The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-07-22
Peoples COlog11a01.
The Rights and Wrongs of
Honest Pensioners.

The Cecu Democrat publishes and l sup
pose approves of an editorial of the Balti
more Sun, last Saturday on pensions. No
soldier is opposed to the dropping Of fraud
ulent pensioners, and the present Commits
sioner of Pensions will have the hearty
approval of the soldiers for disseminating
dishonest claimants. But there is right
and wrong way to do the work. For
one do not believe the Commissioner of
Pensions has the legal right to select certain
rates and indscriminately strike off those
claims all over the country, and no doubt
in many of these cases the rates were fixed
under Mr.. Cleveand's first administration
after having been examined by the Board
of Medical Examiners whom he appointed
or rather the then Com Missioner of Pen
sions. Many of the names of claimants
were suspended before the last quarter pay
ment was due June 18th, and they were
required to snow cause why their rates
should not be lowered, when in all prob
ability the evidence was already in the
pension office, if the commissioner had
taken the trouble and time to have the
papers examined. Take the name of Joseph
King, of Boston, who is blind, deaf, and
has very bad wound IN his hip. The
former two by rebel she'll at Roanoke aud
the latter by bullet wound from which
he is still suffering. This is total dis
ability which he is entitled to under the
law, yet his claim was stopped and he did
not receive his last quarters payment, leav-
ing him poor and penniless. 1t is not likely
there would have been any suspension in
his case had there have been an examina
ton, yet this poor wounded soldier will
have to wait for months before he will get
his money, which of course he will do, if
he lives, but is there any business in such
course. There are many cases as equally
deserving but are perhaps not so bad, yet
many have to be depending upon friends
for assistance, who would not have been so,
had they have received their last quarters
payment. The payments were not stopped
because of want of funds, for the Com
missioner of Pensions returned to the
treasury billions of dollars thaG was
appropriated for that purpose. Could
it have been to show that the new
administration was economical in admins
teriug pension cases or was it to show they
have no sympaty in this class of claims {,
According TO statements published the
commissioners under instruction of Hoke
Smith, Secretary of the Interior, has COM
menced to suspend 100, 900 pensioners who
receive pensions under the act of 1890 on or
before Sept. LIST, in order 20 debar them
from receiving their money on Sept 4th,
and they must show cause why they are
entitled to be reinstated or their names will
be permanently dropped. This will cause
a large amount of expense to the soldiers or
widows even if they do have their claims
again placed on the rolls and will also take
large amount of money from the Govern.
meut for another medical examination by
their Board of Surgeons. Is 1t justice to
many of these men who no doubt received
the seeds of their disease under the long
weary marches under summers hot suns or
winters cold, through mud and snow and
bv catching what little sleep they could on
wet ground? Older heads remember well
the published stories III the papers or letters
received from sons or friends who were in
the army of much of the hardships endured
By the soldiers and from personal know
ledge, know the soldiers tried to put a
bright side or their army life so as not to
worry their friends at home and make
believe they did not suffer half as much as
could plainly be seen between the lines OF
their letters. What is the Government,
now doing with applications before them,
are they issuing pensions? No, very few,
| and most of them to women, the men are
| being ignored. 1t is reported that Congress
| man Burrows of Michigan intends asking
| for a special committee to investigate the
Pension Office. If a f2ir investigation is
| made it will he found it takes more to get a
claim through than it would to improve
claimants right TO pension IN any court
in the land 1t is said there are many
fraudulent claims, and | believe there are
soLae. and great cry about frauds at
| Norfolk, and yet in the cases that have beer
tried, the parties were cleared, and Judge
Hughes in continuing the other cases
| remarked to the Government Attorney
that he was surprised at the weakness OF
his cases and wanted him to secure better
evidence when the other cases should b'
called for trial 1t seems "the men who
tried to destroy the Government now con
troll il and have at their mercy the mer
who fought to save the same government
from destruction" Now for some OF th
remedies. Shall we have a soldiers ticket II
the county this fall in order to commence
good organization for next years Con
gressional campaign. Ii so, take men o
high standing in the county as well a
good soldiers, men who are well qaiited t.
fill the different offices. Let US hear from
soldiers all over ths c1ul;y even If b.
| very short letters SOLDIER.
Sixth district, Cecil Co., July 18th, 50.