Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-01
MIR. j. w. MASON AND THE PENSION
LIST.
Hon. John w. Mason, of Marion, has
published some reasons why the pen
sion list should not be made public.
He saws in part:


IF the list were published in good faith
and circulated and used a roll of hon
or it would be a very handsome thing, in
deed, to do but if ii is intended as init
mated by Commissioner Evans. that a list
be circulated by the government that the
people may scrutinize it, and discuss ii on
the streets, in the groceries and al the
cross roads-the merits and dement's OF
every pensioner-then no good would
come from such publication. And if it
be intended that the list shall be kind
of general seach warrant. to aid the
pension bureau in ascertainng who are
on the rolls improperly. then Corporal
Tanner was quite right when he said
1T would be 'damnable outrage. Why
should every honest soldier in the land
who draws pension authorized by the
laws Of his country be subjected to this
lndlgnity? If you please, why should
on the battlefield at Bull Run, stand UP
and be searched. because, forsooth, some
one, else claimed what he was not entitled
TO nave and succeeded in deceiving the
pension bureau?'
Why mo good and why "indig-
nity?"
Mr.. Mason's reasons for Directing to
greater publicity to the honored roll
are weak. A soldiers warrant to a
pension is. or should be, because of
some noble or heroic act or acts in the
service of hi country, whether in time
OF war or peace, the result of which
has incapacitated him in some measure
from earning livelihood. This in
capacity may be from impaired health
or loss of limb, or some other cause.
When such impairment, or loss, oc-
ours can it be hid under a bushel? Or
If it could, is there any reason for do
ing so more than there is for a citizen
who takes his life in his own hand
when he enters either branch of the
service? His enlistment in time of war
is of the highest and noblest order of
patriotism, and hence the most deserv-
ing of public eulogy. The soldier him
self is proud of it as are his descend
ants, and secrecy is as unreasonable as
it is impossible. Likewise the pension
list, which is the expression Of a coun-
try's gratitude for the sacrifice of her
citizens, ought to be for the same rea-
sons outlined above, as public-in fact
more so, for it is every citizens pro-
perty, for every citizen pays his quota
towards its maintenance This pen
sion list is roll of honor, not to be
abused or defled. and every soldier
who is properly enrolled thereon
should be as proud of it as of his en-
, llstment certificate, or of the document
recording his honorable discharge from
the service
Why then should deserving pen
sioner object to the greatest publicity
On the contrary, it is he who should
demand it. in order that the list would
be weeded of frauds-if frauds there
be. Corporal" Tanners remark that
such publication would be "damnable
outrage has no foundation in fact.
Neither has Mr.. Masons reasons: for,
as stated above, every soldier who is
rightfully on the list can have no
scruples over full publicity, and GER
tainly no valid objection can lie
against the public scrutinizing the bill
of costs, which it is compelled to pay.
One might just as well say that the
grocer or the baker should collect his
bill from his customer without render
ing his account for examination and
proof of accuracy.
Yes, let the pension list have all