The National tribune., 1893-09-07
A CoMuENDAlmE CHANGE OF FRONT.

modified his orders of May and June re-
gardipg pensions under the new law, and
after suspending about 5000 pensioners has
come 10 the conclusion that his position was
untenable. We have all along contended
that the law gave him no authority to sus-
pend any pensioner where fraud was not
charged; that even if he believed that these
new-law pensioners were rated too high, he
could not arbitrarily suspend them un-
til the Commissioner had proved the
facts claimed by him, and in order
to do this he must, in each case, order q
medical examination, and if such examine
ton showed lesser degree of disability
from all causes than when the pensioner
was placed upon the roll, he could then. and
only then, suspend. Under the new order
of things there should be few, if any, sus-
pensions, and it occurs to us right here that
in justice to the 5000 pensioners who have
been suspended under an erroneous con-
| struction of the law, the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commissioner of Pensions
can do no less than order the immediate re-
moval of the suspensions and thus restore
them to the status they occupied prior to
the issuance of the order.
The sooner this is done the greater will be
the relief to the minds of thousands of de-
| Il
during great mental distress on account of
the prospective loss of their meager allow
ances. In very large proportion of the
eases the allowances represent the entire
| support of the pensioners and their families.
sense of justice has impeled the cessa-
ton of the suspension policy; like at
| tribute requires that those already sus-
| pended should be restored to their rights
without delay.
The Commissioner has also announced
| that instead of the homogeneous standards
of ratings as announced in the Medical
| Referees order of June II, 1893, more
liberal rules will govern, and instead of
summarily rejecting claim where two or
more disabilities are found to exist which
would he rated un der the old law at even less
than So each, such claims are to be considered,
the degree of disability weighed and the
| combined disabling effects rated. This is
nothing more than simple justice to which
the veterans were entitled under the law.
The Commissioner has been prompt to dis
cover his error, and prompt to announce it.
For this he is to be commended. We were
| satisfied that he had at the outset formed
hasty conclusion and expressed confidence
In the results of his more mature judgment
We have hopesof still better results. We
believe that he will return to the road from
which he has waudered-a road which had
been laid out and measured by proper legal
standards adopted by the previous Admin
and intentions. of the Congress which en-
acted the law of June 81 1890, and which
were plainly shown in former articles on
the same subject in these columns. Order
164, issued Oct. Is, 1890, was a sound con-
struction Of the law, and if Commissioner
Lochren will re-affirm it he will make no
mistake, but will earn the gratitude of
thousands of our comrades who have been
less fortunate in the battle of life, and who
now need the help of grateful country to
which in their young manhood days they
gave their all.
The act of the Commissioner in rating at
$12, the maximum amount under the new
law, Of all veterans who have arrived at the
age of % years, is a benefcent ruling so far
as it goes; but why not make the age at 60
years, the age limit of other acts of Con-
gress? Where is the veteran of to-day who
is 62 years old, who can earn support by
manual labor? If there be any such, he
should be pensioned for longevity.
We can conclude this article in no better
way than to quote from Senator Gallinger,
in his speech on Monday in support of his
bill. which appears elsewhere:
We are frequently reminded in the halls of
Congress that "the is over" That is true;
but while The ranks of the country's defenders are
being rapidly thinned. there yet remain with US IA
noble army of men who fought the good fight TO
preserve constitutional Government, and 10 forever
establish the liberties of our people. The debt we
owe these DIen can never be repaid. They may be
sneered st here elsewhere, but n grateful people
will forget their sacrifices or their sufIerines
and the pttance that the Government has granted
them in the way of pensions will not be taken
from them without my protest.
The veterans now hopefully turn to Com
rade Lochren, the almoner of the Nation.
We believe that their hopes will be realized,
and the distress caused by an illiberal, IN
just and, we are free to say, illegal practice,
which happily has, in part, been revoked,
will soon be alleviated, and prosperity again
restored.
THE PRESIDENTS OPPORTUNITY.
According to the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury there has been purchased,
he en- oalIad Shannon nun 100 n1r