Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-10

EDIruR G2sND kkPti~ iisEA4D The
late peassoa order q tie sectetErs a the
iDtegier = est1slag aahy pe4ssosleFs .
great deal ~ 1ss~iless znxlety "A ITS 81
act scspe - asst undefslood As / have
50 msay snsasrtc. coucefuiag X | vii.
stth sUuf KIDD PERMISSION. explain II o.
tie bret II my ability. ~ - Tea wenis
Sc clearaezs wlh peftnlf- The set 81
JQae = l>R known as the New LAW,
Feaals a., foll3Ns
"a. yesss1Es = b. s.rsed ninety days
"a nlofe ~ sae military ef naval ssFslcs
u she United states during the war u
the reteilicn, and sho have been honor
abs discharged thefeErota aud ~ho are
now, 90 who may hereafter be suffering
ffoEl a gleutai or a PHYSICAL disability 81
a peruansai character. moi The result ~
thea 0sn vicious HABITS. which incspa
cliates them from the performance q
manual later "a such degree a. o. FcI-
uer them unable IA earn a support shall,
upon making due proof - tie tact ac
eofding "a such rules and regulations as
the secretary u the interior mag pro
vide. &c placed upon the list x invalid
pensioners 81 the UniIcd States. and be
eHflt,ed "a receive . PENSION not to ex
coed sl2 per month, snd not less than
81 per month, pIoportioned 10 tho de
gree - inability 20 earn support
\ careful study ~ this law will show
that II Is quite limited IN It's application.
. Inability 10 earn support being the
prime consideration. No true soldier or
patriot can ask that the commissioner
~ pensions exceed the authority given
ban. To- law ~ issuing pensions. No
true soldier Will accept the generous
bounty OF the government when lac
knows he has no legal claim Ia II. No
true soldier or patriot Will DO otherwise
than commend Secretary Smith Tor a
faithful adherence 10 the laws a. be
nnds them. II thousands upon thou
sands of persons are drawing pensions
which DO not lawfully belong Ia them
every law abiding man and woman
should demand that such pensioners be
z stricken from the rolls
The only question there that concerns
us Is. has the secretary rendered illegal
/ decisiony The sclolier whose pension he
ordered revoked. II appears. was not IN
capacItaied from the Performance IL
manual labor al all. very slight deafness
being his only disability. 1t seems
I clear that according % the act II June
/ -. ls.n. he Was net entitled 10 any
4 pension. ami the secretar, 3 decision was
I cminently Just
Now. a. understand il. the commits
/ sioner ~ pensions has ordered a careful
/ examination If all pensions issued under
I this act. Ia see whether the law has not
been violated in other cases This is Il
T very proper thing Ia do. Why should We
rail at it: Here is plain law, 50 plain
that ~ would seem No intelligent man
could fail Ia understand IT. Until it's
provisions have been violated none but
an unreasoniug partisan VIII allow his
prejudice or passion 10 lead HIM INTO
unjust dcnunclations
Now. as the law recognizes degrees ~
inability To- earn support a soldier does
\ not need 10 be totally disabled hut there
must be- some inability. IL Secretary
Smith las ruled that a claimant must
be totally unable To earn support he
has certainly exceeded his authority ana
his ruling Will not stand. | cannot be
hcyc the pension department purposes
20 revoke the pension az any pcnsioner
who il legally entitled 10 il. do not
believe any worthy pensioner needs 20 be
alarmed. do not see ANYTHING IN the
ruling 49, published that is open 10 crit-
cism. and We will do well To calm our
fears and cschew dctractions until We
have something mere tangible 10 base
them on.
! may add. this late ruling does not
affect claims under tie old law: neither
does il affect the pensions II widows.
minors. children or dependent parents
issued under new law: IL simply relates
To- soldiers who are drawing pensions
under new law. l: will. ~ course. affect
the voting OF claims which may here
after ~ allowed, but We have as yet no
reason for believing that amy worthy ap-
plicant will be refused q pension which
- legally due him.
CHARLfs Il. GEBsoN.