The morning times., 1896-03-08
PROTECT THE VETERANS
Congressman and Officials Dis
Cuss Pension Day Wrongs.
TIMES WARMLY PRAISED
Commissioner Lochren Thinks the
Oyerstreet Bill VIII Probably Meet
the n-RepreSentative Pick
Ter Declares That Some Remedy
Should BE Devised.

soldiers are subjected oil pension payment
days, has been very generally commended.
or Il number whose opinions were Oh
tanned yesterday on the general subject
as outlined by The Times, there was none
to indorSe the idea OF a guardianship for
the veterans, which carried with it the
unpleasant suggestion OF these wards of
the nation as fncurathcs or imbeciles. A
very considerable part of the evil is re-
garded as being caused by the soldiers
being Obliged to congregate at one place
where they are marked out and made an
easy prey to the designing and avaricious.
fef:sion Commissioners lochren was nat
urally called on first. He was found
to he in accord with the agitation looking
to the removal OF these evils and so ex-
pressed himself. The general proposi-
ton, he said, was well understood every
where that the soldiers were taken advan-
tage Of, that is those who were addicted
to drink and carried il so far as to put
them at the mercy OF THE beasts and
| yultures,'' which were around on pay days.
This was true, lie said, of nearly all the
cities in which payments were made.
Mr.. Lochren laid much stress on the
fact that at some pay stations numbers OF
these men congregate over night to wait for
their pay. They staid out regardless OF
the weather, which exposure had an i'll
effect and was not at all necessary.
TO MAIL THE CHECKS.
Asked for a remedy for these things lie
said that some months ago Congress man
| Overstreet came 10 him with a bill, which
had for it's object principally the mailing
of their checks TO the ola soldiers. This,
he said, would obviate the assembling of
the beneficiaries in bodies ard thus at
tracing attention TO Them. 1t would also
carry with il the removal of the exposure OF
the men 10 the weather and consequent ills.
Commissioner Lochren subsequently wrote
To sIr nx-Fr r.anf v.Tr1 inc f,T
which is now on its passage. The bill
| therefore embodies practically Mr.. Loeb
| rem $ views the proper plan to be pursued.
He believes that the fact OF the arrival
! Of the pay OF the soldier ut his home Will
| have a moral influence over his conduct
| and lead to a better disposition OF his money
| and besides it is not likely that the money
sharks will look for them i'll such surround
| ings.
He does not think much of the suggestion
| OF the Assistant Secretary OF the interior
! that banks shall not negotiate these checks
| except with the pensioners. The motive
| is good, but, practically, he docs not think
| that there can be any proof where, when
| the signature of the penSioner is to the
| check, it is presented, say, by saloon
| keeper.
In proof of this opinion OF Mr.. Lochren
| the statement was made TO The Times by
Il Grand Army man yesterday that one OF
i
checks since last payday, and that most OF
| these checks were handed in to the bank
by the various brcwerieS of the city. He
believes that these checks were first made
| over to various saloon-keepers, who sent
them to the brewers in payment of bills.
MR.. MELRoY's VIEWS.
Major McElroy. recently elected com
| mapder OF the Department of the Poto-
| mae q. A r., was asked for his views on.
| Ia 1afA
to assume that the soldiers as a general
thing needed any protection. There are
S,354 pensioners on the rolls of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, To whom the amount OF
81 ,43S, 629 was paid annually.
| or the pensioners he does not think mat
a. many as . per cent are Of the class who
are the helpless victims OF the saloons or
4 other demoralziBg forces. He dCes not
think that any of the remedies so Jar pro-
posed Will do away entirely with the mis-
fortunes OF those addicted to excessive
intempeFance. one plan has been To adopt
tie canteen system at the homes ana ne
was disposed to regard with great FAVOR
a system of lunch rooms or such places of
resort provided for them in New York.
| This is as yet experimental, but ne be-
| lieves it bids fair to he successful The
very large majority of the soldiers ne main
tains are as honorable and well able TO
take care of their money as any other class
anything that viii prevent the small per
centage from falling periodically into the
| hands of designing men,
| He said that there can he no doubt but
| that the victims of intemperanCe are dealt
unjustly with by those who trade with
them, and that their money is handled
often with a view TO the sole interest of the
man who eashes the check. He does not
| think that the 0yerstreet bill will be
specific, as so many have been tried ana
have failed, but inquest ionably the pro-
vision which sends the money direct 10
the pensioners viii prevent the assembling
| OF them in one place and the exposure OF
the men for a longer period while waiting
| for their money than is necessary.
As to the Incorporate habits of some OF
the men, he said that 1t was traceable to
the undisputablc fact that some or them
can find relief from the pains of old wounds
only in alcohol or ether strong compounds.
Major McElroy approves any suggestion
: which could deal practically with the cases.
who are unfortunate in their habits. and
that every step such as that taken by The
Times should be commended.
WHAT C0NGRESSMEN SAY.
Nowhere has The Times exposure OF the
nefarious traffic in pension circles beer
, more thoroughly and more earnestly dis
I cuSsed than in the halls OF Congress.
On all sides promise is bestowed upon
1 the 1SODie EdtEE IOI lllt ScOu NUN
; | augurated. In discussing the matter witt
] | a Times man, Hon. John y. Picker, chair
man of the House Committee on Invalid
, | Pensions, said.
1.-The efforts of The Times TO relieve
those unfortunate pensioners from the
clutches of the dive keepers and rum sellers
of this city, cannot, in my oplnlou De toe
1 highly commended.
''While we all deeply deplore the faults
| of many of my comrades it is matter o.
| general concession that steps should bt
taken to stop the advantages that are
r | being taken OF them. l have read witt
pleasure the editorial expressions OF TIT
| Times, and also other matter in the new!
| columns which appeals very strongly K
: | the friends of the old soldiers.
Il seee The Times has expressed itSel
| emphatically as opposed TO the appointment
: OF guardians to care for the pension none.
of veterans addicted to drink.
1.-The only thing that l have hereto
fore heard mentioned in theline OF guardian
: ships is proposition to adopt some mean;
for the protection of the families of tn
soldiers.
ONE GOOD SUGGESTION.
e ut has been suggested. and the suggestion
IL has been approved OF by many, that wher
= a court of record should find that Il soldie
r was incompetent to manage his financial
It affairs and as a consequence his famil
4 suffered, one-half of his pension shoult
n be set aside to be expended in ircurrin
his family expenses.
II agree with The Times that the mp
pointment of guardians would canse III
y soldier much inconvenience and be yer
S distaSteful to him.
! 1.-THE old soldier earns his pension an
h should be given latitude in expending II
; AID occasional case where a soldier doe
neglect his family comes to us, and unde
| those circumstances l believe that ht