Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-13
GIN. wEIssERr AND PENSIONS.

Views OF the Comm ander-in- Chief of the
q. A. II. on Proposed Legislation.
Gen. A. g. Wei-sert, commander-in-chief q.
A r.. has sent the following TO Congressman
O'Neil Of Massachusetts:
PROVIDENCE. r. l.. February II, 1893
JOSEPH II. O'NEII, House Of Representatives,
Washington:
l notice In the morning papers you quote me
In approval OF your proposed amendEnents 10
existing pension legislation affecting pensions
of inmates Of soldiers homes Later re-
eeised YOUR letter o. the 4th instant, asking in
,ior-ement OF some interview, said to have been
held with me that specific point Uncertain
whether represented OF misrepresented in that
Interview I say 20 you that. while am IN favor
OF legislation giving the major portion OF the
pension o. inmates of q home TO his family. yet,
if he has no family. 1 say let him have 1t all.
even IL 10 amounts to 80 cents per day. For
your proposed amendments generally. as pub
lished. have no favor They arc al calculated
10 restrict benefits heretofore accorded surviv-
in. veterans or their widows. Your restriction
TO less than $500 income per wear is particularly
obnoxious. because 1t requires public acknowi-
edgnent OF poverty. Health and loyalty we're
all that Lincoln asked OF Ms when you we're a
babe and battling to preserve a Con-
grvss for YOU to sit in.
I commend for your consideration the words
Of another son Of Massachusetts, rs he voiced
the country's estimate of the services OF the
founders Of the republic, who were survivors IN
his time. l refer To Webster. Your warfare In
advance on those who in the providence of God
nav become soldiers widows is utterly repug-
Isnt to even average manhood
In the body Of which you are a member sits
many a man who fought US man fashion. open
and above board, front face. Gordon. his face
scanned with the track of Union lead; Butler,
short one leg: Wheeler. the wild rider. who gave
little rest. and that sturdy fighter, Moore
Of Texas. They were line OF battle soldiers In
time of war but hazard the prediction none
of them could be induced to lead in such fight
you making.
You crv out against the sum total Of the an
nual appropriations for pensions, and capital
lists and towards comprise the majority OF
those who applaud. Figure the total on all
pensions from 1865 70 1898. and 1t is little more
than half the amount paid in the same time for
interest alone to the bondholder. He bought
his bonds always below par. at times a low as
g.. The men now have the honor TO COM
mand. and their deceased comrades, Endorsed
those bonds with their hearts blood. and by
their vslor put them on the road to par and at
n premium IN the financial markets Of the
world With tremendous unanlmlty they
stood for honest money in peace. insisting that
Uncle Sans promise to the bondholders should
be redeemed at 100 cents on the dollar, with all
interest. and payable in gold
The next President of the United States goes
into ONCE having been voted for by hundreds
of thousands of veterans. have no criticism
for their course. The soldier earned the night
20 vote a. he plesses IT democratic. repub-
lcan or populist. IL some of them. advanced
in years. enfeebled by disease, see fit TO totter
to the polls and vote the mugwump ticket. that
II their right. But beg YOU to stop this war
fare which will drive them TO Law aside consId-
GRAFTON OF other matters germane TO our system
81 government and tend to weld them into
nearly solid political Your present
course. persisted IN. renders that nearly inev-
table IN my opinion A. e. NEissERT,
Commander-in-chief q. \. Il.