The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
Veterans Opinions of the Pension
Question.

MANY comrades write to TIE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE what they think about pensions.
Below are given some of the views expressed:
Reuben I. Putney, Park r. Martin, Clark
Meeker, and 81 other veterans of Danville,
H. SEMI q signed statement in which they
say they are in favor OF the principle of
granting liberal pensions to the Union SOL
diers of the late war. They are not in favor
of any legislation whatever being substituted
for liberal pensions When Congress stops
passing private bills granting $50 and 500
per month to persons who were never In the
army, when discrimination ceases against the
volunteer soldiers, then, they say, there can be
| liberal pensions granted. They are in favor
of the different Soldiers Homes being 80
arranged as to make them in reality homes
suitable to the necessary requirements of
soldiers and their families. These com
rades also will petition Congress to grant
to each soldier $1,000, to be invested
in home-one-haf for land, the other for
building a cottage thereon to be granted to
| all honorably discharged Union soldiers who
| served in the war OF the rebellion, and in need
| of home and this land to be untransterrable,
and to be handed down to their heirs forever.
Joseph Sailor Post 440 De Graft, o., has
| adopted resolutions to the effect that its
mem bers believe that the Pension Boards Of
the country ought Of right to the old soldier
| be composed of those who are known to be
! friendly to his interests. President Mckin-
! lev is asked to rescind the order placing
certain Examining Boards in the classified
list of civil service, and to direct that so far as
possible the appOin tments be made up of
reputable physicians who served for the
Union in the late war.
Comrade, Vicksburg, Miss: Allow me
space to tell of the way Union soldiers are
treated by the Examining Boards in this
| Southern country of ours. One comrade,
Emanuel Robinson, G3d U. S. C. T., was
| Justly drawing the small sum of So per
month He was ordered before the Board
of Examiners Results, the pension was
taken from him; now his friends are try
ing to get permit for him to 20 to the
| po0rhOuse.
A Veteran, Alstead N. H.: 1t seems to me
the better way for the Bureau would be to
adjudicate claims quickly, one way or the
other, and not keep claimants hoping against
hope. / call to mind a man who enlisted IN
the State of Massachusetts; went into camp;
was mustered into the service, and was dis
charged before the regiment left the State,
for disability He applied for a pension !;
| piSoCu IlSut3 lCIOi'StAAohi ~ wv w w.,
900 back pension The Government thought
afterward it was not all right and cut of hi
pension. About, six months ago he was re-
nstated, and now draws Sl2 per month.
His neighbor, who went through the war
four years, receives nothing. Has had an
application in. for o. long time, and occasion
ally he has an "afiidavit" to make out and
send in TO the Pension Bureau in regard to
his moral character. Then a rest for another
year; then more in regard to moral char
acter, and so on. g y
S. G. Dougherty, Co. I, 10th Ind, tells of a
long period during which the Special Ex-
aminers and Examining Surgeons have iu-
terviewed him. and he has not received his
pension yet. He thinks it a shame that the
Pension Bureau has for so long made a
practice of stringing out cases.
Gabriel Armstrong, Coalition, Pa: believe
in a Per Diem Bill, because the men who did
the most hard work are entitled to the most
pay. In my locality the three to nine
months men are the ones getting the largest
pensions. l served three years, one month
and 16 days in the 1st Wis. light battery,
and am drawing SO per month, and am
past doing manual labor. l made applica-
ton under act of June 81, 1890, and it was
rejected without an examination. Made
application for increase Is months ago, and
have never heard from It,