The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-26
REPORT OF PENSION COMMITTEE
TO Twenty-seventh National Fncamp-
ment, G. 3. e.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Sept. 7, 1898.

Your omt!;ttee on Pensions beg to submit the FOL
lowing report and resolutions Oh Tie subject o
pensions:
ITO bind up the nations wounds: IL
care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and orphan.
Thus spoke Lincoln the Great, Lincoln
the Just, standing reverently, with IN
covered head. in the immediate presence
of cruel and devastating war. that had
already lasted four years, the end OF
which although SO near. his prophetic
vision was not able 10 see; speaking to-
for aud by the authority of the American
people. concerning one OF the supreme
duties of the hour and the future, wher
entering for the second time upon the
discharge of trust committed to him
by that people.
Within a few short weeks that end SC
long hoped for had come; but his dying
eyes were not privileged to see the full
fruition of his labors, and the work SO
well began and carried on by him fell
into other hands. charged with all the
trusts that the condition implied and re-
qnired; and those who had "borne the
battle'' after so many days turned their
happy feet toward their long deserted
homes"
A grateful nation met and received
them, and gladly showered upon them
the plaudits and the bonors they had SO
well and hardly earned.
These ''bearers of the battle" were
then, in the main, in the prime and
vigor of young manhood, with all the
honors and possibilities of life before
them, with all the hopes born of lofty
courage and patriotic and successful
achievement beating high in. their
bosoms; and they little needed and still
less cared for material aid from the
country they had preserved and made
free, save where loss of life OF limb or
impaired health and broken constitutions
were presently visible: and for such, in
the main. ample and prompt provision
was made by that country.
But as the years passed by, middle
life too frequently developed into prema-
ture old age, and youth passed into
ripper years with galloping feet; and alas.
too soon the exultant and hearty soldier
found that in the race of life there
were weights upon his feet and burdens
upon his shoulders, as the result of
premature and over-heavy draughts
upon his vitality, that sadly interferred
with successful competition in the crowd
and jostle of the fierce struggle for
And still the nation
sought to keep abreast OF the necessities
of her heroes, and by additional exact
ments to measurably make provision for
the necessities of those who chad borne
the battle.
A quarter of century had elapsed.
The young had become old, the middle
aged bad become feeble. and the old had
crossed the river. Time, with its ruth
less fingers, had joined hands with the
ravages of war, a I'd the two combined
and proved burden upon the aging
soldier greater than lie could bear; and
the Cry went abroad that in too many
instances for the credit, honor and good
name OF the nation. many who had fol-
lowed the flag and faced the frey furnace
Of battle, had in want fallen by the way
side, and in the poor-houses were look
ing longingly for the relief and comfort
Of the grave.
Their sympathizing comrades and a
patriotic people, with one accord, voiced
he sentiment that such was not a hu
man administering of the sacred trust
and announced by Lincoln.
As to what the remedy should be, mems
minds differed. Many, possibly a ma
iority of the survivors, of the war, believ-
ID that the time had come when the
lame of every honorab!y discharged
survivor should he placed upon the
pension roll. Others, denying the right
hat they should receive aught from the
country through the pension roll, stoutly
'e,isted the demand.
II was under such circumstances and
iealing with these conflicting opinions,
hat congress enacted the disability
pension law of June, 1890. This act was
accepted by the surviving soldiers and
,y the people in general us a settlement
If the question. Under the administra-
ion of that law, the poor-house gave up
is veteran-he who had borne the battle
vas cared for; and thus the sacred trust
accepted and left as legacy to the
nation was faithfully administered.
Within few months We hear with
profound sorrow and regret that all this
must be changed; that the construction
If the law has been changed, and the
regulations and rules IN regard to proof
md rating, under which more than
SOC, 900 claims have been allowed and
)aid, have been revoked and another
of the law has been estab-
ished, and new regulations for proof
ma ratings, less favorable to claimants,
,ave been adopted: that board of re-
7ision has been organized In the pension
,ffice, charged with the duty of revising
Ill these adjudicated claims in accord
lnce with this new construction, and
uch changed regulations as 10 proof
md ratings: that under these changes
thousands of pensions have been suspend
ID without notice and thousands of pen
;ioners have been dropped from the rolls
It is claimed that an adjudication of a
pension settles nothing; that the secre-
AIRY of the interior and commissioner of
pensions are invested by law with abso-
ute power over the pension roll, aud
hat ii is within their legal authority 10
reopen and revise pensions allowed by
heir predecessors under regulations
adopted by them, whenever they see fit
% change the rules of evidence and the
scale of ratings under which the allow
lnce was made: and this in country OF
aw, where from the very infancy of the
the Uuited States, by its
organic law, is in terms denied the RICH;
% deprive ANY person of property with
,ut due process of law, notice and an
opportunity 70 be heard, and where in
every other relation and condition in
fe fraud is never presumed, but must
De clearly proved, and every person
shall have tie right to face his accuser.
TO emphasize the viciousness of the
situation and accusation, we learn that
It is said. as though by authority, that
1T is expected that many OF the pen:
,ioners so summary suspended or drop
ped will be able TO prove that they are
still entitled to the pension of which they
nave been deprived thus saying in no
uncertain voice that the burden Is not