The National tribune., 1893-01-19
PURIFYING THE PENSION ROLL.

NO veteran or 1fionu OF veteran OBJECTS
to any proper scrutiny of the pension roll or
investigation of the Pension Bureau. They
are, if anything, more anxious than any
other class of citizens that there should be
the most rigid Investigation of everything
connected with the pension system. They
are sanguine that the more this matter Is
investigated-the more fully all the facts
connected with the granting of pensions is
laid before the public, the clearer will appear
their right to pensions, and the more it will
appear that, far from dealing toward them
with lavish generosity, tho Nation has, on
the contrary, been niggardly unjust. 1t has
given them cents where it should have
given dollars; it has taken years to examine
and allow their claims where 1t should have
been done inside of few weeks, and where
one undeserving man has been put on the
rolls thousand deserving ones have been
kept off it, and suffered to die defrauded of
their blood-bought rights.
But what they bitterly resent is the pre-
tense of an investigation which condemns
them In advance aud seeks only for facts or
pretended facts with which to condemn
them. They are properly hostile to courts
organized to convict" They are in deadly
opposition to basing an examination upon
the assumption that substantially every
man on the roll is scoundrel who ia rob-
bling the Government, and some way must
be found to stop his thieving. They repel
with indignation the caIumnies which their
enemies shower upon the flower of American
manhood that once formed the Union
armies, and now appears on the pension roll.
And they are infexibly opposed to the trick
of pretended investigation devised by some
Of their enemies which means that pensions
shall be suspended indefinitely while the
form of inquiry is gone through, and men
and women be deprived of their meager al
lowances while they 90 through the weary
task of again furnishing the proof necessary
to substantiate their claims.
The veterans will welcome the most
thorough investigation of the pension sys-
tenn by any body of fair minded, able men
that may be organized. They do not ask
that these shall be their friends, but merely
that they shall be just and impartial All
that they want is justice.
There has been for years an earnest wish
on the part of the comrades throughout the
ington to the private soldier. There are q
number Of monuments in the Capital of the
Nation to successful Generals, from those in
the Revolution down through all subsequent
wars to those of the rebellion, but there is
nothing anywhere in the city to commemo-
rate the heroism and the virtues of the men
who carried muskets and cutlasses.
A movement to supply this want has been
inaugurated by the Committee on Reunions,
which carried through with such brilliant
success the Reunions of corps, divisions, bri-
gades and regiments during the recent Ma
tional Encampment in Washington.
It will be remembered that these were
held in tents erected on what is popularity
known in Washington as the "White Lot"
though it's official designation is the "Presi-
dents Parade" In honor of this great event
the name of this was changed, as far as it
could be done without authority of Congress,
to "Grand Army Place." The Commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia approved
of this change, and in the absence Of the
President the Vice-President appeared on
the ground, and with appropriate ceremonies
solemnly dedicated the grounds as Grand
Army Place."
1t is now proposed to ask Congress to legal
ize this change Of name, and when this is
done to ask the approval of the Commander
in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
to authorize the solicitation of subscriptions
from the comrades all over the country for
the purpose of erecting there a suitable
monument to the private soldier and sailor
in the war of the rebellion.
There should be no trouble in securing
enough money to put up splendid monu-
ment which will testify to all time the
patriotic virtues of the soldiers and sailors
whose valor and fortitude crushed the re-
bellion, and made this country the glorious
Nation it now is. There are over 100000
soldiers and sailors now alive. If they will
each contribute an average of 10 cents the
sum of 100000 will be secured, which will
be ample for the purpose.
Hare you asked all your acquaintance to
subscribe for THE NATIONAL TRIBU
If not, do so at once, to giUe the paper more
poger in championing the cause of the Ueterans
TRIBUN ETS.