The National tribune., 1899-12-21
REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON PENSIONS.

| oIl L NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ger, Chairman-hed session in Washing
ton prior to the assembling of Congress,
and took some testimony with regard to the
operation of the pension laws. The Secre-
tary of the Interior, the Assistant Secre-
tary, the Commissioner of Pensions, and
, First Deputy Commissioner appeared before
them. The Commander-in-Ch Chief and
GAR. National Committee on Pensions
were represented by Col. Geo. 81. Patrick,
Past Commander of the Department of
Alabama, GAR. The Committee has
now submitted a lengthy report to the SEN
ate. 1t starts out with the statement that
the evidence shows that while the laws
are broad and generous, much difficulty
has arisen in their administration because
of the obscure phraseology of some of their
provisions, and the necessity of certain
amendments is obvious"
This is begging the whole question.
The phraseology of the laws is as plain
as the English language can be made.
The "obscurity" is fictitious and factiti-
tous. All the "obscurity" was the cunning
work of men who did not want TO execute
the laws according to their plain intent
I'and purport. and invented sharp quibblings
TO inject into them. Neither PresideB
Harrison, Secretary Noble, nor Conn., =
sioner Raum saw any "obscurity" IL the
pension laws, and they were all of them
far ADLER lawyers than any men who have
since been connected with the execution
OF those laws. OF course, any man who
does not want TO carry out law can raise
preteXts for not doing his duty, and this
is simply what Commissioners Lochren
and Evans have persistently done.
The real remedy is not to amend the
laws, and give an opportunity for fresh
quibbles on the amendments, but to put
a man in charge who is friendly to the
purpose of the laws, who will at once see
that their text is as plain as day, and suf-
ficient for all purposes.
The report of the Committe goes on:
The officials who were interrogated ali
! advocated the creation of non-partSan
| commission to revise and codify the pen
/
| more uniform and Ineligible, thus rem
dering their administration less difficult
| and free from existing perpleXitieS. IL
was also agreed on ali hands that the
wishes of the Grand Army of the Repub-
| lie 10 give a penSionable status to widows
under the act of June -, 1890, who are
III possession of an annual income not
| cXceedlng $3.50, i'll addition to the proceeds
| OF daily labor, and that in estimating the
penSiona5le status Of soldiers under that
| II ,l..t..
should be complied with. and the act amend
| ed accordingly. In the matter of ag-
| gregating the minor disabilities the Com
missioner of Pensions assured your COM
| nittee that that is the practice of the Bu-
| reau of Pensions at the present time, SO
| mat there can be no valid objection to
enacting it into law.
| Your committee were instructed to re-
| port by bill or otherwise, and accordingly
| bills will be presented for the creation Of
| Il commission on revision and codiiica-
ton Of the pension laws. for the amend
| ment OF the act Of June -, 1890, as urged
| Dy the representatives, of the Grand Army,
| concurred in by the officials of the Interior
| Department, and, so far as the provision
| 10 widows is concerned, recommended by
| the President IN his annual message to
the 56th Congress. and for the repeal of the
| act OF june y, 1888, relating to the time
when widows pensions shall commence.
| l.aler on other bills may be presented de-
| signed TO correct inequalities and incon-
| sistencies in the laws.
| Following the statements made to
your committee there will be printed as
| an appendix amendments proposed by the
| Grand Army Of the Republic to sections
and ; OF the act of June 27, 1890. the re-
| port of the National Committee on Pen
sions Of the Grand Army of the Republic, |
and synopsis Of all laws enacted since
| the foundation OF the Government on the
subject Of pensions.
IN conclusion your committee desire
| 10 emphasize their belief that a commits
sion OF learned JIriStS, one Of whom shall
be representative and member of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, should be
created without delay. to take into care
| ful consideration the entire pension sys-
| TEN, IN the hope that they may present
revision and coditication that will free
the statutes from antiquities and un-
certalntieS, and cons rIIct code that can
| ne administered 10 the sat 'SfactiOn Of 9th
| be beneticiarieS and the Government
| Believing that 10 be practicable, your
committee VIII press the bill for the creation
| OF 4 commission 10 early consideration"
We fervently wish that We could see it
| otherwise. but this certainly looks to lis
like more trifling and shilly-shallyfng.
10 amuse the veterans, and keep them
quiet, until they die OF, and their pensions
be Saved" % the Treasury 1t will take
some time 70 get the proposed laws through
| Congress, and it is hardly to be hoped that
the Commission could be appointed and do
| its work and get its codifcations enacted
into law by the present session. If not,
! then everything would have to go over until
the reassemblng Of Congress, a year from
now In the meanwhile tens Of thousands
Of veterans and their widows will have died.
and be out Of reach Of any law, no matter
how benelicent, that Congress may pass.
We repeat that the real remedy is 10 ap-
point a Commissioner of Pensions whose
vision is 50 clear that he will see no COB
security" in plain, everyday, unmistakable
| English words, used with their common
Significance.
CUBA's NEW GUyERNOn-GENERAL.
Gen. Leonard 3. Wood has been pro-
NOTED 10 the rank of Major-GeneraI of
| Volunteers, and appointed Governor-Gen-
eraI Of Cuba. This means good deal for
Cuba and our future relations to the island
Gen. Wood has at once the highest Amer
canism, with intelligence, tact and force