The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-06

She Comes from Generniities to Particulars
in tho Abmss of the Present LAVE.

To THE EpiroR or The SuS--Sir. Having aided AMY
persons who have tried to obtain deserved pensions I
feel able TO point out a few OF the abuses OF tho present
system. Upon the return of u company of volunteers
in tho early part OF the rebellion a public dinner was
prepared for them in a park near by. AT the entrancs
. lady met the Captain. and informed him that tho
table ut tho right was TO-; the officers lie replied that
there were no officers. as they had been mustered OUT,
and were now civilians. II Is to be regretted that this
Government has not acted upon the same principle.
and after discharge from the service acknowledged no
rank except for special msritorious services. As 1t 4,
we have q military aristocracy. which includes the
wives of officers. and the officer who was paid during
his service for any special ability or risk incurred Is
held to DO OF more sensitive organization than q pr,.
vate AFFLICTED in like manner.
It'll reported that 1t required las. year s6a. 900. 900 to
disburse 49,. OOo. 900 to pensioners. Cannot some MAN
be devised that would dispense with the needless army
0" the decentralization Office! The amount paid exam.
lining Boards for last year was So. oCO 900. A self favor.
ing policy OF those Boards OF Physicians Is to ratio the
applicant as low as possible. and encourage him to an.
ply Immediately for an increase. which can be followed
by another, and continue TO do SO. the Board receiving
their fee each time. Further legislation faroring pen,
sioners deprived OF arms or legs should cease. The
empty sleeve or hating gait appeals to public sym.
patty. and in every possible case an Official position is
given in addition TO a pension large enough to furnish
support without that extra favor. while a worse dis
ability resulting from carrying loads about and below
the waist is %unnoticed or looked upon with suspicion.
The one.armed or one.legged soldier elected to Congress
naturally looks out for number one.
Gen. Black while Commissioner OF Pensions recon-.
mended that the pensions OF inebr!ates be given to
their wives or guardians FOR their support: but this has
not been done. When n veteran is supported at the
Soldiers Home his pension should cease or be sent to
those dependent on him for support.
The Dependent Parent bill has been taken advantage
Of shamefully. Very few soldiers sent home their earn.
ings TO parents for their support. although It WAS COM
mon for them to send North any surplus for safe keep
Ing. 1t appears that evidence that = soldier sent
money homo Ia sufficient proof that q parent was de-
pendent upon that soldier for n living. ] know a case
In which the father. an able. bodied man at the time of
his sons death In the army. and with Ave great. hearty.
strong sons now living. receives 4 dependent parents
pension. Another case ut hand Is that OF = mother.
Her son. born since the rebellion. after an escapaie for
which "a warrant had been issued for his arrest. en-.
listed in tho regular army and died withinA few weeks
OF typhoid fever. In tho mean time he had sent TO his
mother q small sum o; money. and wrote that he
wopld send more when lie got it. The money is said to
have been for payment for clotaing for himself. This
woman is in the prime Of life. and her husband draws
S12 per month pension. also earns s. per day, and
boasts that he has not been s'day of in two years. The
letter from her son Is her proof of his support.
Frauds there will be as long as sin and lniquity pre-.
vail. but II should be made as diihcrlt AS possible 10
obtain a pension fraudulently: then no man need feel
y pension as a doubtful honor. SOLDIERS WiTr.
PE.RYssURG. Ohio. Jan. o.