The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-10

battle of life. For SUCH and indeed for
all OF every rank and position, through
the various grades Of disabilities,
ueusfon is not only due as fully proper
toned to the needs and deserts OF the
case as the government can afford, but
it is also a badge OF honor TO those
who are not thus incapac1tateo for fuIt
effort in the struggle of life, and Who
do not need If, because Of the comfort
able life which they can command
without it. d pension should be a badge
of shame. These sentiments are rapidly
gaining ground among men whose
friendship for the soldier never has
been and never can be successfully DIS
First and most numerous among
those who rise to denounce such views
are the pension claim agents. OF course
there are honorable and honest men
among them. But as a class, they have
robbed and rifed and plucked the sol
diers to an extent which entities them
to all the honors of freebOOters BY
their persistent pursuit of veterans
and their heirs, ana their allurinS rep
resentatiCns. which have generally been
misreprese entations. these agents have
undoubtedly been responsible for half
the pension roll. They have profited to
the extent of many millions by fees,
which, in the main, have been eXorbi-
tant. During the past year, as the fig
ureS in the pension once viii snow,
they have collected more than half
million dollars from the pensioners, not
counting the minor fees and expenses
charged 10 IlGIll, Wn4Cu DIlil5 TIE at
torneys' charges to the pensioners Of
the year well up toward the million
mark.
Veterans should know that there is no
necessity whatever for employing claim
agents. Blanks can be had at the pen
sion Office covering all cases and pen
sion agents and the special agents OF
the Office in the field VIII give every in
formation. The body of clerks here are
experts, and every case receives full
and Intelligent examination. and each
claimant receives detailed information
OF the proof required, and all without
cost to the applicant. All this applies
to worthy cases. When case is un-
worthy, or where a veteran does not
know that he is disabled. of course the
services of pension attorneys who make
a specially of such cases is imperative
The huge dimensions of the pension
roll are largely due to the fact that the
government let the preparation of
cases go out of the hands of its own
force into those of attorneys. 1t is one
of the most marked cases of the shep-
nerd abandoning the flock to wolves
which the history of any nation af-
fOrds. 1t is not too late to save vet
Grams who have not yet been deVOured.
When the annual payments of all kinds
to this class amounts to a million dol
lars a year congress can do q kind act
to veterans. their widows and orphans,
by providing that no fees shall be paid
upon any claims for pensions filed
hereafter.
The experience of congressman who
show the least disposition to restrict
pension legis ton uniformly discIoses
the fact that the army of pension at
tOrneyS at once proceeds to raise a
clamOr. Their talk their letters, and
their circulars glow with the lOftiest
sentiments of mock patriotism. In their
essence these declarations are to the eff
feet that veterans having saved the
country have a moral right to loot it.
Before the apparent storms which
these performers raise, many good res
olutIon touching pension reforms van
ish. But the time seems to have arriv-
ed when the pension situation will COM
mand the attention which it deserves
because restrictive measures are both
just and necessary.
1t is in the interest of every deserv-
ing pensiOner and every respecting
veteran that unworthy pensioners
should be exposed. and the success of
undeserVing applicants should be pre-
vented. The situation strongly appeals
to the members of all patriotic sOcie-
ties for help. If the spirit of 1861 still
lives. it should not be difficult to create
a sentiment among veterans that un-
worthy pensioners cannot be held to be
in good and regular standing.
The feeling among congressman is
that, in the nature of the case, any
proposition for pension reform should
emanate preferably from the Republi-
can side. and more important still from
some prominent union veteran. if one
of sufficient courage can be found to
lead
It is regarded as probable by those
whose judgment in this matter should
be good that unless revisionary or re-
strictiVe measures or both be soon
adopted, the pension list for next year
viii reach $150.0OO 0O0 and that in three
years it Will be $17O,0O0000.