The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-31
PENSIONS HELD UP.
fragrant Gases in Wheeling of In
justice to Veterans,
THE G,H,RPOSTS WILL MEET TO ACT
An old Soldier Entirely Unable to
Earn u Days living is Coolly In.
formed that his Disabilities have
been Observation-Disclosures Man is
Dropped Because he can Lift a
Trunk.

Until lately no cases OF suspended
pensions under the new law have been
heard Of in Wheeling. The next pay
ment will DO due pensioners in this
city in September, and many who have
received pensions under the new law
have been trembling lest instead Of the
usual remittance they shall find no.
tlce from Mr., Hoke Smith that their
disabilities have been removed" Re.
Gently several cases have transpired in
which these notices have already been
received, At the meeting OF Holiday
Post q week ago last, Saturday night
several Cases Of flagrant character were
narrated.
One Of these was that Of John Laurel,
Of East Wheeling. He is sixty years
old, served his country faithfully, aud
was shot in the cheek. lie ia now IN
able to work or do anything toward
supporting himself. Yet, the other day
he received notice: ~ am informed
that your disabilities have been re-
moved" He was given the usual sixty
days to show that his disabilities still
existed.
Charles Miller, an express man, re-.
ceived similar notice. 1t Is related that
Miller lifted o trunk into his wagon,
and a man who saw him do it took it
upon himself to write to the pension
office that Miller was as able to work as
any able.bodied man.
A case is also told OF a widow whose
pension was arbitrarily taken from her,
leaving her in need.
There are mean, sneaking enemies OF
the men who defended their country
who 20 about watching for signs OF a
pensioners ability to work. The volun-
teer spies take delight in writing that
IN old soldier is unjustly pensioned.
II Is not to DO wondered at that peo-
pie are found mean enough to do any
thing dirty, but it does seem almost in
credible that the pension bureau would
acceptthe bare word oftheso irresponsible
sneaks and on such authority deprive
q deserving veteran Of his pension, but
that very thing is done every day.
None OF the Wheeling people who
have received these notices will avail
themselves OF the sixty.day privilege.
They regard the stoppage OF their pen.
sions rs robbery, inspired by base mo-
tives, and say that they will starve be-
fore they will take any stops to recover
their pittance from the government.
United action is to be taken, however,
by the 6. A. II. posts Of this vicinity to
right the wrong. AS a result Of
action taken by J.. w. Holiday Post
No. IL Saturday night, the following
circular letter will DO sent to-day to all
the posts in the neighborhood:
WHEELING, W. Va, July 81, 1903.
DEAR SIRs AND CoMRADEs:-At a roy
ular meeting Of ]. W. Holiday Post No.
IL, G. A. R., held July %, 1903, the uu.
dersigned were appointed a committee
to arrange for a meeting OF the surviv-
ing veterans OF the war Of the rebellion
residing in this vicinity, with the view
to entering a vigorous and emphatic
protest against the growing tendency to
belittle the value Of our services to the
country, evidenced by the branding OF
those who receive dearly.earned pen.
sions as government paupers," 'treas.
ury robbers" pension grabbers" and
similar degrading epithets. The press
Of tha city has joined in the hue and
cry against us, and our only recourse is
to come to our own defense, as We did
to that Of the nation when armed
traitors in the south and the Copper.
heads Of tho north threatened its de-
struction.
The meeting will be held on satur.
day evening, August 18th, 1893, at g.
A. L. Hall, in this city.
Appropriate resolutions will be pre-
pared and presented, and discussion
and action upon these by the old sol.
diers present will probably result in
bringing about all that is desired by
the projectors OF the movement
Please advise US Of your action by
mailing at once report Of same to
Richard Robertson, 1919 Chapline
street, Wheeling, W. Va.
F%raternHlly yours,
RICHARD ROBERTSON,
]. NJ. CONFER,
GEORGE W.. CLIFTON,