The National tribune., 1898-02-10
as THEY VIEW IT
Veterans Opinions Of the Pen
sion Question.
The National TrIbune's Work.

The National TrIbune's Work.
E. S. Wieden, Evanston, H., writes:
| GAS a veteran who saw nearly five years
continuous service at the front in the days
when the Nation was, pleading for men TO
beat back the hosts of treason, | write to
thank you for the courageous work you are
doing in exposing and denounclng those
traducers of that which to every true sol
dier is dearer than life itself-his good
name. Those who raise this howl did not
raise a finger for the Nations defense
| when our existence as a Nation was at
| issue. The backbone of this villainous
attack is the enormously wealthy men
who have piled up many, many millions,
and now they grudge poor limping crilppies,
| lean with pain, their paltry pension.
| William Strain, Marion, Ind: In recent
editorial you uncovered the false pretense
| friendship for the old soldier professed by
| certain classes. We will remember, with
gratitude, your unwavering devotion to our
, interests.
Advocates Land Warrants.
Michael Connolly, Ol1arche, o. T.: Why
| not give a land warrant to the ex-soldlers
| of the rebellion? They are entitled to it.
| The soldiers of the Mexican war and of
some of the Indian wars have received
| land warrants. There is plenty OF land In
| the United States, and it would help to
| bring the old soldiers out of the towns and
cities, and give them and their families
| homes.
When Untitled by Age.
Fl. c. Markham, Assistant Surgeon, 10Th
| Wis, independence, Iowa, does not think
| it reasonable to expect the pension roll to
| decrease for some time. He writes when
| the act Of June, 1890, was passed, it in
| cluded the intention that when by age
| soldier was untitled for manual labor his
name should be placed on the pension
Il Id tn loot n
but at date of disability. That date now
applies to nearly every Union veteran"
No objection to Publication.
| M. Grootmoat, Sodus, N. Y: / have no
objection to the scheme to publish the
pension rolls. have my pension honestly.
| was a prisoner Of war and receive SS per
month on account of disease contracted at
Macon, Ga. l am nearly 10 years old.
Perhaps did not see as much fighting as
some others, but | did what l was COM
manded and never shirked my duty.
L. T.. Johnson, Wiota, Wis: cannot see
any possible harm that can come of hav
ing the pension list published. An honest
pensoner is proud that he is drawing
pension. 1t is not more than he is en-
titled to, and it is an honor. Why, by all
means, publish them, post them in every
postoffice in the land, and should there be
frauds, they can then be discovered.
why Are They Not settled?
J. N Land, Carlisle, Ind: A great many
pension claims have been hanging for
years. in a large number the amount in
vOlved is considerable. The evidence has
long since been completed, yet settle
ment is withheld. Is il now the policy to
make the Dingley law supply the demands
of the Government at the sacrifice OF these
old claimants that have thousands of
dollars due them? Ii not, why are these
old claims not settled?
Favor service Pension.
C. d. Harvey, Co. X, 9th Iowa Cav,
Keswick, Iowa, favOrs Il service pension Of
IS. He thinks the law should be passed
now, that it may benefit the largest num-
Der Of veterans.
Willis Dobson, Co. B, 5Oth Ind, Saline,
Mo, thinks every honorably discharged
soldier should be given service pension
of So. He would add to this a per diem
allowance, and in cases where the pen
sioner is badly crippled would make an
additional allowance according to dis
ability.
Andrew Payne, Co. F, Sd KY, advocates
a service pension.
Death Relieved Him.
Carlisle II. Thomas, Co. II, 43d Ind,
Robinson, H., thinks that the recent order
of the Commissioner of Pensions refusing
to consider application for increase within
a year after soldiers claim has been
allowed or rejected will work great Injustice
to the veterans. He writes: can old sol
dier living at Robinson had not been able
to work for 10 years or more. Eight years
ago he was allowed So pension Two
years ago he was granted S12 He became
worse and was unable to leave his bed.
An application for increase was made and
$50 was allowed him. The doctors who
attended him said he should have S72, as
he required the constant attention of a
lis 70,
days ago. Under Commissioner Evans's
ruling he could not have made another
application within a year. But death has
relieved him."
Seems to Have Few Friends.
George H. Lusk, Memphis, n Y: They
say that attorneys are only looking for
fees; so are lawyers, merchants bankers
and politicians. They say that pension
attorneys have no love for the old soldier.
Great Iieavensl how many have love for
the old soldier? Their friends are not all
dead yet; but when we read the articles in
regard to pensions, hear the remarks OF
our neighbors and read some OF the
speeches in Congress, we wonder If there is
really anyone outside Of the veterans near
and dear friends who have love enough for
the old soldier to look over the cold fnan-
cial statistics and say: Eyes, wei pay the
old soldier just as well as we paid the
bondholder."
His Plan of Paying Pensions.
Fred Meyer Co. T., 115th n. Y, Johns
town, n. Y, thinks the demand of Com
rade Zehring, Of Dayton, o., for a service
pension OF So per month in addition to a
per diem pension is excessive. Comrade
Meyer writes: II think it would be wiser TO
ask only the per diem now, and wait for
future developments for an increase Com
missioner Evans says there are 200 900 I'M
adiudicated claims in the Pension Office.
When these are adjusted there will be "a
decrease in appropriations. Then the Elk
aminng Boards should be abolished and
young widows should be refused pensions.
The money thus saved can be used in pay
ing Just pensions to the aged and needy
veterans.
Protests Against Waiting
Arthur L. Cook, Co. b, SD Ill.,, Winterset.
Iowa, writes that petition for a so-calied
service pension bill has been circulated in
his neighborhOod. 1t asks pension for vet
Grams over 90 years of age. COmraCe Cook
says: "WhO deserve pensions the men
and boys who enlisted under the first call
re enlisted under other calls, serving from
the beginning TO the end OF the war, or the
older men who have attained the age of 60
years, but served in many cases only
three months or hundred days. and
others who enlisted Tor three years and
were discharged after few months on
account OF age and disability? MANY of