Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-06
PENSION REFORM.
Some Suggestions to Legislation
on the Subject.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The soldiers of the revolution were, at
first, pensioned at but So per month, If to-
tally disabled the result of known
wounds" They were called upon to state
to their country that they were in need of
their countrys help. Known wounds and
dependence furnished the original basis for
pensions. 1t had been better for the nation
and better for the really disabled If de-
pendence had never ceased to be a prime
basis of the pension system. The result
would have been that we could have be-
slowed more liberal pensions on the really
disabled class. .----.-.. .
The coming Congress will, no doubt, be
called upon to consider the propriety of
again requiring dependence and not dis
ability alone as pension basis. And that
progressive step will ultimately meet pGpu-
lar approval. The needy pensioners com
prise not less than three-fourths of the
pensioners the rolls. They, with great
unanimty, will approve the proposed re-
form. Nothing has so irritated them on
receiving their meager quarterly stipends
as to see their wealthy neighbOrS, though
honestly disabled in the service, receive
just as much: neighbOrs who, because in
dependent, had no honest claim upon the
benevolence of the natipl 1t sings the
great ma jority deeply az they reflect if
there We're independent pensioners, if
there Were none on the pension rolls except
those who stood in real need of the bounty
of the government, there would be more
money for the direful cases of suffering
| ard poverty known in every community.
Our immense annual exp nditure tor pen
sions has deferred Congress from giving
the commissioner of pensions any dIscrc-
tiondry power in the matter of the relief
of those most sorely in need of the larger
benevolence of the nation. Strike off $50
100000 from the annual pension ilIrden,.
and Congress would soon devise some plan
to minister to the most needy. saViors Of
I the country. Let Congress enact law pro-
hibitng the payment of pension to any per-
son-veteran or widow-who has an income
from any all sources in excess of 5000
per year, and the S30O0000O annual reduc
ton would be the result, for certainly, full
One-fourth of pensioners and claimants be-
long to the weil-to-do class who have
moral right to receive the unneeded charity
of the country. Such a law would at once
make a new application for an original PEN
sion a rarity, for those who have never yet
applied for pension may be presumed to
be Independent of government assistance
A public conscience would be created that
would cast something of odium upon the
eX-sOldier who asks the government TO
help take care of him, when he is album
dainty able to take care of himself. The un-
written moral law will then read: THE
charity of the nation Is only for the needy
defenders thereof. and he who, not needing
help, asks or accepts it lessons the fund
| designed for those only who really need it,
This reform once agitated, and few pen
| stoned office holders or office seekers of in
| dependent means would meet much favor
| with their peoples. Surely, they would re-
| ceive small support from the really needed
pensioners, or claimants. | once heard a
western representative say, Il am drawing
a monthly pension of $50 a month for
| piles. Mine is clear case, and my disa-
bility continues, sometimes making my life
a burden. 1t totally units for manual
labor My constituents know l am fairly
| we'll fixed. and, of course, 1 cannot parade
iOfirmiTigE them. They know
! salary as representative is 5000 year,
| and to most OF my pensioners that makes
| me loom up as a millionaire Out of my
! mileage save more than my pension
| money. / elected because 1 was a SOL
| der To put it on no higher ground |
! found it polite to transfer all my pension
/ stipend to the G. A. r. relief fund. If l
| should cease to do that, would certainly
| become back number in politics / cannot
| give up. abandon my pension. That would
| seem over-righteous, and the boys are
| smart, and know that l would be simply
| banking on my money, and could resume
my place as a penslOner whenever / saw tit
| to do so. And so our relief fund will con-
| tinue to be sure of my $50 month"; ~.'.
| Nothing has so brought national reproach
/ upon the pension system as the large num-
| Der of Independent pensioners. While that
| class were pensioned account of dis
| abilities received in the service. that re-
| proach found but feeble voice, but the
| fact that many thousands of prosperous
| men are pensioned illegally pensioned) I'M
| der the law for. disabilities in no wise
| connected with their soldier lives has
/ larg ~ withdrawn from the pension system
| the affectionate gratitude of the American
! people.
| There has never been such thing as a
! soldier vote" our veterans have ever
! been too self-respecting to sacrifice their
| cherished political convictions for the sake
| of petty pensions. The soldier vote is
| mere myth, but as another presidential
| election is rapidly drawing near, that myth
| may brighten Congress at its next session
| 1r,ty, Pvt
| the proposed reform will crystalline into
| law, and known wounds and dependence.
| as at the close of the revolution, will fur
| nish the only basis for pensions
y SOLDIERS FRIEND.
| November 4, 1899.