Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-10-27
Plea for Pensions.

At the G. A. r. encampment in In.
annapolis Ccmmander-in-chief Weis.
sert devoted his annual report almost
entirely to pensions. On this subject
ne SAID that IelsiOns are tho natural
results OF war and that it was supposed
that whom all the requiem nts had
been complied with and O certificate
ISSUED, tho pensioner was moi subject
TO the whlms and caprice of officials,
but recently scores of veterans, many
suffering from wounds or disease in.
Cured while in the service Ct their
country, have been cut off from tho
pension roll without first making prop
ef lnvestlgatlon. He especially called
attention to the fact that the Fifty-frst
Congress passed, by q large majority.
tho disability bill, supplementary TO
previous pension enactments. and Then
arraigns those who were not friends Of
the country during the war and have
taken every means to create public SEN
tlnent against pension laws, and, it ia
10 state, do not confine them
selves to facts and we're not in the
army on either side. No facts, Mr..
Welssert said, arc advanced to sub
stantlate statements made against the
pension roll. He added:
More recently we learn that thousands of
w9rshy ., soldiers. who At large expense ihayo
pension bureau. have had their pensions
stopped upon n pretext or another. rho
pension laws Of our country affect the inter-
somehow the indiscriminate taking away Of
pensions Affects only those who served In tho
W a NgI treason s. and rebellion. Every per-
Et;cts u pension. irrespective of disabilities or
II ancial condition. although many never
AGAINST the Mexican war pensioners. While
the men b fought in the late war against
treason and rebel ion arc abused and trnduced
~ nosoldicrs have ever been. The orator stated
Ghat pensions ere paid by a voluntary tax; that
no man need buy tho articles taxed for that
one pays without murmur pensions to the
men who fought against the Union. II army
or navy service impaired the health of veter-
livelihood, or who are to-day suffering or
nmaer expense on account, of tina service,
they are justly entitle to all the government,
tnlo mas proiitcd by such service. can give.
Were 1t not for the service rendered by that
great army, when the very existence of tho
would now he no country to fulfill til. prom
lscs so generously mado VIII, II certain dis
aster threatened to ovcrwhelm tho nation.
vices. our civilization demands that no de-
fender Of the republic should be suffered to
Republic is unaltcrably opposed to the grant
ing OF pensions to persons who are not Justly |
cntltied TO pensions under the laws. but all
nouIGtcS SuOutu receive u DrOaO ana
generous construction 30 as to CARRY out the
humane intentions of the lawmakcrs.'
The Grand Army does not favor giving pen !
sfons to those who ut any time deserted their |
country in Its hour of tnecd. whittier prior to
stons for b. unity Jumpers or shirks. Neither
does 1t. favor any system that permits those
whose loyalty was ever justly questioned to |
honorably in the Union army. or which takes
takes away or cancels that payment of q pen. ,
SON, lawfully granted. without first investi.
to be heard. which should be done ut the ex.
pense OF the government, which demands the
ADDITIONAL proof. In such case it would be only
Just tor the government to inform the sus.
pended pcnsioner what further steps it de.
mands in the premises. No pension hould be
cancelled until the government has proved Il
fraudulent or undcservins. Action should al
once be taken to secure the reinstatement Of
all worthy veterans who have been dropped OF
suspended from the pension roll.