The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-11
rs THEY VIEW 1T.
Veterans Opinions of the Pension
Question.

Many comrades write THE NATIoSAL TRIB-
UNE what they think about pensions. Below
are given some of the views expressed.
Charles Jenkins Co. G, Cd \. Y. Mt'd Rifles
Lewisvillc. Wash. writes: Il want TO say a word
IN appreciation of your paper, aud the work IL is
doing for the old soldiers There are large num-
bers OF the boys of '6I aud '65 who are unable
to earn a living. They are either receiving
no pensions or tho smallest that the law allows.
Under these circumstances they are dcbarred
medical treatment. or If by starving them
selves and their families they save the neees-
sary money for visit to the physician, they
are consoIed with advice something like this:
Keep quiet. Don't get over heated or tired.
Eat plenty OF good, nourishing food, aud you
can keep around comfortable for several years
yet; but | can't cure you, nor can anybody
else. You are generally broken down"
Samuel G.. Meek, Past Commander of Slough
Post, 6, Socorro, y. NJ: Tic greatest injustice
is being done worthy veterans. especially those
of longest terms of service. The 90-days men
and the militia seem to have a greater hold on
Uncle Sans affections. for very few of them
rated at less than $l2 per month. Such is
the case all over the country. Congress should
pass the Service Per Diem Pension Bill. Give
the 80 days men sl2, and those of longer SER
vice The SIP and she per diem OF one cent per
day for every days service added thereto
Then there will be no need Of spending QUE
IDlFu OF tHb pEHsiOu aFpibIi tat4OI lVE Aituftdl
Examiners aud spoilers and Special Examin-
ers.
Rev f. W. Mcintosh, indianapolis, Ind:
am one of those whose pension WAS cut down
by the late Administration, and / have not yes
been able 10 get it raised. A large part OF my
congregation are old veterans, and at recent
Sunday evening meeting q resolution was pass
ed unanimously asking the Commissioner OF
Pensions to place on the rolls at the old rate
oil epsiauprz xh n la bseu drgpuaf "a,
dGced.
c. K. Ward. sth Wis battery, Kellogg, Idaho:
i have been trying TO get pension for the last
six years Special Examiner came here in
July. lie told me | should have no further
trouble. and my claim would be allowed within
a month or two. have heard nothing since.
VIM. T. Brown. Baltimore Nd: ] read with
interest the report of the g. A. K. Pension Com
mittee. believe that the time has come when
a service pension based on the age of the claim
ant should be passed rs an act of justice to the
thousands who are daily growing too feeble to
continue active work. | would suggest that
House Bill No. 1876 of the first session of the
Both Congress- which provides for pension for
soldiers over 81 years of age be amended to in
cude those 80 years old. A soldier who is now
So years old, helpless, and dependent upon the
cold charities of the world would have to wait
10 years before he could be pensioned as the
act now reads.
George Kendall, Shelbina. Mo-: 81 see by
the report of the Auditor of the Interior De-
partment that the disbursement of pensions
has cost the Government So 80 for each $1,000.
Why not pass Service Pension Bill. and do
away with much of the red tape and expense?
Work for Sl2 per month, and let every man
who served go days and received an honorable
discharge be placed on the roll.
Themas Rankin. veteran of over six years
service living at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, thinks
that widows of soldiers, no matter when mar
ried, should be treated alike in the matter Of
pensions. He writes: % If veteran marries
now his widow will receive no pension under
the act OF 1890, while the widow OF 90-days
man, married before the legislation was enacted,
will receive pension under its provisions.
This is not fair"
Chas. B. Teft, Hath N. Y, Eastwood, Mich:
Congress should pass Service Pension Bill,
giving at least s. per month to every honor.
abiy-discharged soldier"
]. 2. Thompson, Skowhegan. Me-: 81 am ia
favor of the Per Diem Bill. We who enlisted
in 1861 and served until the close of tho war
deserve more than the 90-dsys men. l think THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE is one of the best paper.
printed, especially for the old soldiers. 1t has
always been a true friend to rs, and ought to
be taken by every comrade."