Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-16
Pensions.

When leading Democrats i'll the House,
like Amos Cummings OF New YORK ana
men who were among the bravest OF the
Confederates, denounce the hostile attl-
tude of the present administration toward
pensioners and declare that the men who
fought on the side of rebellion expect and
desire that the Union veteran shall re-
ceive a lust pension, it is natural to look
about for the cause
1t is probable that some of the more in
telligent Democrats realize that an unjust
policy toward the defenders of the Union
is not popular nor polite. If their COM
mon sense does not tell them as much
their experience the past three years
assuredly has. There are few com
inunities in the Northern states that have
not witnessed the injustice resulting
from the hostility of the pension depart
ment under Secretary Smith The idea
that pension may be cut off on suspicion
and be held back until the department
| shall find proof that such pension is or is
not deserved, is one which by its very
nature cannot be popular with those who
believe in equitable dealing. There are
few communities IN the Northern states
| that have not witnessed such acts of in
justice. And although the department
was compelled to soften its arbitrary
methods and has been more conservative
in its hostility Of late that hostility has
in no way been forgotten. 1t is unmis
taxable and being as unpopular as it is
apparent there is political wisdom in the
attempt of some Of the Democrats to get
| on the right side though in so doing they
| turn their backs squarely upon their
| record
But beyond political wisdom we are
| willing to concede that their sense Of JUS
| tice plays some part in this recantation.
| There are Democrats, who do not like to
see a noighbor, whom they know to have
| his small pension, they do not like to see
| that man and his family suddenly de
prived OF support without warning
| and left to cold charity until such time
as the department chooses to reinstatc
MIN with the explanation, if any, that
his case had been examined and found all
right that he had been adjudged guilty
and then found innocent. The vilcst
criminal in the eye of the law is innocent
until proven guilty; but the pensioner in
the eye of the pension department under
the Hoke Smith regime was deemed
guilty until acknowledged to be innocent
by his accuser.
There are many pension bills before the
present Congress, some oil them good and
some OF them if not bad at least not wise
The committee on pensions has reported
in favor OF an appropriation OF Sill, )
| 900, 600 for the next fiscal year. 1t is pro
law so that widow, who does not have
an annual income Of $500 year shall be
eligible for a pension. One bill would
grant to all Union veterans who were
confined in rebel prisons So for every day
of such confinement and S12 Il month
Another bill would give to every Union
| veteran, who does not now receive a pen
sion one which should monthly be equal to
one cent for every day of service and for
! those ho Sno ad1itin 4
cent for every day imprisoned. One bill
provides for all who served ninety days
or more and were honorably discharged
aud are suffering from permanent disa-
bilty pension of not less than So nor
more than sig month. Another propo-
sition is to give all, receiving S72 per
month 800, to take effect Feb. II, 1899.
Another bill would relieve widow from
the necessity of proving that she is with
out other means of support or other proof
of widowhood than that she was generally
recognized as the wife of the pensioner
one is for pensioning veterans above the
, age of IS, who have been breyeted for dis
tlngulsne0 services or conduct IN the
} Civil war. Another would prevent the
department from refusing pension on
, the ground that the disability Or disease
existed before enlistment. One bill in
PRODUCED fixes the lowest limit for a pen
sion at SIP; another would give $50 a
month for total deafness; still another
would give Sl2 to every honorably dis
charged Union veteran who had served 90
days and attained the age of 55. Most of