The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-12-05
DEGRADATION By PENSIONS.

Are the present pension laws de-
grading to patriotism? Is it a
wrong principle whereby the pension
roll continues after 'thirty-one years
from the close of the war to in
crease? Is it q wrong system
whereby q whole army of pension
agents has come into existence and
themselves secured vast fortunes by
adding thousands Of names to the
roll of pensionersl This question is
taken up in the December Forum by
Lieut.. Allen r. Foote, veteran
volunteer and a pensioner, who ap-
peals to his comrades in the strong
est language to protest against the
degradation Of character by PEN
sion system that implies pauperism
in the pensioners and rests on the
supposition that the volunteers sold
their patriotism. Lieut.. Foote by
his volunteer service through the
whole war has earned the right to
speak. He is the founder of the
Society of Loyal Volunteers-an
organization originated to protest
against the present system and to
effect a change in the present law.
This protest by an old soldier of
honorable record who regards the
present system as degrading and
appeals to his comrades to wage
another war, requiring a higher
courage than the civil war-this
time against the degradation of
veterans and the cheapening OF
patriotism-is sure to provoke great
discussion
In his article in the Forum Lieut..
Foote says:
As though il was feared that those who
volunteered to serve their country would
not volunteer to accept the bribe Thus
offered them, Sixty thousand pension
attorneys have been commissioned, about
twenty thousand Of whom are in active
practice, to hunt up the old soldiers, and
coax. urge, and tempt then TO make oath
that they are unable to earn . support by
manual labor" Fnr this work Of corrupt
ing the loyalty, honor, and honesty of the
Boys in Blue" the government offers q
reward 10 the pension attorney OF ten
dollars each. The pension attorneys are
REINFORCED by senators and representatives
in Congress who IN. one year have made
Is, 617 requests on the commissioner o.
pensions for ''the condition Of claims
Under such conditions the country need
not be sst0unded at the figures given BY
the commissioner of pensions in his Mlilci
report tor the fiscal year ending June 80
1891:
Number Of pensions In force. &c, 16(
Number ofclaimants not on rolls. $50 3i
Number Of persons pensioned, or
seeking 10 be pensiOned. 800. ,235, 10,
Number Of claims pending, includ-
ing original claimants, claims tor
i increases, and duplicate claims. 028. 47s
Number ofrtjecied claims in files. 146, 81
Total number of claims requiring
SstenuOn. ........ 1,Ulo,UUl
It 10 estimated that the organization j,
now % well disciplined and the work q
well in hand, that $50 900 claims can b,
allowed during the fiscal year to end Jun.
/ 50. 16o9. and that $13S. 478O 66 can be dis
tributed. The influence Of the Act of Jun,
! 81, 1890, 10 seen In the fact that Hats
! pensioners were added to the rolls, and
40A, 181 claims were placed on file, il on
year under that act; making total Of sos,
0S0 claims, which, at so each, show IN,
IpensjOn attorneys interest realized from
the passage Of that law TO be IS go $50
Amount paid - Gees 20 attorneys durin,
he year. o, 760, 200 70.
The growth Of the industry Of corrup
tiOn-Eho industry Of procuring claims {,
prosecute against tho governmeuk In III
InAme Of h bonefciAxios who should re
Ceiva tho nun amount paid By tho govern
mout On th0fr account, mot g . coiloctiOl
. forced hy process Of law, but . 3 cosdia
rec0gnitaon Of honorable service II ssrik
hg1Y illustrated by the East that IN 100
: but "a e87 claims were allowed, and nOv
The prOmaiDo Il made that $50 600 oIaim
. nay b allowed In 1874. II e not tim
: that hon0xable men .6hould hand them
selves together to destroy this industry Q
Icckrupti0n
sl Am1hoRs' Worae.
II Astatisfician IN Paxis has tho patieno
o count The number q words eanployal
. By The moss celebrated writsa1 Tn
4 WORKS ~ Corneills do Mt contein mor,
| than 1an10 different yuWila. ara t1>naa I.