Abilene weekly reflector., 1897-12-16
.PENSIONSOF WIDOWS
Plan to Correct the Abuse of Young
Women Marrying Veterans.
LIST OF THOSE DRAWING PENSIONS.
Many Impostors Likely to BE Found Whom
Pubiished-Ths Idea lnd0rsed by the
Loyal Legion and Members Of
the Grand Army.

WASHINGTON. Dec. a.-The house
committee on invalid pensions met yes
terday and took action that is intend
ed to correct the alleged rapidly grow
ing abuse OF young women marrying
old soldiers for the purpose of becom-
ing their widows and drawing pensions
from the government. This subject
has been much discussed, in view Of
the comparatively large number OF
widow claimants on account OF the
revolutionary war, war of 1912 and
Mexican war service of husbands The
committee authorized Chairman Ray to
obtain from the com mttee on rules an
order or rule permitting an amend.
ment to the pension appropriation bill
providing that no pension shall here
after be granted to the widow OF sol
dier or other person who is married to
such soldiero or person after the passage
of this act, excepting, however, all
soldiers, sailors, officers, etc, now in,
Or who may hereafter enter, the mill
tary or naval service of the United
States.
A bill will be introduced in congress
and pressed for passage this session
providing for the publication of list
OF persons now drawing pensions from
the United States, for the purpose OF
submitting it to public scrutiny.
The ultimate object is to secure criti-
cism and information concerning those
whose names will appear There are
thousands of persons drawing pensions
who are not entitled to them and have
obtained them by fraud, although 1t
is difficult to prove it. If a list
OF the names of pensioners in
every county or township were posted
in conspicuous place with brief
statement of the military service
claimed the amount Of the pension and
the reason why it was granted, it
would doubtless bring down upon the
commissioner here voluntary evidence
from neighbors and former comrades
Of the greatest value. There is no good
reason why the pension list should not
be made public. A pension is badge
of honor, a reward Of patriotism and
faithful military service, and its value
is very much reduced in the mind Of
every honest citizen when it is enjoyed
by unworthy men and is conferred
upon those who had no title to it.
If the pension list should be pub
lished as proposed the revelation
would cause astonishment in every
community. 1t would expose thou
sands of impostors and men who per-
formed no military service, or so little
that they would not be able to face
their former comrades. Every now
and then the agents of the pension
bureau stumble over cases in which
men who performed little or no serv-
ice during the war have been awarded
honors which none but crippled veter-
ans are entitled to, and others who
are in ill-health or are disabled are
receiving credit and compensation for
disabilities that can in no way be at
tributed to their military service. This
movement was not proposed by civil
ians or enemies of the pension system.
1t is backed by the Loyal Legion and
members of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, who feel pride in their
pensions and are determined to do all
they can to drive the frauds out of the
pension office, just as they drove them
out of the camps during the war.