The morning times., 1896-03-09
CASH|HG PENSION CHECKS
Ccngressmen Favor Some Better
Plan Than Now Exists.
VIEWS OF TWO MEMBERS
Messrs DooIittle and Bartholdt Say
That The Times Agitation Should
Rear rFruit-Overstreet Measure Re
garded AZ Good One-Seither Ap-
proves the Guardian Idea.

The Times agitation in favor of cor
recting the abuses existing under present
conditions in the payment or cd soldiers
pension checks continues 10 be discussed
among members OF CCneres and others.
Ii is more than likely that the outcome
VIII bc the enactment OF some remedial
legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE Doolittle OF Washington,
who is keenly interested i'll the matter,
said:
Any measure looking TO the protection
Of the veterans of the late war IN their
right 10 he enjoyment of pensions under
The existing laws or laws much more lib
cral Ia them must, il seems to me, meet
with the hearty approval of everyone
approaching the services they rendered.
FAVORS No Restrictions.
Il have never heeu, and never shall be,
in favor of placing amy restrictions upon
their expenditure OF pension money, be
lrving that man who went through the
battles of that war has the right in fact
and in the eyes ard judgment of his coun-
trymcn. 10 do anything that may be done
without violation of law.
An exceedingly few. by comparison, of
those men have ever been found violating
the laws Of the land
The. disposition shown by The Times
10 aid in the matter of extending oppor-
tunitirS in making more convenient tn"
payment or pension checks is certainly
cun!ncndaIjle. ard indorse most heartily
The Times course"
MR.. BARTHOLDT'S VIEWS.
Representative Bartholdt said last night;
1 heartily applaud the effort OF The
/ Times 10 make public sentiment in favor
: of some measure OF protection 10 our old
| veterans against designing and avariciouS
! persons who on pay days, heartlcssiy strive
10 relieve them OF part OF the pittance which
the government allows them.
| But such protection, If il is to be
! afforded, must not be coupled with any
humiliation To the defenders OF the flag.
! The vast majority of them can well take
care OF themselves, and those that cannot
are. as a rule, carefully looked after by
members of their families or relatives tle
! latter bCn" naturally much interested in
not allowing the ''old man" 10 squandcT
! his pension money. The government has no
more right to inquire how a veteran spends
/ his allowance. than an employer or labor
! has as To the methods in which his hands
J dispose OF their wages.
For this reason | should he very care
/ ful aS 10 The nature of the reforms to be
/ brought about 10y new legislation. ! see
/ no objection to any man frequcnting a
| saloon for the purpose OF social chat
/ with friends over glass Of beer, and If, on
! pay day an old veteran feels like enjoying
! such boon should not beErndge IL. The
/ fact that after pay days large number OF
/ pension checks are found in possession OF
] brewers. Hs has been stated in The TiH-,s
/ does not necessarily prove that the veterans
! are addicted To the drinking In bit; il ratel
! shows that the saloon is their most con
| venient bank.
| Yet am in favor Of trying another syS-
! tenn 50 that all temptation may be removed
/ The hill providing that the pcnsioner shall
/ receive their checks by mail, is an eX
cellent one. and probably the only remedy
! the government can resort TO without
I humiliating the veterans"