sWhat system Of pensioning do you
propose or recommend 10 pay the Ma
tons deb. OF gratitude?"
ssThe debt to be paid IS for impair
ment Of earning cspacity-not for duty
done. No one viii claim that few
years Of military service absolved any
one from the duty Of subsequently
II !