The National tribune., 1897-01-07
hoasr 10 The world u te-day that Is struggling
toward truth and 1eaaty.
ELSIE PoMERoY McELRoY.
PENSION COMMISSIONERS.

PENSION CORNERSTONE
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: One Of the
most important appointments to he made Dy
President elect Mckinley, other than those OF
his immediate Cabinet-family, Is that OF the
Commissioner of Pensions. 1t is Important
for several reasons: I. The Pension Bureau
controls the annual expenditure OF about one.
third Of the money disbursed by the General
Government q Its operations reach every
part Of the National domain, and especially
that portion which furnished the defenders OF
the Union in the great rebellion. 3. Its
benefactions afford one of the most efficient
means of distributing the money issued from
time to time by the Federal Government 4.
Very largely it has to foster and preserve the
patriotic sentiment of the Nation by remind
ing, in substantial way, the brave de-
tenders of the Union Of the faithfulness OF
the Government to its promises made In the
hour of darkness and imminent peril. Any
departure from liberal justice everywhere Is
felt keenly and made apparent by the earn
est protests Of the boys in blue and their
wards.
The Commissioner of Pensions, it Is con-
coded on all hands, must possess certain prom
inent qualifications. Among these may be
mentioned the following:
1. He must be a native, patriotic American:
His loyalty to this country must be beyond
question, and must be known by proofs IN
fallible.
2. He must be honest and just. He has to
deal with soldiers, their widows and orphans,
and hence must be known to be in thorough
sympathy with them as justly entitled to the
benefactions of the Nation.
3. He must not be a bigoted partisan
whose sense of honor and justice is confined
within the narrow limits of any political
party, and whose actions are governed by the
sole desire of mere party ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
a. He must have administrative ability
commensurate with so important and exten-
sive trust.
S. He must have the requisite knowledge
of human nature and the corresponding de-
cision of character to surround himself with
assistants and advisers of discretion who
shall not be an incubus upon his administra-
ton, involving it in scandals and bringing
the Bureau into manifest disrepute.
6. He will be the better for having had
legislative experience, such as shall have
acquainted him with the obstacles and
violent opposition which this branch OF
administration has encountered IN the past.
Z. He must have been Union soldier who
| saw active service at the front. The Pension
Bureau belongs emphatically to the boys in
| blue. 1t is theirs by virtue of thousand
arguments, whose cogency is traceable to the
| weary march, the empty haversack, the
severe wounds, the starving prison-pen and
the countless exposures and deprivatlons
generally which characterized the "clvI
war; of 1865. Their voice should be
| heard in the selection of Commissioner, and
| their services employed largely in the man
| agement of this important Bureau.
In casting over the great field Of valuable
material from which the selection OF Com
| missioner is to be made, it is found that these
| qualifications are blended effectually in one
| man, Mai. John A. Picker, of South Da
| kota, at present Chairman Of the Committee
on Invalid Pensions. His intelligence, hi
patriotism. his courage, his devotion to thu
Union soldier, his experience as member
Congress and his general acquaintanceshil
with the duties and prerogatives of the Pen
sion Bureau designate him pre-eminently a
the man to be chosen for the POSITION
FRAIsE RICHARD, Washington, D. G.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AZ SOM
comrades are calling, through the columns o
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, for Maj. J. A
Picker for Commissioner Of Pensions, de
sire TO say to the comrades, let us pull to
gether for the Major. He has champione'
our cause in the past, and we can trust on
interests in his hands during the next Ad
ministration. B. BOOTH, Co. II, Ut
Iowa Canning s. ID.