The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20
THE PENSION LAWS.
They Should be Amended as to Soldiers in
the Homes.

the Homes.
discussion Of the pension laws appears to
be open to every one How best to reduce this
annual appropriation for the disabled veterans
is the main question. Sec. 1882, q. s. Statutes,
reads as follows:
"On becoming inmates of Soldiers Home,
or receiving relief therefrom, all pensions shall
be assigned to said Home when required by the
board of managers, during the time said PEN
sioners shall remain therein or receive its bene-
fits"
The enforcement of this law would save
thousands and tens of thousands of dollars each
year. and cause no injustice to single veteran.
But managers of Soldiers Homes dare not
enforce this rule on account of the wording of
the pension laws, which makes it criminal and
attaches heavy penalty for interfering with a
soldiers pension. In the application for ad-
mission to some of the State Homes the appli-
cant agrees to turn over his pension to the
State Home, but when he gets there it is soon
forgotten and all insist on doing as they please
with the money. The result is most Of it is
foolish spent, and q great deal of it squan-
dered.
National Homes are about the same An ac-
ouaintance of mine, an inmate for years of a
National Home, and with claim agent at the
same time working for an increase of pension,
upon receiving quite an amount of arrears OBJ
tanned leave of absence that he might have
the military restraint Of the Home. No one
can blame him. Why does not the Commits
sioner of Pensions pay the funds due TO the in
mates of Soldiers Homes direct to such insti-
tutions to be applied on the running expenses
of the same? Or, if he cannot do this, let the
laws be amended so that it can be done. Were
this the rule the amount received from the
General Government would nearly pay the
cost of maintenance of the Nebraska Home.
In addition to pensions the General Govern
ment pays each State 500 per annum for each
inmate of the State Soldiers Home Justice to
the tax payer apparently demands this as the
deficiency must be met by him.
am pensioner myself, ard do not begrudge
q comrade single cent that is due him. Well
do remember the days Of 1875 when they
said: go fight for your country. If you are
killed, God be with you. If you return, you
and yours shall never come to want"
But when good home is given, with plenty
of clothing and food. reading-room and
library well supplied with literature. doctor
waiting to attend the slightest ailment, hos.
pital supplied with nurses and all the delica-
cies needed in the sick. room, you cannot blame
the tax payer for utterng q protest against
putting $l2 per month additional in the hands
of the inmates to use as the whims of the hour
may suggest.
Now, am not familiar with the workings of
these institutions in all the States but am
with the Nebraska Home, and partially with
several of the National Homes. and do believe
that the practical workings of the pension laws,
as applied 20 the inmates thereof, can be easily
changed so as to result in great saving to the
Government and without the least injustice to
the pensioner.-DELEvAN BATEs, Aurora, Neb.