The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-10
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON d. c. THURSDAY

there is another matter of the Interpretation
of this act that will not stand the test of ex-
animation. We allude to that which limits
the rating to single disability, although the
claimant may have half dozen. For exam
pie, suppose the rating is made according to
certain standard-that is, suppose the max
imum is 1s, the loss of finger at that stand
ard at 2 the loss Of toe at the partial loss of
hearing in one ear at 2, and suppose that one
claimant has all three of these disabilities.
Each one of them is O hindranee and his actual
disability is measured by all three, and
whoever directs that in effect only one shall
be regarded, or that the three shall be taken
as one, and that the soldier shall be rated
as though he had but one of them, cannot
pose as friend of the soldier, and such in
terpretation by whomsoever made, will in
dictate purpose to evade as far as possible
the execution of this law according to its
spirit.
The next question is, Is the course being
pursued of suspending the payment of PEN
sions pending Investigations just one to
the pensioner? These claimants have fur
nished the evidence required. They have
been subjected to examination by Govern
ment medical experts, and they have been
adjudged entitled.
They have been subjected to no little
trouble and expense in procuring this judg-
ment.
Now comes along a new order of things.
They are suspected of having had AN allow
anee to which they are not entitled, and pay
ment is stopped, and the claimant is re-
quired to prove his case over again within
go days. yesterday extended for further
period of 60 days. The burthen, including
the expense, is cast upon him of proving the
integrity of the allowance, instead of being
placed upon the Government, where upon
obvious principles it should rest. If he can
now furnish the proof required within the
time limited, how long will the Bureau be
occupied in considering it after it is fur
nished2 Thousands will be dead before the
suspension is removed.
The principle applied here is revival of
the code of Rhadamanthus Judge of He'll
that punished first and tried afterward.
The fact is (and pensioners may as well
awake to it, that there is a systematic effort
being made to discredit pensioners and avoid
recognition of the obligation of the country
to the soldiers, and no specious words or
loud pretensions can disguise it.
The Commissioner says:
The man generally misrepresented is the secrs-
tary. who has in fact always been more eonsiderae
and liberal towards pensioners than any of his sub
ordinates, myself included.
If this be so, it is marvellous how well the
Secretary has succeeded in concealing his
real feelings. He must be subjecting his
warm impulses to constant crucifixioD, for
we have read carefully every order and
other direction concerning pensions that has
been allowed to appear in the public prints,
and as yet have not found single express
sion which was not in the direction of cur
tailment of pensions, and of throwing
obstacles in the way of their procurement.
The great length to which this article has
drawn out admonishes us to stop, with
ton of the letter in another issue.