Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16

PROVIDENCE, r.. l.. Feb r. Gen. a. G.
Weissert, commander -lu-cbet G.. A. r.
furnishes the following for publication
which be has sent to Congressman o Neill of
Massachusetts,:
PROVIDENCE, Feb II, 1898.
Hon. Joseph II. U'N,ul, House OF Repre-.
ssntati7es, Washington d. c.
notice in the morning papers you quote
mein approval of your proposed amendments
to existing pensions legislation affecting
pensions or inmates OF soldiers homes.
Letor, received your lettor OF the 4th inst,
asking endorsement of some interviews,
said 10 have been hold with me on that
specific point. Uncertain whether rerre-
scented or mis-re presented in that interview.
| say to you that, while | am in favor of
of legislation giving ma ior portions OF pen
sion OF inmates of home to his family, yet
il he has no family, say let him have it
all, even if it amounts to 80 cents yer dey.
For your proposed amendments generally,
as published, l have no favor They are
all calcu. ated to restrict benefits hereto orc
accorded surviving veterans or their wild
ows Your restriction to less thaa $500
income per year is particularly obnoxious,
because it requires public ackn wled gme1 :
| of poverty. Health and loyalty were all
that Lincoln asked of us when you were
babe and we were battling to preserve q
Congress for you to sit in.
| | commend for your consideration the
| words of another son Of Massachusetts, as
he voiced the countrv's estimate OF the
services Of the founders of the republic,
who were survivors in his time, | refer
to Webster. Your warfare in advance on
those who, in the providence of God, may
become soldiers widows, is utterly
Repusnant to Evan Avesage Manhood.
In the body of which you are member,
sits many man who fought us man fash
ion, open and above, front face Gordon,
his face scanned with the track OF union
lead; Butler, short one leg; Whesler, the
wild rider who gave us so little rest, ar
that sturdy fighter, Moore OF Texos; they
! were line OF battle soldiers in time OF war
but hazard the prediction none of them
could be induced to lead in such a Fight as
you arc making. You cry out against the
sum total OF the annual appropriations fot
pensions, and capitalists and towards COM
prise the majority OF those who applaud.
Figure the total OF all pensions from 1856
| TO 1893 and it is little more than The amount
paid in the same time for interest alone to
the bondholders. He bought his bond al.
why's below par at times qs low as 3S. Tn,
men | now have the honor to command aut
their deceased comrades endorsed those
| bonds
| with THAR Hcart's Blood
and by their valor put them on the road tc
par snd at premium in the financial Darts
Of the world. With tremendous unanimity
they stood for honest money in peace, in
sisting that Uncle Sans promise to thc
bondholder should be redeemed ut 100 cent.
on the dollar with all interest, and payable
in gold.
Tho next president OF the United State
goes into Office, having been voted for By
hundreds of thousands OF veterans. bav,
no criticism for their course. The soldier
earned the right to vote as he pleased be il
democratic, republican or populist. If some
of them, advanced in years, enfeebled bJ
disease, sec fit to totter to the polls and vot
the mugwump ticket, that is their right
But beg you TO stop this warfare whic!
will drive them to lay aside consideration G
other matters gcrmare to our system o.
government and tend to weld them into al
early solid political mass. Your presen
course persisted in, randors that nearly in
evitaOe in my opinion. (SiSnei
A. G.. WEIssERT,
Gamma nd n -cnief {, A r