The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-07-27
DEMOCRATS AND PENSIONS.
A Correspondent of the Lonaconina
"Star" Hauis the Democracy
over the Goals.

"Star" Hauis the Democracy
over the Goals.
The following letter appeared in
the Homecoming Star last week,
and, as it is pertinent to questions
of importance to some of our read
ers, it is published by US, with the
permission of the editor of the Star:
BARToN, Md. July Is, 1898.
Editor Star:-In your issue of
Oct. II, 1892, l had an article pub
lished, which Was afterwards issued
IN circular form and distributed
over the county. In that article
was review of the consistent an
tagonism of the Democratic party
in their bitter opposition to all leg
islation that favored pensions to
my comrades. l warned them
against being misled by t. e lying
sophlstry of the Times, which by
utter disregard of facts without
even the semblance of truth to
gain votes for McKaig and his party,
pushed that gentlemen forward as
the old soldiers champion and
friend. That warning was I'M
needed to some extent, as | know
some Republican old soldiers, who,
to CRAFTY little personal spleen,
voted against Wellington and their
own interests. Now look at the re-
suit. Read the following ruling of
Secretary Smith, taken from the
Times. Look at the heading by
this hypocritical paper that pre-
tend to be your friend. proper
pensions" yes when 100, 900 of you
are struck off the list it will be
"proper pensions"
"Proper Observation-Disclosures Sus-
notwithstanding an lnvestiga-
tion-They Must be Unable to
Work-If Not, They Can Draw
Government MoneyNo Longer
Disability Must be Shown With
in Sixty Days After Notice Of
Suspension"
WASHINGTON. July 11.-Tbe
pension bureau has notified great
many pensioners throughout the
entire country who are drawing
pensions under the act of June
~. 1890, known as the dependent
pension act, that payment of their
pensions will be suspended for GO
days, during which time they are
required to show cause why they
should continue to draw pensions.
The testimony necessary to pre-
vent their being dropped from the
rolls is the certificate Of "a reputa-
bic physician, attested by two wit
nesseS to the effect that the pen
sioner is precluded from active la
Dor, owing to injuries or disability
not the result Of his own vicious
habits. In case no attention is paid
to the departments notification
within 90 days, the pensioner will
be dropped from the rolls. On the
other hand, should the necessary
certificate, properly drawn up and
signed, be forwarded to the pension
bureau, the pensioner will be re.
queSted to appear before the local
board of medical examiners for ex-
animation as to his condition.
This action is pursuant to the
recent ruling of Secretary Smith to
the effect that Il pensloner under
the act of June ~, 1890, drawing
a pension for total disability must
be shown to be physically incapable
of manual labor. The board of re-
view appointed to carry into effect
that decision Is now going over all
of the cases of June ~, 1890, pro-
badly 100, 900 in number, selecting
those cases which show in the re-
port that the pensioner may not be
lncapactated from manual labor.
In the cases thus selected, the
pensioners are notified as before
stated, to prove their total dlsabil-
ity to the department, or cease to
draw pensions. Under Secretary
Smiths ruling, the department
holds that a man who can work
should not draw pension for total
disability. 1t is estimated at the
pension office, although the work
has but recently been begun. that
something over 1000 suspensions
have already been made"
Read this. Ponder ever it An
alyze it, and realize the fact that
the same party who were after the
boys in blue in 1861 with bullets,
have caught up to them in 1893 by
the ballots. Those who escaped in
battle and the horrors of the dis
graceful, murierous prison pens
conducted and santioned by south
ern chlvalry can now fluid d home
in the alms-house and Il last resting
place in the potter'S field Aud
yet, my comrades, some of you
voted for Cleveland, who was so
cOWardlV that WhaN Jrlftnd he