The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-08-24
ONE VIEW OF 1T.
Pensions Considered as Matter of
Business Only.
To THE EDITOR:

To THE EDITOR:
Your able editorial in the WEEKLY
CHRoNIcLE of the 18th inst. has been
read with deep interest to me, and
doubtless to many other old soldiers of
the state. However, if you will pardon
me, would beg leave to reply briefly.
if not eDcroaching too much upon your
space.
Differing with you, I hold that pen
sion is not bounty bestowed upon an
old soldier by the charity of the govern.
ment, but is, and should be, vested
right, a deferred payment of money just
ly earned by services actually performed.
1t is a means of reimbursing soldiers
for their outlay during the war, 4. e., for
the difference between the wages paid
and the current wages of the country at
the time the services were rendered.
Also the difference between the con-
tract price agreed upon and the price
actually received. To be specific. It is
we'll known that when the war broke
out, and for a considerable time after
ward, gold and silver were the money of
the country. An obligation made was
payable in this money, and the early
payments of the troops were SO made.
But subsequently, and without notice to
the payee, payments were made in
greenhacks deprecated to various
amounts, at one time being worth but
forty cents on the dollar, and averaging
for the entire time not above sixty cents.
The oasa vUaS diHaraDt with tb0sa pbo
furnished money for defraying the ex-
penseH of the government. Bonds
were bought at their face value with
these fortv-cent dollars, the interest be-
ing made payable in gold, and subse-
quently the bonds were refunded and
made payable in coin, and by later leg
islation virtually in gold. Therefore,
an Investment of forty cents realized a
final payment of 81 besides interest,
while in the case of the soldier an in
vestment of 81 lin services) realized the
payment of but forty cents. To equalize
this discrepancy somewhat is our rea-
son why pensions are paid.
1t is another well.known fact that
wages during the war ranged from $40
POI OL bAO AoI AI W PC pei Ody III
work shop and factory, while the troops
were paid only from $13 to $16 per
month. But am not finding fault with
the government because of this, for it
was manifestly all it could afford to pay
at the time. To have paid current
wages would have bankrupted the gov
ernment in single month. Realizing
fhTG rho ,afrinfiapo of 10 hnua
pealed to and nobly they responded.
But it was also given out, yea, pro-
claimed from every recruiting Office,
(and never contradicted by the authori-
ties at Washington that all who enlisted
would certainly receive land warrant
for 100 acres at the close of the war.
The fact that land warrants were paid
the further fact that the government
then possessed millions of acres in the
West tbefore they gave it to the rail-
roads) lent probability to the genuine
ness of the offer. The government then
was in tight place, and the boys helped
her out and took their chances. Now
the government is rich and opulent,
what to do with; therefore 1 think they
should pay, even at this late day, these
Obligations.
Besides this, soldiers life was not 8
round of pleasure in time of war. Tc
prove this, my dear John, let me give
you an object lesson. On the first cold
rainy night that comes, provide yourself
with blanket, a musket, coffee-pot anc
little bag of hard tack. Then get two
rails and lay them down in the stree
and make your bed upon them. Wake
up in the morning at daylight-you may
not rest we'll the first night-start little
fire and make some coffee. While en-
gagged in this occupation have three ol
four fellows at the end of the street take
few shots at you, just to demonstrate
how quickly you can lie down when it il
necessary. If it gets too hot, you car
take your boiling coffee in one hand, &
hard tack in the other form yourself il
line and trot down the road at double
quick, stopping to take shot now anC
then yourself. Continuing the march
you will arrive at Hood River and have
twenty minutes for coffee. You viii
thus continue with varying pleasures
say to Cascade Locks, and go into camp
You may be little late. if so you will
have to go a quarter of mile or SO tc