The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-04
PENSION HATERS.
Some Views Expressed by Comrades
in All Parts of the Country.

says: / see IL is stated IN some OF the Union
soldier hating papers in defense of the bill
granting an increase from s. TO SIP per month
to the pensions of the old Mexican war veterans,
that said bill was highly justifable from the
fact that the victories won by these soldiers
gave 10 the United States the territory OF
New Mexico, Arizona and California; which, /
presume is The fact, and don't begrudge them
their good fortune. But, while this is the fact
did not the Union soldiers give back to the
United States the territory comprising the
States Of Texas Arkansas. Louisiana, Mis-
sssippi Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North and
South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and
restore to the Union the tOttering claims of
Missouri Kentucky, West Virginia and Mary
land? But of these facts you never hear a
word from the aforesaid sOldieT-hatcrs. In
stead Of this there is continual howl going up
from their terrified souls that this drain on
the Treasury must cease or the Nation must
become bankrupt. The idea of $l50,000000
being paid from the Treasury annually in PEN
sions is something their small caliber cannot
chamber. To hear them talk a person would
suppose that they thought that in the Treasury
and not in tho hands of the citizens was the
place for the money of Nation. When
Nation draws money from all other nations, as
ours does, and IL is paid to its own citizens
from the Treasury, then we have prosperity;
but when Nation assumes policy OF parched-
corn and pneknOt economy, and runs OH i'm
proved methods OF stinginess. then its citizens
have hard times. / think what hurts the most
of them (the howlers) the most is that the
common people of the country get any money
at ALL Their theory seems 10 be that 10 give
man money you cannot enslave him; he feels
free, and will not De ground down into serf-
DOM"
L. T. Williams, late Surgeon Z. S. Army,
South Jacksonville Fla, says: "In the issue of
April g. under caption of Pension Haters,'
Corpl {. w. Wilson produces an article in re-
gard TO transmission of disease of soldiers as
result OF their service, to their children born
since said service. Allow me to corroboratc his
convictions and statements by my own per-
sonal observation, experience and knowledge.
Before entering the service in the late war |
never In the least had any heart trouble
While IN the service, q result of that service,
exposure. for Tho FIRST time in my life, | was
sadly afflicted with rheumatism, which affected
my heart seriously, aud which increases by
time and aye. After my return from the army,
at the close of the war, by first marriage, l
had as a result of said marriage a daughter
who since her birth, aud even till the present,
is seriously laboring under heart trouble No
ancestors on either side ever known to have
been troubled with any heart disease As
result from a second marriage, l have a son who
has severe heart trouble similar to his father;
also, lost daughter by second wife from same
disease. The second wife nor any of her
ancestors were ever known to have had any
tons must certainly prove a certain something
or fact. That certain fact must necessarily be,
that rheumatism and consequent heart disease,
on the principle that like produces like may
be transmitted from parent TO child; which is
nothing but a scientific conclusion"
J. I. Wolverton, Qusrtermsster, Post Z,
GAR, Adamsvile, Tenn SAYS: "Thanks
should be extended 10 those members of Con-
gresS who prevented the passage of those out
rageous amendments to the pension bill. The
rebels who fought against the flag should have
no say in pension legislation. We Unionists of
the South are taxed to help to pay the penions
of helpless rebel soldiers, and / have never
heard any kicking about it, not being mean
aud degraded enough 10 begrudge the small
pitiaDce dOled cut to keep them from starving.
We will ali soon pitch our tents across the last
river. and our ears will be deaf TO the shrieks
Of the pension haters."
ii. c. Griffith, Co. !, 3lth Ind, Santa Rosa,
Cal, says; i take from a soldier pension
bater, the San Francisco Examiner, under the
head of Nepotism." the hundreds of clerks |
In the Departments and clerks of committees |
who are employed by the Senate and House. /
Their salaries amount from s, 220 upward; all |
drawing annually salaries amounting into the |
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars year. The /
paper states In one case the committee never |
meeis, yet the clerk draws his $2220 ali the |
same. ] might go on and give statistics of |
thousands upon thousands that would reach /
into the millions. The etceteTas of Senators and /
members OF the House reach thousands upon |
thousands in addition to their salaries. yet |
many OF these same men howl about the drain /
upon the Treasury 20 pay pensions. THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE reaches more men than any |
other paper in the United States, and should /
expose tie extrsvagances of other Depart /
ments. fear you do not meet their argu-
ments OF the extravaganza as you should do"
Henry NJ. Hutchinson, Corporal, Co. c, doth /
KY, Elk Fork, KY, says: Il wish to give my
views IN regard to the pension laws. These
laws are liberal, and are intended TO give every
worthy soldier a liberal pension; but do they
get itf Most assuredly not. Then there must
be fault somewhere, and let us see where that
fault lies. j was ordered before Board OF /
Surgeons at Irwin KY, who rejected my claim.
Informed Commissioner Black that the Board |
had done me an injustice and ! wished my
claim reopened. Ny request was granted. and |
] was ordered at once before the Board at /
Grayson, KY, and was allowed 81 per month. /
Comrades, here is the trouble: We don't get our /
just dues before the Examining Boards of Sur /
geons. i believe there are many Surgeons on /
these Boards that ought not to be there; they /
Will not give the applicants justice. If these |
Boards gave each soldier what he was entitled |
TO there would be no applicants for increase; |
therefore, the fees Of the Board would he cut |
on. don't believe there are many fraudulent /
pensions don't see how there can be, when a |
man las to furnish what had TO furnish aud |
what every applicant has to furnish
EredeTEcIxSIura VIII IVelcouna tho Va@ar,re