The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-28
MAJOR GEN. GIBBON ON PENSIONS
Let Honest Veterans Listen to This Gal.
liant md Distinguished old soldier.

ihut hnu DlsttnHutshed OId soldier.
To THE EDITOR or THE suS-Sir. Indepen.
IDENTITY OF the moral side OF tho question. there
seems TO be little doubt that the reform OF the
pension list will ere long be a matter Of mecca.
sity. With the pension list as 1t now stands.
and tho constant increase which seems newt
able. the yearly expenditure in the future is
estimated anywhere within two hundred mil
lions OF dollars and. unfortunately. no man
can tell. from present appearances. when the
increase ia going to stop.
With this immense amount saddled uron the
country as permanent tax. the question ms
to tho means OF raising tho additional sum
necessary for the ordinary expenses OF the
Government is one which will have to be met
in the near future. and with this is involved
tho question as to whether or not the party
which Inns Just been elected can do with the
tariff what an overwhelming vote has decided
must be done. Hence arises tho increased
Importance OF limiting the great draft upon
tho Treasury to what is just and honest in tho
way OF pensions. There is no material differ
ence OF opinion in any part Of the country
regarding n liberal provision for every soldier
injured in the war. or for the heirs Of those
who gave up their lives in 1t. but there Is a
very strong opinion against rcwarding those
who made no such sacrifices. and a still
stronger feeling against fraudulent pension
ers. OF whom there can be little question a very
large number exist.
The first step. therefore, toward q reduction
OF the pension roll should be. by a rigid inyes-
ttRation. to lop Off all fraudulent pensions.
Ono hears oil through the country OF cases
where pensions are paid to persons who had
no connection whatever with the war-people
who lost arms and logs by sawmills and other
accidents. These cases arc well known in the
communities where they exist. but it is no.
hngipaGa fn r,pi lam, -.
ana notorious IA they are. and any one who
would move in the matter would DO regarded
as mischief maker. and would probably suf.
Ter IN his belongings for his tcinerity. But
uiere is class coEnizant Of these frauds and
aoie to expose them. Soldiers as class are
jealous by nature. and strongly dislike to SEQ
the same rewards bestowed upon unworthy OBJ
jects as they themselves have earned By faith
fui service and sacrifices made in war; There
10 great organization in tho country, with
branches in every state and Territory. This
organization. the Grand Army OF the Republic,
Is able to furnish the information required for
purcing the pension list of all unworthy mem-
bers. and believe it would DO willing to do 1t.
1t may be safely asserted that there is not a
u. A. Il. post in the country in which members
OF the old soldier clement are not cognizant of
every case OF fraudulent pensioners in their
neighborhood. They take Just pride in talk
ing OF their own wel-earned pensions and for
what wounds or disabilities they receive them,
and sheer Mt and look down upon those who
are drawing those unearned or fraudulent. 1
believe that the g. A. R posts could be ap-
pealed to with confidence to give such mi orma.
ton AS would enable the Government by in
vestiRation. to Top off those unworthy NOM
bers who should never. under any circum-
stances. have been on what ought to be roll
OF honor"
There Is another stop which should be taken
at oncc. although it would be somewhat in the
nature OF shutting tho stable door after the
escape OF the steed. and that is the absolute
ruling out OF any Intermediary between the
Government and the pensioner. There is no
reason why. IL tho Government owes any Der
son sum Of money it should not pay it with.
out making such payment through n attorney
or solicitor. nor is there any sound reason why
pensioner with claim against the Govern
ment should not make that claim direct to tho
Pension Commissioner. with full confidence
that he would decide the claim honestly and
faithfully. the official records IN the War De-
rartment being now in such shape that full
Information in regard to every mans case can
he regularly and speedily furnished the Com
missioner. who can demand OF tho applicant
any additional evidence necessary for the es-
adjustment Of claims.
mere are reasons OF the very strongest
Kind against Offering a premium OF SO or
any other sum to hos. Of pension attorneys
for every case they can possibly rak. and
scrape up with claims toven the very cloudest)
against the Government, Such a system as
now exists Is simply an incentive to perjury
and fraud. Let the Commissioner act, then
directly with tho pension claimants and with
the pensioners. and save money to both OF these
classes as we'll MS to the Government by pro-
tectinG 1t against fraud and imposition.
The rule of pensions should be to pay as
much as the country can afford to those who
made sacrifices in the war. Nothing to those
Who made no such sacrifices. nor to fraud.
The present system dcgrades patriotism to
besgars level. JOHN GIDDoN
WASHINGTON. Dec, 81.