The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-17
rs THEY VIEW IT.
Veterans Opinions of the Pension
Question.
Saving at the soldiers Expense.


| Soldiers Homes at Milwaukee, where
| $500 veterans are upon the waiting list:
| This is the last Straw-all applications
Tor increase must wait one year before
action will be taken thereon. This is
certainly a strange, but still it is an eco
nomic order-an order that If carried into
effect will show handsome balance at
the end Of the year for the Government;
for at the end of each sad year of proba-
ton, death will have cancelled many OF
| those probated pleas for justice"
Stand by The National Tribune.
E. J. Wentz, Little Falls. N. Y, closes
| Finging letter as follows: "My earnest and
sincereSt exhortation to the boys who wore
the blue is to rally TO the support of your
greatest friend, The National Tribune.
Stand firmly by it, as you did by your
! country in battle, and we will emerge from
the contest as we did in Co. with victory
and vindication streaming from our battle
flags"
Their Sons VIII BE Loyal.
Levi J. Groom, Bugler, I'd N. Y Cav,
Glens Falls, N. Y, writes: 1--WE supposed
| If we lived to return to our homes we
should be honOred by those whose lives
and property We had fought and suffered TO
protect, and not be called bummers,
thieves, sneaks and coffee coolers There
may have been such, but very few, COM
pared with the number of men in the field;
but there are copperheads, plenty of them
yet, and will be when the soldier is be-
You'd the reach of their calumnies. But
we have sons, and they will make their
power felt at the ballOt-bOx."
Would Like n Per Diem Bill.
W. Richards, Co. A, Sd Ky, and 1st Battery
Ky. l.. A, Morganville, Kan, favors a per
diem pension bill.
j. NJ Jacks, Riggs, Mo-, favors the per
diem bill. He says this would work no
injustice to short term men, as they would
receive ratings under other laws according
to their disabilities.
Something OF a Difference.
s. d. Bingham, Co. X, 8th Conn, says,
! among other things: 81 affirm that Tor
| every dollar paid TO the present survivors
of the war of the rebellion, more than five
| has been paid to the very class who, to-
| day, are accusing this Nation of unwar-
ranted generosity to its defenders, in the
| form Of what they are pleased to term
! 'paternaiSm. III the present survivors
! had received $50 for every month since the
war closed, it would not equal the sum
| paid our traducers and vilihers; and we
! further maintain that until every soldier
is paid the difference between a depreci-
ated currency, in which they were paid for
their services, and gold, in which the
bankers and bondholders were paid, then
the obligation of the Government to its
| defenders is not cancelled.
c. NJ. Lovett, Pingree, n. D.: whence
| come these TRADES on the honor and in
! teg-ity OF the old veteran? Why is he
! selected as the target for all the scuTilous,
suspicious, defaming and improbable in
nuendoes thrown at him by a certain
! class Of newspapers? In all the years
since the war, have never known one OF
| these articles written by a man who signs
| his mama Their authors skulIs behind the
| impersonality of the press, and are easily
enough traced to good old 'copperhead'
| hatred"
| Case of Injustice.
| A comrade living in Baltimore, Nd,
writes: 1T is strange that a soldier has to
| wait 80 or 81 years for what is due him.
| know a veteran in this city who served
| three years and six months. He enlisted
as private. was promoted, finally becom-
! ing Captain. He commanded his com
pany in many engagements, was wounded
! at Atlanta, Ga, and resigned on account
| of disability. But he was never mustered
| into the service Of the United States as an
officer. He il now drawing So as an en-
| listed man. Now, after over 80 years, the
| War Department has seen fit TO muster
| him, at the same time notifying him to
make application for certain sum OF
| money due him. He also made applica-
ton for rerating of pension. This was
over six months ago, and he has heard
nothing from his claim"
In Favor of Service Pensions.
| A. J. Kress, Co. l., 18th ILL.,, Marion, Ind. 4,
believes the best and only remedy is a
! fixed service pension 10 all honorably dis
charged soldiers and sailors, or fixed
pension TO each Individual according to
hi, term of service, and adds that j. j.
Smith Post, GAR, TO which he belongs,
is unanimously in favor Of the plan sug
! gested
Thomas Kinsman, PIatteville, Wis,
| thinks that every veteran should be given
! service pension Of 81 and in additional a
do Justice to all
Cannot Point Them Out.
NJ. f. Loos, Lieutenant Co. 81, 34th ILL.,,
La Sale, H., writes: ''Why don't the
kickers' notify the Pension Bureau who
are the frauds. We have some Iickers' in
our midst, but they can never tell of any
frauds when questioned. They say they
don't want to expose anyone i do not
think there is veteran here who is draw
ing a pension fraudulentIy. | receive SS
pension. filed a claim in 1884. ! had
often been approached by claim agents,
but said would not apply until my rheu-
matism disabled me for manual labor My
claim was allowed by Commissioner Raum
| think the soldiers should all be allowed
a service pension OF S12.
Words of Appreciation.
j. b. Curry, Atlanta, H., in sending
subscriptions writes: 81 cannot tell why
there is one old soldier or W.RC woman
Il
! 1t is the only defender Of the old boys,
and at time when they need defense
There was a time when pile of rails, an
old log or hole in the ground were ap-
preciated defenses, but to-day they need
something more. When men in high posi-
tons and those with virulent pens are de
nouncing them as frauds and thieves. thew
need a brave defender How all should
thank The National Tribune for its con
slant watch over their interests and in
behalf OF their honor"
miscellaneous.
John w. Curtis, Co. b, 10th Tenn Cav.
saws that considering the unquestionec
standing politically, morally and socially
, al every cOmrade in his County (McMinn
Tenn }, they all object TO being classed as
rascals, dead beats, and periurers. when
they arc being taxed directly and ask but
| SO a month for services rendered
VIM. ID. Smith, Liberty Ind, makes this
suggestions 81 for one would be willing to
leave the pension legislation to men who
are appointed by the Grand Army En-
campment, which meets every year Such
men could do more for old soldiers than AL
others combined"
: Noah l.. Reynolds, Co. T., sd Ind, asks
"Why keep them Che old soldiers) on
starvation pensions, or, i'm many cases
none at all, when the Nation is willing &c
take care OF the old soldiers? All we ask is
justice and an honest, worthy pension
roll"
William r. Bcabazon, Jacksonport. Wis.
thinks the claims on file at the Pension
.