Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-24
PENSIONING ~DEsERTERs.
Startling Proposition in a
Bill introduced In the senate.

b1li htrOuuceu IN inc senate.
Philadelphia Ledger.
In every land the soldier who wiIfully
abandons his post in wartime and becomes a
deserter Is branded with indelible disgrace
and should consider himself fortunate II he
has escaped the death penalty after a sum
mary trial, One who has so grievously Of
Tended against his country and the code Of
honor does not deserve, according to mill
tary aw, the forgiveness or forgetfulness
of a magnanimous government; must less
does he deserve any portion OF the pensions
or other rewards which are the recompense,
when worthily bestowed, for disability re-
ceived In the line of duty by the faithful
patriot in arms. Desertion Is an insuperable
bar to the allowance of pensions under the
existing federal law. The barrier cannot be
removed without effacing the distinctions be-
tween right and wrong, fidelity and faithless-
ness, honor and dishonor. The rule that eX-
cludes deserters from the bounty of the gov
eminent is so just, so obviously necessary,
not only to safeguard the treasury, but to
preserve primary distinctions. that the pub
lie were naturally astonished by the recent
announcement that Senator CullOm had in
troduced in the senate a bill wiDing out thesa
distinctions, proposing full amnesty and for
giveness for all deserters during the rebel
lion and making them eligible 10 a place on
the pension roll, If disability received during
their transient military service can be
proved.
The mere presentation of a bill of this
character Is an insult to the senate, to the
nation and TO every veteran who does not
wish to convert his country's roll OF honor
into a roll of infamy. Every pension certih-
cate should be the credential of loyal, faith
full soldierly service and the certificate Of a
-n1ltart. 1fuh1nnrahIn 1tCphu pya frnp, tho
service is a voucher for courage and CON
stancy OF priceless value to the veteran.
The de3erter bears no such credentials and
has no such voucher, yet it is proposed TO
cheaper every evidence OF soldierly fidelity
in the country by making deserters and
bounty Jumpers eligible for a place on the
pension list without the possession or pro-
duction of these badges of honorable service.
It is inconceiyable that the pension esti-
mate for the fiscal year 1901, reaching the
colossal aggregate Of Sl45. $50, $50, is to be
increased by the addition OF an unknown
but large sum passing to deserters as a
reward, not for the performance Of SOL
dierly duty well done, but practically as an
encouragement of cowardice, evasion OF duty
and the commission Of the m-st repTehen-
sible offense known to the military code.
But remarkable propositions are likely TO be
submitted to the congress preceding a ma
tional election. Some Of them may be favor
ably received to catch votes, Both parties
will set a sail to catch every ~favoring breeze,
but Friendship for the soldier" should not
carry congress to such an extreme limit
as to embrace deserters and bounty jumpers.
Whether this remarkable bill has been intro
duced by misapplled courtesy" with no
serious purpose to press it 10 passage, or
whether it is a deliberate movement. re-
maine to be disclosed. But It is a typical
example OF the mischieyous legislation which
thrifty pension attorneys VIII ondeayCr TO
push through congress before the presiden-
tial election, when the courage Of the body
is not likely to be very aggressiyely in eyi-
dence,