The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-18
Prs-E.ection Pension Promises.

1t seems somewhat remarkable that
Republican administration, and espe-
cially one Unidentified with the name of
William Mckinley, should be subject
to criticism for failure to live UP TO
Its prediction promises respecting the
granting Of pensions. Mr.. Cleveland,
during both his administrations, was
pilloried as the enemy Of the old soldier
because he took occasion to veto few
score of most Objectionable acts of spe-
cial legislation in the cases Of claims
So destitute Of merit that they could
not pass successfully through the ordi-
nary channels of the pension bureau.
But now the National Tribune at
Washington. a newspaper founded and
conducted in the interests of the vet
eran soldier, comes cut vigorously
against the policy of the administra-
ton on account of It's shortcomings in
the matter of pensions. Calling at
tention to the criticisms made by Re-
publican orators and newspapers of
what were regarded as studied Sights
manifested by the Cleveland admins
t"atioDs of the claimants for pensions
and the promises then made to correct
the alleged existing wrongs, if the
party should once more be returned to
power it says, There can be scarcely
a denial of the fact that it was these
promises which secured enough votes to
CeGnitely turn the scale of victory"
and adds
The administration has now run pretty
nearly half of its time, and it Is very per-
tlnent to ask when it proposes to carry out
those promises.
In the pension bureau there has not been
the slightest attempt to fulfll the lavish
promises OF 1895, Not rule. practice or
method of which the veterans complained SO
bitterly then has been abrogated, or even
essentially modified. 1t is as difficult Low
for deserving veteran to prove his claim
as 1t was under Cleveland, and the pension
bureau shows no more disposition to clear
up It's arrears and allow the claims of vet
Grams while they are yet alive
Ii the administration proposes to carry out
the promises Of 1896 1t will have to crowd an
immense amount Of work into the coming two
years. This will be seen to be particularly
urgent when 1t is noticed that for the last
week of 1898 Henry Clay Evans only allowed
Sl5 original claims-far the lowest allowance
OF any week since the act of June 81, 1890.
Al this sounds very odd coming, too,
from so trustworthy a source. And
in these days of an overfowing treas
try! In these times when large de-
mands upon the country for the crea-
ton of standing army three fourths
larger than the country has heretofore
been used to are being urged.
True. the pension allowance is a large
one for any government-aboutS S145.-
100000 annually-but there is no reason
Thy a deaf ear should be turned
against the more sturdy and independ-
ert Of the old soldier element who
have postponed their appeals for aid
until absolutely compelled to do So be-
cause of the tnfirmities of old age.
Surely if any deserve consideration 1t
IS the applicants from among this class.
There never has been a time when
forthcoming claims were entitled to
greater consideration, for these repre-
sent much more nearly the worthy ap-
peals for relief than the large propor-
tion Of those already satisfied.
Are the prediction promises to be
kept, or We're they only made to be
broken?