The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26
LET us AL BIZ UNITED.

j LET Us ALL BIZ UNITED.
There is the most urgent necessity for all
the veterans, and the wives, widows, sons
and daughters of veterans, uniting in a
solid phalanx in earnest advocacy Of the
$12 Service Pension Bill.
The veterans are now dying at the rate
of 1000 week. Every Sunday that rolls
around sees full regiment of those whom
the bells of the previous Sabbath called
to church laid away where no earthly
sound can ever again reach their ears.
Fully one-half of these go to their
graves unpensioned-their hearts bitter
with the neglect and ingratitude of the
Government for which they gave all that
young patriotic men could. They leave
widows to lament them and continue their
weary siege of the Government Circumlo-
cution Office in Judiciary Square. Mean
while, the Pension Bureau goes on spend
ing from 100000 to 100000 a year
| in a melancholy pretense which is nearest
to nothing, since from $4,000 to 10000
| veterans die every year without receiving
the pensions they have been seeking for
many weary years. A proportionate num-
Der of widows do the same.
Now, let us stop all this at once by the
passage of a straight Service Pension Bill,
giving every honorably-discharged veteran
who is not now pensioned $12 month.
raising those already pensioned below that
amount to that rating. and S12 month
to all widows, now and hereafter. To pass
a Service Pension Bill will not prejudice
the case of any veteran now receiving
a pension or who is applying for one. 1t
will in nowise be a disadvantage to those
who deserve higher rates, on account Of
great disabilities and long length of SER
vice. They will be rather greatly helped
by it. If they can show that S12 month
is given as n matter of right to those who
have served only 80 days. they will be
aided in establishing their claim for higher
| rating.
This applies with special force to the
advocates of the Per Diem Bill We can
secure that more easily after the passage
of Service Pension Bill than before, be-
cause it will then come in the nature of
proper adjustment of inequalities.
Above all, we should have some simple,
clear. easily-understood proposition with
which TO go before the people. Our whole
cause is in the hands of the American peo-
pie, and we shall succeed if we go before
them. and appeal to their unfailing sense
of justice by bill which commends itself
on its face. They have no time nor dis
position to study the intricacies Of the pen
SIGN question. but can readily understand
their present prosperity, the direful conse-
quences that would have ensued but for
The magnificent fighting and self-sacrifce
be difficult to make them feel that it is a
small return to these aged and rapidly
dying men and their widows for the Gov
eminent to allow each and ali of them
So week.
If we begin disputing among ourselves
over the Per Diem, Additional Pensions,
Additional Bounties, and Sliding Scale
based on service, and other propositions,
we shall confuse them, and inevitably de-
feat any bill. There are opponents to all
pensions, who will be only too glad to take
advantage of and magnify any discussions
in our ranks. They will try to shelve the
whole matter by saying, 30, the old SOL
diers do not know what they want. See
how they are fighting among themselves"
Another thing: The Straight Service
Pension Bill is clear-cut, outright propo-
sition. 1t is something that can be definite
ly figured upon, its cost known, and which
will give our opponents no opportunity to
wilfully cxaggerate. We know from the
past how willing they are to do this, and
what Nightmares they have created in the
minds of the people over the enormous
cost of any proposed legislation. The Per
Diem Bill and similar legislation would
give them great chances in this direction
Of wild figuring, and they would soon
have the probable cost running up into
billions.
Above all, by all uniting earnestly upon
it, the So Bill can be got through at once,
and give immediate relief to the hun
dreds of thousands of veterans and vit-
ows, who will die unpensioned during the
long agitation which must precede the
passage of any other measure. Time is
all-important now to the veterans of the
war Of the rebellion. We can not afford
to give the years we formerly could to the
discussion of theories. Immediate relief
for hundreds of thousands is imperatively
demanded, and this will come most surely
and quickly through the passage of $12-
a-Montb Service Pension Bill.