The National tribune., 1896-01-09
THE SERVICE PENSION BILL.

! have made OF the service eHsioH, VIC
are in receipt of food of letters making
inquiries in regard to it and its probable
effect We are therefore constrained to
repeat much that we have previously
said: al
1. We advocate a plain, straight
Service Pension of So month to every
man who served 90 days or more, and
was honorably discharged.
2. This pension to be given as an abb
solute right to all who fulfill the two
simple requirements above mentioned.
1t will put the matter on a rock basis.
No man who served the required time
and was honorably discharged can be
refused his pension on any pretext what
ever
8. The main benefit of the passage of
such a bill will be to the hundreds of
thousands who have as yet not been able
to get any pensions at all. The benefit
to those who are now receiving pensions
| will be that it will raise those which are
below So month up to that figure, and
it will confirm every man in the posses
sion of at least that rating beyond the
power of any Secretary of the Interior
or Commissioner of Pensions to disturb
him. No man may be suspended or
dropped-he must get at least So a
month.
a. 1t will not reduce any pensions now
being received. The men who are now
on the rolls are there for proved dis
abilities. A Service Pension will have
no effect upon these. 1t is based upon
other grounds entirely.
5. A plain Service Pension Bill is
the only general pension legislation that
stands any chance Of success until there
is change in the White House and the
Senate, and such change cannot be
effective for legislative purposes until
the opening of the 55th Congress, two
years from now.
6. Therefore, get Service Pension
Bill through now will be the only eff
fective way to help our comrades who
are receiving nothing, until we can get
other legislation in 1898.
z. The passage of plain Service
Pension Bill will not in the least preju-
dice further legislation. 1t will rather
pave, the way for additional legislation
when the conditions are more favorable
than they are now. 1T will not operate
in the least against man getting more
under the present laws. 1t will express
ly provide that a man who has claims
pending under the present laws can go
on prosecuting those claims while receiv
ing pension under it, and just as men
are now receiving pensions under the
Disability Law while pushing their
claims under the old laws.
s. We can show that it will only cost
100000 year to put 100000 men
on the pension roll at IS month, and
but sl9, 100000 to put 100000 men on
the roll, which would Include pretty
much every man not now receiving pen
sion. This is so simple aud straight
proposition that anybody can understand
it and be satisfied with it. 1t gives no
room for opponents of pension legisla-
ton to make wildly exaggerated state
ments as to its probable cost, and thus
obviates one Of the great dangers in pen
sion legislation. On the other hand, to
put 100000 men on the roll will at once
appeal 10 every Congressman's mind as a
great and splendid act of National justice,
which will at the same time be of meal
culable benefit to the country by break
ing up the money paralysis. and starting
the wheels of business To distribute
SO, 100000 among 100000 men scat
tered all over the country, will be to do
something that will invigorate every
nerve of business as nothing else could. |
The pensioners will not hoard the money, |
but put 1t at once in circulation by pay
ments to their bakers and butchers and |
grocers. Within month after that sum
is paid out it will do the work of several
hundred millions of dollars in its rapid |
changes from hand TO hand.
In view of all these, considerations we
cannot see how any comrade can help |