The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03
AN INSTANCE FOR CONSIDERATION.

LII the Dalttez0l w llhlllSIOH lsiitiu, VA.
April tt. 1862, hardly eight months after
his enlistment, he received two severe
wounds, both of which rendered him an
invalid for life. A shot shattered his left
arm, which had to be amputated above the
elbow. \ bullet ut nearly the same time
struck and pierced his hip. This bullet i
proved impossible to remove, and to the
hour of his death this never-healing
wound, which had to be dressed every
day, caused him untold suffering and dis
comfort.
1t is characteristic of the stuff of which
the Union volunteers We're made, that this
boy, instead of sinking mentally and ply
sically under this terrible bodily distress,
took up his studies where he had left
them, determined to conquer even fate.
He WAS admitted to the bar. and though
he had to undergo the sharpest compcti-
ton from men in the full possession of
their physical powers, he forged steadily
to the front in his profession, and i'll
course of years attained the highest honor
that could come TO Il lawyer in his State,
that of election to the Supreme Court. He
acquitted himself SO well in this response
bic position that he was repeatedly re-
elected.
The Pension Bureau very properly de-
| cided that. as his arm was off on the same
side as his running wound, which required
dressing several times Il day, in order to
save his life, and he was consequently I'M
able to do this by himself-he could not
have done it had he had both arms-he
was entitled to So a month, under the
| Inv which pnp hot those
who require the regular aid and attend
ance OF. another person.
This was an obvious. common sense CON
struction of the law. There is not a rea-
sonable man who would doubt that this
was the very least that the Government
should do for Il man who had received such
awful injuries in its service. No man
would suffer what Justice Long suffered
every day of his life, not only in acute
| physical pain, but in the prohibition of so
many of the pleasures and activities of
life. for 100 times his pension.
Then Cleveland came into power, with
Lochren as Commissioner of Pensions, and
the much-trumpeted era of pension re-
form" was instituted. 1t became 4 po-
litical necessity to find pensions which
| touiu bt cut uDNH VI L Ht pun
lie mind had been Systematically de-
bauched by soldicr-haters as to the vast
number and general unworthiness of the
| receivers of fat pensions" For the many
thousandth time the small roll of those who
were receiving 81 a month was gone over
with microscope to find pretexts for cut
ting some of them down or off.
1t was discovered that Justice Long
was receiving 81 goo year from the State
of Michigan, and this was made the justi-
tication for cutting down his rating to $50.
Nothing could be more logically iude
feasible What the United States paid
him in partial compensation for the in
juries and detriments received in its SER
vice had absolutely nothing to do with,
no relation whatever TO, what he might
receive from any other source. 1t was as
inconsequential in the case as the interest
on bonds he might own, the produce from
a farm, or the price of saving a load Of
wood
The United States had entered into a
| regular contract with him when he en-
listed that if he was killed or wounded in
its service, it would give a certain rate of
compensation. There was not the slight
est contest that he had regularly enlisted,
had properly performed the duties as
signed to him, thus carrying out his share
of the contract, and that he was in line OF
duty when he received his wounds. Nor
could there be the least doubt that his
case came within the provision requiring
the regular aid and attendance of an
other person"
IL IL
sions is that they are given as more or
less compensation for physical injuries.
| The Government pays for these, and al
lows the pensiOner to get whatever else
his abilities will gain for him. 1t would
BE rank impolicy in it to restrain him in
any way FROM doing whatever else he
might feel able to do.
If the salary as Justice played any part
whatever, then, instead of cutting Justice
| Long down to $50 the whole pension
should have been taken away.
Justice Long Immediately entered suit
| 10 compel the restoration OF his rating.
| He did this as a matter of principle, and
for the benefit of other comrades who
We're not so well-equipped for fight with
the Administration. The Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia decided in his
favor, and the Administration appealed to
| the Supreme Court of the United States.
| 1t was instantly clear that the Admins
tration recognized that its course was in
| defensible in law, for it shuffed and
evaded allowing the case to come before
| the Supreme Court, and kept it hanging
until Cleveland went out This was u
great misfortune to the veterans, for there
| is no doubt that if the case had been
allowed to come TO trial the Supreme Court
would have made a deliyerancc on pen
sions which would have been of the great
| est value to veterans.
! Now, as to the sequel: Owing to the
terrible strain upon his constitution JUS
tice Long has succumbcd to death at an
age when, but for his wounds, he would
have been in the full enjoyment of his
health and physical powers. We can
safely assume this, from a will and
strength which have borne up SO long
against such frightful injuries The diff
ference between what the law granted him
and the rate to which Lochren reduced
| him was SD q month-S264 year. Think
Of the ineffable meanncss Of 4 great Gov
eminent chafferin2 and haggling for this
| sum with u man who had given TO il what
Comrade Long gave it, and who was then
in the shadow of the grave.