The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-24
rs THEY VIEW IT
Veterans Opinions Of the Pen.
sion Question.
Only a Needless Expense.

Newton Is. Spencer, Middletown, N. Y,
writes: THE popular yowl demanding the
publication OF all pensioners names is
senscleSS, because the name OF every rural
pcnSioner is published in some local paper
when pension is granted or an increase
allowed. AS an old editor who has read
great mass Of rural exchanges, / know
this to be Il fact. Not only the local Jour
nal OF the town nearest the penSioner, but in
at least one Of the Countyseat papers such
names are printed as current news items.
In rural communities everybody knows
everybody else and all about their bust
ness. The sapient city scrbblers who are
now so oificiouS pension liars may not
be aware OF this fact. | know at least so
pensioners and their circumstances, and
there is not one suspicious case among
them. / receive a small pension and am
not personally averSc TO having my name
paraded in print, but such general
publication as is clamored for would be
needless trouble and big expense To the
Government.
They Must Not BE Forgotten
T. II. Burns, CO. F, 37th KY, Spokane,
Wash, writes: 1T is now over 33 years
since the close Of the war. How many of
those who 10 day enjoy the blessing pur-
chased at so great cost think of the debt
OF gratitude they owe the veterans? On
the other hand, how often do we hear men
who stand with one foot in the grave and
the other on the slippery edge, Would not
the Nation show their appreciation and
inculcate patriotism by looking after such
Of these To whom il is almost impossible TO
earn living"
A Veterans Plan.
G. w, Co. b, 9Th Iowa, Newton, Iowa.
writes: My plan would be to raise pen
sonS below S2l per month to S2i and paw
all in silver. AS silver is worth about 43
cents per ounce or, we will say so cents,
the Government could purchase Sl14I4 =
$50 worth Of silver and pay by coming the
Same-S22S, 28S, 9G0-in pensions, or S24
each to every one living June J. 1898. Ac-
cording To present estimate the cost to the
Government would be less than the pres
ent appropriation besides doing away with
hundreds Of clerks i'm Pens on Office and
examining boards and specials, making q
big reduction in expenses"
Plea for Ger an Classes.
!. p. Adams, Sergeant, Co. c, 23d XIV.
Greenville, Tex, writes: There are widows
who were married before the war STAYED
at home and helped support the family
while their husbands were in the army
who are now only getting So pension On
the other hand. there are widows who were
making mud pies during the war, after
wards married veterans, and are now re-
ceivng Si2. | think every widow who
married a soldier previous TO April IL, 1861
should receive sig, regardless of the cause
Of her husbands death. know of sol
diers who served only 100 days and were i'm
no engagement, who are getting Sl2. while
others served four years or over and re-
ceive only So. So and $40, their disabilities
differing but little. / am acquainted with
soldie. who WAS i'm Andersonville 10
months and four days and is a total wreck.
He gets Sl2. Another soldier served three
months and IL days during the latter part
oil the war and gets Sl0."
Termed an Unjust Order
Joel III. Austin. Goshen, Ind, asks: as
there no redress, Has protection failed to
regard ITS obligation in aiding those who
were made to suffer not for themselves
alone, bat for our homes and for thc lihcr
ties 81 an undivided Nation n apncars to
me mat no greater insult could Ice thrust
ln the lace "a ihc Soldier and his loyaf
friends than afder 3s2 which practically
SAYS So tie soldier You have hal the
privilege si speaking encs noN eps bach
tfsta eiienee and duas 2 isi "a heas ffsr,
sfift HesftR iH IS wear.
- - -fssfAs Go 4 afsh Gls6a Warqsu
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champion the cause a these 'oid fratsas
ssf1 'ieeshss en ths hsHnty IL fhs Gov
tfsi' 'flis Please anCrHf tfse fhaNts -
So a .sssse cd ffats8s. 49, sstpfissa