The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-24
TIE DEMAND FOR THE WAKES or
THE PENSIONERS.

1hE FOX THE WAKES OF
THE PENSIONERS.
me Eirst step Toward n Resdiuutssnt or Gev-
ernnaeut Receipts ana Expenditures.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. It must
crafty you to know that one hcarn on eyory
sido praises for your fearless exposure OF the
pension swindle. For several years the writcr
has talked with independent, conservative mon
about this great abuse, and he has found it tho
universal opinion among them that tho most
important duty Of Congress 10 to weed out at
once tho fraudulent names on the pension roll.
We know OF no ono who is opposed to the pay.
ment Of pensions, even moro liberal than those
now given. to the surviving heroes Of our war
who were disabled or arc incnpacitatod for
work. But tho honest. sensible. tax.payinr
citizens Of every community look with disgust
upon the ablo-bodied frauds who have for Year,
since the war drawn thousands OF dollars from
the Treasury while engaged In regular oocupa-
tions, and having no disability.
Some OF these men are not content with being
supported by tho public on the ground of in
capacity for work; but, whilo getting the money
because presumably unable to work. they want
every office in sight on the ground Of tho pa.
triotic services thoy have rendered their country.
In this community there arc mon who have
held lucrative posts In the Federal service In
Washington and In the Custom House almost
continuously since the war. who have during
the whole time drawn largo pensions for disa-
biity. One mai In this county has boon Post
master. member Of tho Legislature. held an ofloe
in the postal service requiring great strength
and endurance, filled Q dosen other ofloes,
and 10 regarded 40 one Of the strongest mon
physically In the county, and yet he has been
drawing o pension for years.
could 20 on and cite dozens Of cases In this
nAt~hhNrhNNA AI--N a. -ktxl a.
strongest and hardcst-working men have been
regularly drawing pensions for alleged disabili.
ties. which either never existed or arc entirely
disconnected with their service in tho army.
Tho pension roll should DO o roll of, honor, and
apensioner ought to DO proud to proclaim far and
wide the fact that he 10 receiving from tho Gov
eminent q pension for honorable wounds, or
because no was unable to support himself or his
family, in the service of his country. But In
these days IL 10 considered an insult I, tho
veterans to suggest that their names bo pub
lished, so that their nelghbors may unto in
honoring them for what they have done and
suffered for our glorious country.
Keep up tho fight until the names are pub
lished, 80 that we can all learn what our Gov.
eminent Is doing for the worthy and who arc tho
frauds that are receiving dishonesty the money
which wo would GLADLY pay to those worthy Of
the honor Of being on the pension roll.
BooNroN. N. J.. Dec. %. JUSTICE.
Major J. J. Cemstsck,a Rebuke to O Pension
Claim Agent.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: The follow.
Ing was published in the Grand Ar7ny Gazette
for December. 1892:
NEW YORK. Nov. 10. 1899.
Allen Rutherford. $50 Fstreet ". w. Washington, D. C..
DEAR SIN: In reply to your favor Of Nov. II, I wish
to state that I did receive some blank papers from
n 70 ha Nl1AH IN vAOrrhio~ ato Y . y --.n
Der correctly. 1t stated at the bottom OF tho paper
that III had NO claim on the Government for q pen.
sion. I was to turn the papers over to somebody
else. have no claim and, therefore. turned them
over. Icannot conceive for the life OF me why you
wish every man who served during the war 10 mako
Q claim upon the United States Government for q
pension. am able to take care Of myself. II lost
both my legs and arms. but could earn money
enough for my self.support, I certainly should
never ask the Government TO pay mo for patriotism.
Icoutend that Corporal Tanner. who receives S72 q
month for the loss OF both his legs. has no right to
that amount. because he 10 able to support himself. I
trust that the now Administration coming into power
on tho 4th Of March. 1898. will weed out all these
"dead BEATS Us I call them, and increase pensions
TO widows and orphans and those who are really in.
capacitated and utterly unable to take care Of them.
selves on account Of sickness or injuries received dur.
ing the war. In other words. give pensions to whom
they belong. and I am satisfied that the new Admin.
~ WV IA w tuiss IL z CfEtbluiy VIII II u nlvo
anything to say about It. Yours very truly.
J. ]. CoMsrocK.
Major Comstock enlisted on Aug. 10. 1891, in the
New York Seventh Regiment: rcsn' listed and was ap-
pointed to Second Lieutenant. Third Rhode leland
Heavy Artillery. in September. 1901; was appointed
Ad1utant and First Lieutenant in October. 1851; In
1853 was promoted to Captain; in 1853 was pro-
NOTED Major In the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy
Artillery. He was severely injured In the line OF duty
In 1862. and It was ut one time reported that he had
been killed. He suffers to-day from the effect Of said
injuries.
AS may be seen from this letter. Iagree hearti.
ly with the article in The SUN of last Monday
on the pensions. The Government docs right to
give veterans help where 1t ia needed. It should
be giving some disabled old soldiers BIOS a
month instead Of SO; but they should be in &c
tual need of it. Every claim should DO thorough
ly investigated by competent and dislntercsted
men, not themselves old soldiers.
once asked an old comrade, who lost tho end
Of the third finger OF his left hand as he stood
beside mo at the battle of James Island. and who
Is receiving n pension, why he, who is we'll OFT
and a liberal subscriber In his Grand Army post
to funds for relieving widows. should ask a
paltry So q month from tho Government. His
answer was: why, to be on the roll OF honor"
The roll Of honor should not no constituted in
that, way. 1t would he for better II Congress-
""N' VI uutC u ultuuI ana
every '62 volunteer another. As for the men
who were drafted. or received bounty, or were
sent as substitutes. thoy have already been
rewarded enough. unless they were disabled In
service. I once led out n regiment of 500 mon,
and each OF them had 1900 bounty In his pocket.
A auartcrmaster who served under me at Fort
Esperanza., Tex. WIS thrown from his horse one
day as q salute was fired. and though he contin.
ue,i TO rido a horse and served out his timo, he
asked mo not long ago to sign his application for
a pension on the ground that no was rnptured
by that fall. I could not do 1t, and will never
agree TO the granting Of pensions on such appli-
cntions; Tho present list could be cut down
$,1oo.ooo:o0o by a thorough investigation Of ali
81 inns, 1t SHOULD DO done. and many @. A. r.
mon agree with mo in tho opinion, though 80
many Of them hold or desire to hold Government
places that they dare not say 40.
J.J CoMsTooK.
PosT-GRApUArE HOSPITAL. New York, Dec. 22.
The "Encors' and .'Bravoo Fiend.
To THE EDITOR OF TIRE suS-Sir: THE Sun has done
40 much to check the "encore'' abuse at the Sunday
night concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House that
thousands will rise up and call won blaaasd 10 xou