Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-29
THE PENSION QUESTION.
Remarks Prepared for the Veterans
Reunion at Pleasant Home.
A CRTTICIsNl.


der the heading Of Creating Preju
diceD has the the following criticism:
"Colonel K. Hofer, commander Of
Oregon division, Sons Of Veterans"
made speech before a meeting Of that
body the other day in which he took
occasion to say some things very much
at variance with known facts. For 10
stance: "The administration seems T.
be afraid too much money will get into
circulation amoug the p sople.
''NOw ~ q matter of fact it is not the
business Of an administration to put
much or little money intO circulation.
This question Of granting pensions does
not hinge on that of putting money
into circulation. 1t Is true that many
men have urged the granting Of large
and liberal pensions on the grounds
that 1t would put much money into cir
culation, but these are fanatics and
eranks on the subject of pensions. The
question with the administration Is to
determine whether a pensioner Is en-
titled under the law or not. Under
the rule accepted by Raum, which was
palpably Ia conflict with the pension
act Of 1890. many pensions have been
granted that were not authorized. II
is the sworn duty of the president to
see the pension law duly executed.
This is to be done by suspending pen
sions granted under Raum's rule 1874
and notifying those to whom they were
granted to make proof that would en-
title them to the pensions granted.
There Is to be no attack upon any hon.
est pensioner. Every one justly entl-
tied to q pension will be protected in
his right. That many fraudulent pen
sions have been granted admits of no
doubt. To seggregate these fraudulent
pensions from those that are not, is the
work In hand Of that true and tried
veteran, Judge LOchren, the pension
commissioner. To separate wheat
from chat one must needs manipulate
the wheat as well rs the chaff, but this
handling of the wheat to separate il
from the chat Ia no attack upon the
genulneness Of the wheat. So the tenn.
porary suspension of payment of an
honest pension to determine which are
and which are not fraudulent among
those granted under the Raum rule Is
NO attack upon those legally granted.
1t may work some inconvenience on
legal pensioners TO have payment of
their pensions suspended, but the blame
for this lies at the door of Raum and
not that of Judge Lochren. Mr.. Hotter
says: mot man who has been sus-
pended but would be on the rolls still
at the same or a higher rating If the
government would abide by the laws
congress has passed, aud which 1t has
no right to set aside" This is meIe
twaddle. The administration Is simply
attempting TO right the wrongs instl.
gated by the last administration. And
whatever of violation of laws there has
been is attributable to the last and not
to the present administration, Let IL
be understood once for all that this ad-
ministration opposes fraudulent PEN
sions." So much from the Democrat.
THE SPEECH
referred to was some remarks prepared |
for the 9th annual reunion of veterans
at Pleasant Home, Multnomah county
and as the editor OF this paper was the
author OF the same he begs leave 10
submit his remarks on the pension
question In full without comment as
reproduced In the oregunian:
After paying a high tribute TO the
Grand Army Of the Republic, Wo-
man's Relief Corps and sons OF Veter-
ans, as instruments for the preserya-
tion OF patriotic sentiment In the coun-
try, he turned his attention to the pen-
sion question. On this subject he
spoke ~ follows;
"The pensioners OF the Republic are
NJ present the subjects Of much un-
friendly criticism. The administration
seems 10 be afraid too much money
will get into circulation among the peo-
pie, and thousands Of veterans find
heir quarterly allowance cut of with
little justice and less ceremony. Before
into the justice OF that pro-
eeding, let Us glance at some OF the
ther evils that affilct the body polite,
nd about which not so much Is said.
he most casual observer must have
ad his attention called to blllion-dol- .
y congresses. both kepublIcan and
emocratic, where every member has a
ERIK and some several Of them, and
air relations 10 them not much more n,
spectab'e than those OF the l,atriarchs u
scripture toward their concubines. ~
. hear Of the last legislature Ia this w w
10 appropriatlng everything Ia sight oOI
Z all that the taxpayers eau possibly 30
y la the next two years. We hear !
heir creating scores Of new ofiiOes iOi