The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-12
GEN. sLOCUM ON PENSIONS.
He sends Some Hot 8het at IN Editor VIII
Attacked Him.

He Sends Come Hot shst at IN Editor who
Attacked Him.
NEW YoRR. June 11.-0an. H. w. 6iosun
has written letter In very plain lanaaaas
TO John I. RapsY. ths editor Of The Ohio
Soldier. - Chillicoths. Ohio. n reply TO an
article Published n shat pager rejecting
upon sbs general for bic opposition to pen
sion fFsuds. The paper stated that Gen.
6locum 10 ON tho retired list on half pay ~
. major general. and has been drawing .
service pension OF about "a. 600 q year since
mo close Of the var, Notwithstanding the
fact that he ID an able bodied man. II con
tinues: mo wonder he does not need the
salary OF commissioner of pensions. u Ill
becomes him Va threw mud st poor devils
who don'S draw ~ much per month 40 he
does per hour. With : fat bank account
and major generals half pay, Gen. Slooum
s.s%: S'm =; TO have fs'sos'on tho men who made
Gen. Slooum replies: II am not ON the
retired list. and have never drawn dollas
from the government except for services
rendered. Attic close of the war . COM
mission giving me high rsnk In the regular
army was sent TO me. declined u. pre-
ferrinR n time Of reaoe to take my chances
In civil life. The men who made mo were
good and bravo soldiers who deserve the
gratitude Of thciF oountrymen. The real
soldiers who saved the nation we're brave
and patriotic. who. II disabled or in pow
ersy. are justly entitled TO pensions. These
men should not bs classsd with bounty
days Of the wa. and who never heard .
hostile shot fred. Ocoasionally some of
the bounty jumpers had the misfortune ON
thsir second or third snlistmsnt TO b sens
to the Same brigade or regiment from
which they had deserted. some were shot
A0 ~4 $-I
would have bssn but for tho slemency Of
Prestdent Lincoln. II men would risk dis
grace and dsath 70 secure tho bounty
Of the government why should
they not seek that bounty in time Of peace.
when they Hisk nothing. and are urged for
ward BY the claim agent who divides the
spoil: With thsmI They have been chesrsd,
merit the favor Of the people BY being abe
to say that they nsver voted against pen.
sion bill or threw An obstacle n the way Of
Al applicant.
that the pension roll was large and he
reached. In 1874 the amount was $50. O.60O.-
COO and this was gradually decreased until
1873, whom IL was $26. 6.850.O00. Now the
United states 10 paying annually to the dis
banded army $165, eco OOO. The number Of
pensioners now on ths rolls 10 45 per cent.
o1 Su0 numDoF Wuo served. Inc pension
eYs Of the war of 1912 constituted II lilo
per cent. Of the number that had enlisted.
The psnnionsts Of the Mexican war we,e
about 1615 per cent, and the pensioners of
the war OF the revolution constituted %
3-10 per ssnt. Of the entire number of en-
listmsnts.
'Commissioner Raun In his report in
1891 said that his department could adjudi-
cate and allow $50 600 claims for pensions
du ing that fiscal yoar-that 10, at the rate
of two . minute evsrv working day,
trust this soandalous business 10 now 10
cease. believe the department 10 now In
charge of . gentleman who, while ear
nestly endeavorinR te do Justice to all de-
serving veterans will not boast of his abil-
ity 20 increase the pension roll At the rate