The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-23
as THEY VIEW 1T.
Veterans Opinion. Of tho Pension oue.tIo

Veterans Opinions OF tho Pension Question
John Ort, Valparaiso, Neb., writes I"
think there should be new pension laws
What is the good of the present law if Com
missioner can construe it to suit himself!
There should be law 80 definite that ii
could not in any way be misused."
Geo. w. johnson, Brighton, Mo-, writes:
There does not seem to be any change
from the old rulings in the Pension De-
partment. Whom shall we blame? There
are hundreds of veterans who gave their
young days to their country, but who can
not get their pensions for the want of proof
as to disability"
NJ III. Jones, Soldiers Home, Cal, writes:
" 1t is very unjust to expect an old soldier
to furnish witnesses of his injuries on the
battlefield. There seems to be plenty of
time for the Pension Bureau to find flaws or
some excuse to prevent veteran from get
ting what is due him; but in the days of the
rebellion the soldiers did not have time to
exhibit their wounds to their comrades"
Josiah d. Flynn, Anamosa, Iowa, says:
"There is a great wall all over the country by
the old soldiers and their friends that the
present Commissioners construction of the
pension laws is unjust and detrimental to the
interests of the old soldiers, and withholds
them from the pittance they have so Justly and
dearly earned. To remedy this evil the
present Commissioner should be removed"
Joseph II. Scott Sharon Hill, Pa, writes:
" must say that l am one Of those who have
fallen a prey to the unjust treatment of Com
missioner Evans. If the President knew the
facts in the various cases / do not think he
would retain the present incumbent in the
Pension Bureau"
Geo. Watson, Newton, Iowa, has the fol-
lowing to say The laws passed by Congress
are all right, if they were properly con-
strued, but it seems to be the practice of the
Pension Bureau officials to make rulings that
entirely do away with the law"
NJ b. B., Detroit. Mich, says: Many of
the old soldiers are too harsh in their iudg-
ment against Commissioner Evans Cleve-
land put in Office men like himself, AID the
Civil Service law keeps them there. We
should ask President Mckinley to ur1e Con-
gress to repeal that law, so that thosS in the
Pension Bureau who are opposed to the vet
Grams can be removed, and their places filled
with those who are friendly to the old SOL
diemL"
Austin Gould, Flastown, Mo-, writes:
There has been considerable criticism in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE about the unjust
course pursued at the Pension Bureau. II
Gen. Raum had remaiHed in his old place
there would be no claims many years old
pending God grant that his mantle shall
fall on someone who shall soon succeed the
present incumbent
w. b. Davis, Adamsville, Tenn, writes:
Why is it that Hon. III. Clay Evans, Com
missioner Of Pensions, is Tennessean and
still against all Southern pensioners in all his
rulings? He is still talking and still cutting
closer, understand"
John Davis, McEwen, Tenn, writes: "Il
have no doubt that Comrade Mckinley
thought, when he appointed Mr. Evans, he
was doing us kindness, and as Mr.. Evans
has proved himself al enemy rather than
friend, Mckinley will do us another kind
ness by removing him.
e. Edwin Ross, Deerlodge, Tenn, writes:
{" We reJoiced when Hoke Smith, Lochren.
etc., oil went out Of Office, and looked for