The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-07-25
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1879;
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Question of Pensions and the
Enormous Amount of Money Paid
Out for Such Purposes.

Inc question OF PENSIONS anu tfse
Enormous Amount of Money Paid
Out for Such Purposes.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July %, 1895.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF.-I notice in your
issue of the 18th you quote from an
exchange, The country's annual pen
sion bill may be reduced to loo, 900 200,
but it will not be in this century. Nearly
600, 900 applications for pensions are
now on file at Washington City and
every week. Having become somewhat
familiar with the pension business l ven
ture few remarks on the subject, feeling
that while it may be to my personal dis
advantage to do so, it is certainly the
duty of every good citizen to be out
spoken in the denunciation of fraud
wherever found, particularly when it is
against the government, especially when
so many people think it is smart to beat
the government We are oil well aware
that the criminal hesitates and shrinks
from the first crime, but each additional
act makes him holder until he believes he
has a right to take even the life of his
fellow being. Apd this is about the way
with the pension business in the hands
OF INSCRIPTIONS politicians, pension
agents and pensioners. Thirty years
ago when the civil war was just over the
Union soldier that was satisfied with
pension of 81 90, 81. 90, 5000 and $500
per month, according to his disability
he or his family or dependent relatives
if he left any are now drawing from
$500 to $1,000 per month, and hun
dreds of clerks, attorneys and medical
examiners are kept busy reviewing their
claims for increase which are repeated IN
most eases az often as the law permits
them to apply, which is every six months.
A majority of the clerks in the pension
Office are old soldiers drawing both good
salaries and big pensions, and in most
cases when an applicant applies Tor a
| pension or an increase they will admit
him regardless Of whether he is entitled
| to it or not. This state of things has
gone on until the old soldiers think the
government must give them whatever
they demand, even though the balance
| of the people have to go on hall ratlons.
1t was said not long since by a man OF
prominence from one OF the Northern
States, that if his State were to make an
| absolute failure in q crop they could
get on very well on the pension money
| alone that was turned loose in that
| State.
| From what has come under my own
| observa ton am sure that il the pen.
| sion list was reviewed case by case, by
| an impartial board of examiners that
$50 900, 900 would pay every deserving
old soldier a good pension, but instead
of that | believe if the Republicans get
control of the Government again they
will pass something like service pension
act, and if they do it will take something
like $3.50, 900, 600 to pay them during
the life OF this generation.
A great many frauds have been shown
up and cut off and is continuing to b'
done under this administration but i
can only be done to a limited extent sc
long as the majority of examiners wht
pass npou these claims are old soldier
and Republicans, who are disposed tt
admit every claim they can.
noticed recently in Puck cartoon
which ridiculed the great army Of pension
ers, and in the issue following was pub
lshed letter written to the editor iron
Cincinnati demanding an apology. Q
course he declined to do so and sal
among other things in reply Ga copy G
which l send you) steadily, year b.
| year, the honest veterans have passe'
away and their places have been take
| Dy men VINO uFdueU Oh InelF illeIloi ico.
, $1OO.OOO,OO OF unjust pension none
wrung from the poor overburdened TIA
payers of this country at such times
no small matter: but if the Republican
get control again it will be nearer 5000
OOO, 900, and think it is about tim
the people of this country were havln
{ their representatives look after th
little matter.
Eighteen years ago a widowed motht
died near Townsville, N. c., and left t
me by will her four little boys, all {
whom have now grown to manhood an
are doing well, and have recently ha
the pleasure of visi t from two OF thei
l with their charming young brides, in tn
selection of which they showed both goo
Judgment and taste. | refer to Messr
! Joseph r. and Louis Estes, now
. Atlanta, Ga, the former of whom is we
known to the people of Henderson.
VANCE.
| A horse kicked H. S. Shafer, of Il
f Freemyer House, Middleburg, n. y, {
r the knee, which laid him up in bed al
caused the knee joint to become stiff.
o friend recommended him to use Chambe
- lain's Pain Balm, which he did, and in tv
DAYS was able to be around. Mr.. Shat
: has recommended it to many others al
saws it is excellent for any kind of brul
!, or sprain. This same remedy is al
J. famous for its cures of rheumatism. +
J. sale by Melville Dorsey, druggist.
# There is many a silent throbbil
corn that beats beneath nice DIRE