The National tribune., 1897-01-14
THE SERVICE PENSION.

just VINO ana npW many Will NC
benefited by the passage of a straight
Service Pension?" 20
In the first place the report OF the
Commissioner of Pensions for the year
ended June 80, 1896, shows that at that
time there were 76,95S pensioners on
the roll who were getting Sc month.
Altogether there were "a, 495 who were
getting less than So month. The
passage OF Service Pension law would
at once raise all these pensions to So a
month. Without any further legisla-
ton without any act or application on
the part of the 76,95S men who are
now receiving Sc month, they would
receive S..
1t will 60 much farther. 1t will give
them as it will all pensioners "a
vested, inalienable right to So a
month. 1t will be something that will
not, as now, depend upon the pleasure of
any man who may become Commissioner
of Pensions 1t will be entirely beyond
his reach. He cannot DROP" suspend" "
"re-examine," or do any other of the
torturing things inaugurated by Com
missioner Lochren, which made the lives
Of the veterans one continued anxiety.
He must pay each veteran at least s.
a month. That will be his, simple
duty, SO direct and positive that
he cannot disregard it. This. in itself
will be an immense gain for all vet
Grams, for it establishes their right to
their pensions upon rock basis.
Next, the same report says that there
were pending June 80, 1896, 1O9,325
original invalid cases under the cid
laws, and 55,327 claims under the Act
of June 81, 1890. Here were 164,752
cases of men who have been seeking for
years-many as high as % and 30-to
get their claims allowed, and the Gov
eminent to do them justice. Besides
these there were 58,467 who had claims
filed under two or more laws, and $780,
O1O who have application an increase.
Out of these we can say that fully $780,
600 men will be at once directly bene-
flied by the passage iof a.Service Pension
Law. There will be- 76,958 who will
have their pensions increased from Sc to
So month, and more than 100000
who have been trying for years to get
their claims allowed, who will at once
receive IS month, to support them
while they are prosecuting their other
claims. They will not have to produce
any additional evidence" nor submit
to "re-examination," nor any other
wearisome procedure. All that will be
necessary will be to show that they
served 80 days and were honorably dis
charged, when a pension must issue to
them at once as matter of right.
1t would seem to us that so admirable
a measure should receive the instant and
enthusiastic support Of every veteran
and friend of the veterans in the coun-
try.
If it does not give all that every one
thinks should be given--and it does
not-then the way to do is to get it
through first, gain the great good that
it will undoubtedly gain, and then con-
centrate our efforts upon amending it
until it is all that we want.
Comrades, rally on The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE and the Service Pension Bill.
IT Is believed that among other
" Reform measures which the Populists
of Idaho have agreed upon is one closing
up the Soldiers Home at Boise City.
They say that the veterans sheltered
there should be sent back to the States
from which they enlisted. The. GUS
tomary lies and ISLANDERS against the
veterans are put afoat 1t is claimed
that at least one of the inmates is COM
paratively wealthy man, who is building
houses in Boise City, to rent, etc. Of
course, nothing better could be expected
from "the Left Wing of Pap Prices
army" which skipped out from Missouri
and Arkansas, as our people got the
upper hand, and took refuge in the