The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-11

when the government is through with
their services, are told to go back to
civil life and earn their living as best
they may. In illustration Colonel
Stratton cites the fact that man,
evidently General LIE, after having
been educated by the government at
West Point, sworn allegiance to Its
flag, and for four years fought against
that flag, "is now eligible and has un-
der the law been retired on the pay
and rank of brigadier general of the
regular army, while the volunteer off,
Ger, who gallantly defended that flag
in the civil war for four years, and
since that time served his government
in the capacity of clerk, has his grizzled
locks contemptutously referred to as
premature indications of mental de-
cay and physical decrepitude, and Is
therefore unceremonlously thrust upon
the world to make his way as best he
nuity on the part of the government he
helped to save" The Soldiers Politi-
cal League" the colonel says, has a bill
to correct such inequalities. This Is 1t:
That on and after the passage of this
act any person who has been, Is now or
shall hereafter be employed in the land
or naval service of the United States, in
cluding members of ~ state or territorial
militia or National Guard either as an
officer or enlisted man, and who, while in
the line of duty, has sustained the loss of
II leg, an arm. one eye. both eyes, or has
otherwise been injured or incapacitatcd
from the performance of manual labor in
pensionable degree. shall (as the case
may be) be placed upon the retired list
of the army or navy.
That all officers OF the military or ma
val service to be retired under the provi-
sions of Section 1. providing for registra-
ton on the retired list, shall receive the
rank pay and allowances next above the
one held at the time such injuries or dis
abilities were received.
That all non-commissioned officers and
enlisted men to be retired under the pro-
visions of Section I shall be placed upon
the retired list of the army or navy with
the rank, pay and allowances Of Sec
ond lieutenant of the army or Junior Sec
ond lieutenant in the navy, as the case
may be.
That any officer or enlisted men elect
ing to accept the provisions conferred by
this act, and whose name is now on the
pension rolls of the government, shall for
felt all claim to invalid pension to which
he is or may be entitled; and no officer
or enlisted man who Is now on the re-
tired list of the army or navy shall draw
a pension from the government.
No officer or enlisted man whose name
is on the retired list cf the army or navy
shall receive pay or allowances for any
service during the time in which he may
be employed in an appontive capacity
under the authority Of the federal gov
ernment. state or municipality in which
he may be so employed.
All laws or parts Of laws affecting the
retired list of the army and navy which
are in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.
Another purpose of the league is to
"break down the gates that allow a
representative, in congress or United
States senator to monopolize appoint
ments of cadetships to West Point or
Annapolis. When vacancies occur
hereafter at either the Military or Ma
val academy in any congressional dis
trict where such vacancy occurs the
fact should be published in the daily
press in the district and the place
thrown open to competition under
rules and regulations provided by
the United States civil service COM
mission. This gives every boy an equal
chance and from the workshop or farm
we may secure the material for de-
veloping second Lincoln, Grant, Gar
field, Sherman or Sheridan"
Perhaps the most daring proposition
of all is the suggestion that the entire
pension debt be funded into two or
three per cent. gold-bearing bonds
each pensioner to have his pension for
the next ten years summed up and the
total amount of such pension merged
in an interest-bearing bond. For in
stance, If o veteran gets $40 a month
pension, til" "oUld equal $120 year
and for Is. $780, The idea is to
give him /. tcrnment bond bearing
or 8 per cent. interest for the whole
amount in a lump sum, thereby abol-
ishing the pension department and its
agencies. This suggestion, Colonel
Suatton takes care to explain, has not
received the leagues imprmatur. 1t
is in the nebulous state as yet. But
with regard to the other items in the
programme, the leagues eyes are
'sot."
Colonel Stratton says the league Is
growing rapidly and will soon be ma
ture. There is no reason that we see
why it should not be welcomed into
the arena of public suggestion and dis
cussion. The more the merrier. Wis
dom Is not the monopoly of any man,
group or class. 1t comes, the proverb
truly assures us, through a multiple
ity of counsel.
Citizen George Francis Train, now In