The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-11

lay d ucdIly llQtllO mass VI IOdCuSOul0-
Of detestable putrescence.
THE END.
LOCHREN AND PENSIONS.
If the. Commissioner of Pensions
we're an autocrat, who could recon
struct the acts of Congress upon which
the present system rests and who
could reyise the rolls od libitum and
strike off the names of hundreds of
thousands of present benefciaries, he
would be in somewhat the position
that an expectant public seems to
consider Judge William Lochren, of
Minneapolis, to have entered upon.
Autocracy is not our American method;
but it would certainly be great relief
if Judge Lochren could be given
absolute and final power to reject
both the law and the administration
OF our pension system. The theoreti-
cal principles involved are not just
now in very active dispute. Few
men whose words carry weight are
opposed to the generous pensioning of
all plainly deserving cases. A wise
revision of the laws would probably
increase the amounts paid to some
classes of veterans, seriously and
permanently disabled as a result of
service rendered their country. Other
classes, or sub-classes,- would prob
ably be rejected altogether. But
there is less reason to complain of the
system as set forth in existing statues,
than of the lax administration of tie
laws which has admitted to the rolls
many persons not fairly entitled to
public support. It is very easy to
state the cause too harshly, and to
censure honest and patriotic men as if
they were rogues. Moreover, much
has been said and written in
ampliication of the so-called scandal
GUS pension abuses by men grossly
ignorant of the whole subject. But
when all this is conceded, the very
face of the situation reveals dis
proportion and an abnormal tendency.
We have admitted to the roll since the
outbreak of the war nearly million
and half of pensioners, of whom not
far from a million survive to this day
and are public beneficiaries. Of
those now on The list, more than half
have been added since the inaugur-
alton of Mr.. Harrison in 1889. Until
1880, yearly disbursements for pensions
had never reacheds $35, 100000. In
1888 fiscal Year, they approached
$8O,OOO,OOO. In 1892 they exceeded
$l40, 100000. Existing requirements
can hardly be met with less than $175,-
100000 q year, and it is foreseen that
$500, OO0, 900 annually will very soon
be needed. The act of 1890 admitted
to relief any surviving union soldiers
who had grown disabled and needy,
providing their physical disabilities
were in any way traceable to their
service in the army. It was a policy
about which men honestly differed.
Some men believed that it was fair
and wise, as we'll as broad and gener-
Gus, and that it would have the ap-
proving verdict of future generations.
Other men saw it in only mad ex-
trayegance, at the dictation of greedy
claim agents, organized pension grab
bers," and demagogue politicians.
There were two tenable points of view,
so utterly unlike that a statesman
might honestly have taken either side
of the contention. But when it comes
to the concrete administration of the
laws, it ought to be easy to agree that
there should be the most searching
security used to keep the rolls clear
of perjurers and frauds. It simply
remains to be seen what can. be done
at this juncture. Judge Lochren's
appointment is of an ideal excellence.
The Legislature of Minnesota endorsed
it unanimously and with enthusiasm.
He served with emenient valor in the
war, and is in full sympathy with the
veterans. But he is just judge, a
firm administrator, and no seeker
after votes or popularity. Party feel
ing on the pension question has abated
much. The time is ripe for its treat
ment on nonpartisan. reasonable lines.
Judge Lochren's management of the
office will have begun with prestige
not equaled by that of any of his pre-
decessors. Review of Reviews.