The National tribune., 1902-08-14
A SENSIBLE EDITORIAL.

The following. from the Buffalo Even
ing News. is the first really sensible edi
torial. written with an understanding O
the subject, that we have seen in a prOmi
nent paper for long. dreary time:
ANNUAL PENSION COMPLAINT.
"The annual complaint about the pen
sion roll is heard in the land once more
The names on the list now exceed n mil
lion. and the usual cry is heard that it i.
padded to an appalling degree. No evi
dence is forthcoming in support of the con
tention of the critics.
The basis for opposition to the pension
roll is in reasoning from assumed premises
and not from ascertained facts. For in
stance, when Mr.. Cleveland got chance
ut the pension list. he resolved to show the
people of the country how they were de
spoiled by the fraudulent payments made
to bogus pensioners. so he had an exhaus
tive examination made for the purpose OF
wedding ont the rascals whom he expected
to find by thousands fattening on the pen,
sion roll. The result was his complete
discontinue. He found practically moth
ing to justify assertions of cheating and
fraud. He did find Congress very liberal
in passing private pension bills. as he con-
strued generosity. and vetoed such bills in
shoals. There are numerous cases IN
which the applicant for a pension could
not make a case to satisfy the Depart-
mcnt and was rejected, when Congress
came to the rescue and put the name on
the roll by statute.
"The only plausible foundation for COM
plaint about the roll is in sthe list of those
aided by the action of Congress, and it is
grossly unjust to minglc with that list
the great army of those who have made a
fair case in the Pension Department for
relief. Neither is it just to complain in
sweeping terms of even the Congressional
list. The only fair way to Justify criti-
ciSm is hy reference to unquestioned cases
of fraud. for objections based on guesses
about the numbers of those entitled to
pensions are worthless. The civil war was
gigantic affair. and the pension roll
matches it. The results of the war are
worth all they cost. no matter what the
total ever amounts to in dollars and
cents"
Evidently the writer is much superior
to the average young men who venture
to write editorials. He has actually in
formed himself as to the history of the
rebellion. and comprehends, as few do, the
of the forces engaged in it. He
knows that where 100000 men fought
l 100000 other men desperately for four
long years there must necessarily be an
immense legacy of pensioners. From
April Is. 1861, to April 8. 1865. men were
rushing to the front by the hundred thou
sand to fight. march and endure all man.
ner Of strains and hardships which sent
back a steady flow of tens of thousands
i hot md c1, ,on nr.V
the frightful strains to which they were
subjected in the life-and-death grapples Of
the esperately-in-earnest armies.
The pension expenditure is not so great
on account of any considerable number
Of men getting large pensions. but because
If the great number who get small pen
sions. The highest rate allowed under the,
pension laws is S100 month. There are
bat % veterans and 10 widows receiving
this rating. many of whom We're put on
by act of Congress, because they were
Generals. members Of Congress, etc, or
their widows. The next rating is ST.. for
hose who have lost both eyes, both feet
Or both hands. or are disabled in such
way as TO require the constant aid and
attendance Of another person. There are
out 2,012 of these on the roll.
On the other hand, S66, 6,973, ,4S1.15 go
,ut to 3.225 pensioners under the Act
Of june q, 1890. who receive but S10S.09
or trife over 50 week; and
s67 ,S67, ,233.S4 to 3S7,136 pensioners un
Ter the general laws for wounds and dis
abilities incurred in line of duty. This
S an average of S16S67, or an average of
81 % week. for disabilities ranging from
he loss Of two limbs or both eyes down
o stiffening of the elbow or ankle joints.
Certainly. if the Government is going to
give anything at all to men who have
,cen able to prove that they were disabled
n its service, S3.25 week is not high
.verage, nor is 50 ewek excessive liberal
ty to men who can prove that they served
hOnOrably, and who are now old and
,roken down and claim that their disa-
,ilities are due to their service.
This being the case, they are not to
blame because there are so many Of them.
,e done. They certainly applied them
selves to their work as soldiers never did
,efore and few days in those four long
,ears passed without a battle, and some
If them killed and wounded. A half mil
ion were dead before the conflict closed.
The Buffalo News is entitled to the
hanks of the veterans everywhere for ifs
EXCELLENT editorial, which is a most CRATE
ul variation on the shallow and ignorant
lrticles on the pension question which
AVE filled the daily papers for so long.