The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-28

interesting iectery 10 president FMckin-
ley on the subject or pensions The
communication Is in the nature Of pro-;
test against the manner In which pen
SONS are given, Is full or truth ana
soberness. and will repay perusal. Here
1t IS: sg re-
ITO His Excellency, William Mckinley.
the President: a
May be favored with hearing of a
very humble plea? I want a pension;
want 1t bad, and as soon as possible.
ing of the law, am entitled to one; but
because Of justice. served faithfully
for three years in the One Hundred
and Fifteenth Regiment New York Vol,
unteers, Company e, was never absent
from the regiment, and did duties as
signed me as faithfully and well as any
other man.
Why and a few others who have
never applied fog' pension because too
conscientious to swear to that which, If
nor absoiuteiy false. is at least subject
70 serious doubt, should not receive
pensions IS most aggravatngly strange.
me fact is patent on every hand that
every unprinc.pled hummer, deserted
ana deadbeat draws a pension UfWant
It distinctly understood I say nothing
against deserving mem, while I and
such as l are the only men dcbarred
from Its benefit. I regard it as the wick
eldest piece Of Injustice ever practlced
on earth. There Is not a town or section
OF this country, but contains men who
were just as sound as am after the
war, and remained 50 until this tenl1ot-
ing vitlating legislation was enacted,
and now they have so far deteriorated
that they draw from IS to $50 and as
nigh as SIS month pension. Not only
have these laws, or the manner they are
executed, made it possible TO practice
these receptions on the government;
but they have encouraged them to be
dishonest with their friends and neigh
bors at home; so an honest creditor cam
not collect Of them an honest debt,
which reduces them to mere irresponsi-
BILE minors
Yes, your Excellency, I, too, want a
pension. while In addition to all this,
young widows, who were possibly un-
born at the time Of the war and their
children draw pensions, while Congress
IS passing special acts for special per-
sons by the thousands, many Of which
are so positively unjust that they can be
called nothing less than n loot OF the
treasury. Now Mr. President. am not
so ignorant as not to know that you
have nothing to do directly with the
making Of laws; but if there is anything
In this plain land perhaps somewhat un-
rcfined letter contained which recon-
mends itself to your favorable conside-
ration, You may in your present exalted
position do something by way or recon-
mending such legislation which will in
clude this compare lively small class I
represent on the list Of pensioners, and
thereby not only DO justice to us. but
lay the foundation for the stoppage OF
fraud and deception which is so evident
on every hand and SO freely expressed
by the great majority Of the people.
Let US have some common sense jus
tice and less soft sentiment in this busi-
ness.
"FRED MEYER.
YOUNGSTOWN, N. 2, March Q. 1897"
The number Of those drawing pensions
to-day is 9S0.o0o or 100000 more than
there were men In the Confederate army.
They cost the country something like
$1i0,000.o00 annually and the gist Of the
above communication to the President
is that very much Of this money is be-
ing paid TO people who do not deserve it,
and the country Is OF the same opinion.