The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-06-15
SUKA CENTRE HERALD
THURSDAY. JUNE Is, 1893.
Pensions.


Commissioner Lochren has promul-
gated an Interpretation of the General
Pension Act of June 9th, 1890. which is
quite different from the Raum ruling on
the law and one which will very largely
decrease The amount of money to be dis
bursed. The following is the new order:
First "A claim for pension under the
second section ofthe act ofJune 81, 1890,
can only be allowed upon proof of me1i-
cal or physical disability of a permanent
character, not the result of claimants
own vicious habits, incapacitatng him
from the performance OF manual labor in
such degree as to reader him unable to
earn support.
''Second-No specific injury ofdisability
can, as such, have pensionable rating
under that act, nor be considered other
wise than as it effects the capacity of the
claimant to perform ordinary manual
labor.
"Third-Proof that the disability is
not the result OF the claimants own
vicious habits is requisite. and therefore
the cause and circumstances of the
origin of the disability SHOULD be shown
by the evidence furnished in support OF
the claim for pension. SO far as can be
done, and by persons other than the
claimant.
.'Fourrh-To give claimant pension
able status under this act, the disability
must be such as to incapacitate him from
the performance: of manual labor In such
a degree as to render him unable TO earn
support; yet the act recognizes differ
ences in the degree OF such reasonable
disability, giving $12 pei month in case
OF the greatest and Sc per monthin cases
OF the lowest degree of such reasonable
disability reuding the claimant unable to
earn a support by manual labor. 1t
also provides for intermediate ratings
proportional to the intermediate degrees
of such reasonable disability. The
proper rating under this act will there
tore be made in accordance will snch
rules for rating as the medical referees
shall prescribe, subject to the approval
of the commissioner"
Under the Raum Interpretation of the
law soldier who had became disabled
in any degree since the war would be
entitled to a pension providing the injury
was such as would have made him pen
sioner had it been received while in the
service. 1t will be seen that there is a
wide difference in the eligibility of appli-
cants; under these rulings. There are
thousands of claims on file now where the
applicant is able to earn living though
weakened very much physically and mem
tally-in a degree incapacitated from
earning as much as a person in perfect
health might under like clrcumsta noes, all
OF which will be disallowed under the
Lochrer order.
There is no difference of opinion as to
the fact that the pension bureau needs
a complete overhauling. The rolls need
close revision in the interest of equity.
There are doubtless many, very many,
pensions paid which have no merit nor
justice, just as there are many worthy
applicants who are unable to establish
a Observing claim by reason of some
little technicality-the inability to secure
some link in. the chain of testimony de-
manded by strict construction of the
letter of the law. There has been too
much politics and too little business in
pension administration. Sentiment has
its legitimate place In the pension bureau
but politics none whatever.