Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04

THE PENSION QUESTION.
Two Communications on the Subject
ExpressinE Different views.

THE PENSION QUESTION.
Two Communications on the Subject
Expressing Different Views.
Two communications have been received
in regard to the treatment of pensioners,
one being from &c. H. H. who takes issue
with Mr.. McElroy, as follows
ALLOW me little space in your paper to
express my surprise at the article of John
McElroy in your paper of the 31st ultimo,
under the caption of The Complaint
Against Mr.. Evans and I am frank to say
that 1 fear the effect of such communica-
ton, coming from one who has such an
honorable record as a soldier, and who
holds such an influential position as the
manager Of the largest paper in America
devoted to the soldiers interests.
''If l interpret the language correctly, he
would counsel his old comrades who have
been identified with the republican party
since coming home from their army service
to quietly remain inactive and let the adj
ministration of government affairs pass
into the hands of the democratic party, be-
cause the promises made in the campaign
of 1896 have not been kept by some who are
holding important subordinate positions and
have patronage and favors to bestow under
Mr. Mckinley.
This is precisely the position that was
taken by many during the campaign be-
tween General Harrison and Grover Cleve-
land, and the disastrous results that fol-
lowed need not be stated Can it be posi-
bic that Comrade McElroy would have
these conditions and results repeated? 1t
certainly looks like cutting off ones nose
to wreak vengeance upon the face.
THE wholesale removals of hundreds of
old soldiers by Messrs. Cleveland, Hoke
Smith, LamareuX, Lochren Co. is too
fresh in the memory of those that suffered.
and for one my voice shall be raised against
repeating the folly
The Other Side.
l.. B. Steuben replies to the communica-
ton signed H saying:
MI III says: After the maturest con-
sideration, through Commissioner Raum.
order No. 1854. dated October Il, 1880, was
promulgated. That order set forth the ad-
ministration's Interpretation of the new
statute" the act of June 81, 1880. All peo-
pie who follow these matters know that
order No. 1874 was not issued until care
full consultation was had with the men
that helped to make the law. and that it
full and clear and complete eX
PLANTATION of the intention of the law as was
necessary for the proper adjudication Of
all claims under the law.
I will admit Qor he has done so) that the
commissioner of pensions can take unto
himself a policy practically annulling the
above Interpretation of the law, If not the
law itself, almost but / do not believe that
the right to do these things is delegated to
the President even. While the President
has right to make more of a grant than
is the intent of the law. he has right to
make less of 1t. For example, he paid with
gold or its equivalent the interest and
principal of the bonds that We're purcha sed
from the government at less than their
face value and paid for with a sadly de-
mOraliZed paper currency of very uncertain
value. Thinking of these bonds and of the
cost of the war / am reminded of the fact
that over $500 0.000 more money has
been paid to the man of wealth for inter-
est on the money cost of the war than has
been paid IN pensions to the soldiers who
fought the war, and the man of wealth
stills owns his money, which was worth
from 81 to 45 per cent. but has now full
face gold value. Have you ever heard any
great row over this? And yet the money
all went and goes into the pockets of the
men of wealth. to benefit them and only
them, while the pension money goes into
the hands of the poor old soldier, broken in
health and in spirit, who Immediately dis
tributes it to pay for his wants. and the
whole nation is benefited, for 1t falls like
rain all over the land.
Under the existing laws of nature and
the pension laws it will never he possible
for the money paid out in pensioning the
soldiers of the war of 1S61-'65 to reach
the amount paid in interest on the expense
of that war; and when the last soldiers
pension check shall be ''cashed in" there
VIII be millions TO the pest IN the interest
to the bondhOlder.
I state facts and you have only to refer
to statistics for proof of what / say. What
matters 1T If the government pays out $40
100000 year If need be in pensions? The
money from which the pensions are paid is
gathered the same as the water for the
rains is gathered into the clouds from the
great seas and lakes and rivers, and pools
of it that abound in the land. No pool nor
river nor lake nor sea misses the little
that is gathered from it, but when it falls
from the clouds 1t vets the lips of the
needy everywhere, and the people smile
and are happy. But when the people do
not smile and are not happy, you may look
for a change, great change. when, just
preceding winters cold blasts. that great
the will of the people, to rebuke or to
praise.
For years the old soldier has been urged
to the polls "to vote as he shot," Ito still
help to preserve the country but now they
think they need him no longer, that he is
few and far between: but they are mis-
taken. There are lots of him left and he
earned with gun In hand all the rights of an
American citizen and will exercise those
rights He will not stay at home on cleo
ton day. for he has just as good a right to
change his vote or his principles the
President has to ignore or forget that
plank which was written for him in the
republican platform. and he will not BE-
alone for there will be with him his sons
and his sons-in-law and his many friends,