The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-08

nues are falling many millions below the
total annual expenditures. the question
becomes one involving not only Justice
to the old soldier. but fairness to the rest
or the nation. There Us no dissent worm
consideration from the proposition that
If Sl5OOOO00O Is fairly due to soldiers. OF
those who have been or are dependent
upon them on account OF disabilities III
CURED In the service, every cent or II
should be promptly paid. Further thah
this there Is general assent to the prou-
osition that the government owes 10 an
who were disabled and IMPOVERISHED by
the casualties of the service, not the
mere pttanCe which so many OF these
now receive but a sum, which. with 9TH
or means that the pcnsoner may be
able to command, would lift him ana
those depending upon him above want.
There is a growing feeling that the pen
sions enjoyed by. many thousands VINO
arc in fun health and comfortably iiNeu
in life, should bc terminated, and the
government be thus enabled to more
nearly discharge its duty toward the
helpless and the miserable.
o
If the pension lists could be printed,
every community in the land would be
disgusted with its revelations. wealthy
men in large numbers would he tounu
upon It, Thousands would be revealed
whose disabilities were only temporary,
and so long since disappeared. y small
army of men would be discovered to
whom their pensions are i'm no sense a
necessity. While this state of facts would
appear it should not be forgotten that
there are men i'm good circumstances.
and many in public positions of honor
and emolumcnt, whose disabilities ana
perSiStenl wounds are of a character for
which no pension which the law provides
can even approximately compensate. Az
every step they have found themselves
! handicapped in the battle of life. for
such, and indeed Tor all of every rank
and position, through dc various grades
of disabilities, d pension is not only due
as fully propOrtioned to the needs and
deserts of the case as the government
can afford, but it is also q badge of hon
or. To those who are not thus incapac-
| itatcd for full effort in the struggle of
life and who do not need it, because of
the comfortable life which they can com
mand without it, a pension should be a
| badge of shame. These sentiments are
rapidly gaining ground among men whose
friendship for the soldier never has been
and never can he successfully disputed.
1t is in the interest of every deserving
| pensioner and every sclf-respeCtinE vet
! cran that unworthy pensioners should
| be exposed, and the success of undcserv-
| ing applicants should bC prevented. The
! situation strongly appeals to the mem-
bers of all patriotic societies for help.
| If the spirit OF 1861 still lives, it should
| not be difficult TO create a sentiment
| among veterans that unworthy pension
| crs cannot bo held to be in good and
regular standing The feeling among con-
Bressmen is that in the nature of The
| case. any proposition for pension reform
| should emanatc preferably from the Re.
| publican side, and, more important still
| from some prominent Union veteran. if
one of sufficient courage can be found "a
| lead. II is regarded as probable by those
| whose judgment in this matter should
| he good that unless rcvisionary or re.
| StrictiVe measures or both be soon adopt.
| ed, the pension list for next year will
reach $50, ,0O0,OO0 and that in three years
| it will be Sl7OOoOOO