The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-15

When tho present Administration began
its attempt to purge the pension list. The
SUS pointed out the fact that honest efforts
In that direction would be greatly embar
rassed by the circumstance that many
veterans OF high political standing con-
tinued to draw their pensions regularly.
although notoriously In no need OF pecuniary
assistance from the Government.
There are thousands Of pensioners on the
rolls who have technically perfect claim
upon the Government for the money they
are receiving, but who are no more within
the class for which the pension system
properly exists than II they had neither
suffered nor served in the Union army.
Some Of them are millionaires. Some OF
them are doing daily the work of at least
ten able-bodfed men. and are earning In
comes commensurate with their business
energy. Their power to take care OF them
selves in the world has been in no way i'm
paired. In all such cases the element OF
disability to provide fully for the support
of themselves and OF their families is want
ing: yet that element OF disability Is the
primary qualification OF a legitimate pen
sioner. under any reasonable Interpretation
OF the Governments responsibility to its
defenders.
Conspicuous among such cases was that
OF WALTER Y. GRESHAM Secretary OF State
in the Administration which undertook the
immense job Of pension reform. GRESHAM
was severely wounded In the leg while lead
ing tho Fourth division OF BLAR's corps
in the lighting before Atlanta. He was
legally entitled to a pension. and he has
been drawing one for twenty or thirty
years. for great part OF the time at the
rate of $50 a month.
Nobody supposes that In cases like Judge
GREsHAM's the motive OF the pensioner is
wholly mercenary. The money received from
the United States Treasury amounts to little.
The monthly payment is welcomed chiefly
because it comes as reminder and certn-
cate OF patriotic services rendered and OF
honorable wounds received In defence Of the
country's flag.
Nevertheless. there Is a still higher con-
ception Of honor and personal dignity which
should impel all well-to-do pensioners to
ask themselves whether their moral right
to pecuniary assistance from the public
funds is as good as their legal right Should
they continue to draw pensions which they
do not need?
The question is rather delicate in any in
divldual case. but we ventured some time
ago to present these considerations to Sec
rotary GRESHAM in the hope that his patri-
otlsm and good sense might suggest an an
swer which would afford useful example
to the country and facilitate the general
work OF pension reform. We are glad 10
learn that the Secretary Of State has vol
UNFAIRLY relinquished the monthly pension
OF $50 to which he was entitled under
strict Interpretation Of the law. but which
he did not need.
This highly creditable act Of Judge GREsH-
ANS has been performed unostentatiously
and without the slightest attempt to ad-
vertise it. When questioned on the subject
the Secretary replied: II have made up
my mind that the public is not interested
in the matter" We think he Is mistaken
about that. The public is very much inter-
ested: and In order that the example thus
afforded to other well-to-do pensioners may
be effective. it Is proper that the praise
worthy conduct OF the Secretary Of State
should be widely known and admired.