The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-01
THE PENSION SITUATION
CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM
By Il VETERAN EXPERT,
Who IL Convinced That the Country's
Bounty Has Been Abused.

examining board, has written the fol-
lowing critical review of the pension
system. 1t is an important, timely and
expert contribution to matter of the
highest national Importance. Dr. Steb-
bins writes:
In view of the facts that almost thir-
ty-three years have elapsed since the
close of the War of the Rebellion, and
thousands have been stricken from the
pension rolls by death, one would nat
urally suppose there would have been
an apparent diminution of the annual
enormous drain upon the financial re-
sources Of the government for the pen
sion department; or. at least, that the
high-water mark of pension expendi-
ture would have been reached long ago.
1t is, however, conceded by the au-
thorities that the annual tax is likely
to exceed, rather than fall below, the
present requirement of from $140,0 900
to $150000,000 a year. Recent figures
given out by the pension department
show that 50,101 new pensioners We're
added to the rolls last year, and 1000
lapsed pensions were restored, making
a total addition, in round numbers, of
$4,000 for the year.
The amount paid for pensions in 1897
was S139,949 III, an increase of S1.5S4,-
480 over 1896, notwithstanding the fact
that during this period $1,000 pension
ers died.
At this point let us consider the
causes which have been largely respon-
sible for this immense outlay.
In the first place, if politics could
have been effectually divorced from the
pension system it is safe to say that 14o
or more millions year never would
have been required. That the pension
department has been worked, in one
way and another, for the political CAPT
tai that could be made out Of it, none
can well dispute. The constant addi-
lions to the pension list are so many
overtures for the soldiers vote.
1t has also been an easy matter for
member of congress to present a bill,
and to secure its passage. increasing
the rating for a given disability, APP
parently without any accurate knowl-
edge of it's broad scope, wide applica-
ton or the amount of expenditure 1t
would entail AS an Illustration, take
one Of the minor disabilities, the rating
for which was formerly 81 a month, a
much larger rating in proportion to the
actual disability it gave rise to than Is
allowed for the major disabilities. A
certain member of congress secured the
passage of a bill raising the rating of
said disability from So to Sc month,
which carried with it an annual in
crease Of the pension expense account
to over $10,000000 a sum much In ex-
cess of that anticipated by its advo-
cate. In like manner, many Of the spe-
cial pension bills have called for far
larger appropriations than the original
estimates.
Again, legislation has removed SO
many hindrances in establishing and
proving claims for pensions that it has
become a comparatively easy matter
for the soldier to furnish the requisite
proofs; therefore the number of appli-
cants rapidly increase, large number
of pension certificates are issued and
so the nations indebtedness goes on
increasing, while, in justice to ALL it
should be diminishing.
T say in justice to all, including every
| soldier fairly and honestly entitled to a
| pension by reason of any actual disa-
| bility acquired in the service, disquali-
| flying him for manual labor and for
earning his own living.
No one not familiar with the cum
ming deceit, and feigning of disease
| practiced by the soldiers in the late
war; in camp, in hospital and in the
| field, in order to escape duty and active
service, can have any conception of its
extent; and no one who has not served
upon an examination board of surgeons
| for pensions can have any adequate
idea of the absurd grounds upon which
many seek to establish their right to a
pension. AS soldiers in war time would
| walk on crutches for years, with one
| leg drawn up, and kept so night and
| day, as If permanently contracted by
disease. all the while feigning the
whole thing; would so simulate con
sumption in it's advanced stages, by
| painting their cheeks to initiate the hec-
tic flush, and by an artistic use of the
| brush, exceeding that of the expert ir
| the theater green-room, would draw
| lines here, cast shadows there, upor
the face, giving it sufficiently cadav
erous appearance to secure their classi
fication among the hopeless cases
| would manufacture and raise sufficient
bloody sputa, by free chewing of rec
chalk, as to deceive the medical inspec
| tors of army hospitals; would claim tt
be lame, partially blind, deaf, dumb
demented, everything but dead; is i
not fair to suppose that the same de
vices are resorted to by the soldiers IL
their efforts to secure pensions? Wheth
| er fair or not the truth remains tina
many have, and it might even surprise
some of the pension enthusiasts, in con
gress and lessen their zeal in creating
new classes of pensioners, If they knew
| how many have based their claims 70
pension upon having been kicked b!
mule thirty odd years ago, without +:
single evidence but the soldiers wore
that the vicious beast ever served then
thus rudely.
In every one of these cases which
came under my personal observation,
must confess, after obtaining their ties
timony, and all other available inform
alton, that my sympathies were al
with the mules; for what they did the.
did with honest intent, which could no
always have been said of the pension
claimants.
Many soldiers have claimed that su
perficial cicatrices ON various parts o
their bodies were not only painful, blu
exquisitely sensitive, rendering thei