The National tribune., 1903-09-03
SERVICE PENSION ENDORSED.
Very Able Report From the GAR National Committee
Pensions

The following is the text in full of the
admirable report of the G. A. r. Ma,
tional Committee on Pensions to the 37th
National Encampment:
Commander-in-C Chief and Comrades:
There has been a marked change in the
administration of the Pension Bureau
during the past II months. The same
statutes practically were in force, but the
practice has been changed. There has
been less of the obstructive and more OF
giving vitalic effect to the enactments OF
the CongresS-yastly less of the instability
and variableness in the administration OF
wise and patriotic laws enacted in re-
sponse to a public sentiment not easily to
be misunderstood nor thwarted in its de-
mandS. 1t is a matter OF congratulation
that the conditions have so Signally
changed, and that the policy so long main
tanned by the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie in its direct appeals to the sense OF
fairness animating the people at large,
did not continue to pass unheeded and the
wrongs complained of to so uncorrected.
With the materially reduced force last
year. the Bureau issued nearly $4,000
certificates, an increase of exactly 1900
over the preceding year, while the re
jections' numbered nearly 5000 less than
in 1902 The cold letter ~ the law re-
manned practically unchanged. but the
spirit of the lawmaking branch OF the
Government was more nearly OWNED and
applied. TO the honor of the great Govern
ment we served in the COS, and TO which
we still owe our hearts best devotion.
OF the 1874 cases rejected last year.
90.916 were on medical grounds and ST.
101 of them were applications for increase
in which the Examining Surgeons found
no increase of stability since the last
medical examination. and 22.SiS cases
were rejected on legal grounds. Most of
these claimants are already on the pen
sion roll under the act of 1880, and were
endeavoring to obtain an increase under
the general law. A very small number
of the reflections pertain to claims IN
which no pension has been granted. On
July 1, 1902. there were on the pending
files of the Bureau 3339, 1876 claims. Dur
ing the past year 226,OO0 new applica-
tons were rejected, and on July 1, 1903,
3O4.S09 cases remained undisposed Of
a net gain for this year of nearly $1,000
cases. OF the 49, 24 certificates issued
during the past year, 121 All were on &C
count of rebellion service, and $500 on
account of service during the war with
Spain.
THE MANNED SOLDIERS.
Congress at the last session passed two
laws of a general nature affecting pen
sioners-the totally deaf and the MANNED,
which have long been considered and
pressed with great vigor. By the new ra-
ting for the total loss Of hearing due to
causes originating in the military or ma
val service of the United States and in
the line of duty, a pensioner will receive
$40 month. The ratings for partial deaf
ness continue as before. An Act passed
March 2, 1903, increases the rating of
those who lost limbs in the military or
naval service-for the loss of one hand or
one foot, or total disability in the same,
$40 a month; loss of an arm at or above
the elbow or a leg at or above the knee,
or total disability equivalent to such loss,
$40 a month; for loss of an arm at the
shoulder or hip joint as to prevent the
use of an artificial limb, $50 month; for
the loss of one hand and one foot, or to-
tai disability of the two members, $50
month, and for the loss of both feet, 500
a month.
These two bills were Endorsed by the
various Pension Committees of the Grand
Army during their tendency, and finally
Congress and the President placed them
on the statute books Of the Nation. An at
tempt to incorporate various amendments
which in themselves perhaps We're meri-
toriOuS. delayed the passage of the Main
ed Soldiers and Sailors Bill.
Happily the differences were reconcled
after repeated conferences, and this most
worthy class of pensioners granted the in
creases provided for, and to which they
are justly entitled. The lesson to be
learned, however, from this prolonged
contest is that division in sentiment
among those vitally interested works Sc
rious damage to a worthy cause and him
ders the enactment of legislation admit
tediy just and fair. 1t were better that
comrades enlisted in a common purpose
should adjust differences before they ap-
pear at the bar of Congress.
Immediately upon the passage of the
Acts of Jan. Is, 1903, and March 2, 1903,
providing increased rates for deafness and
amputations, Commissioner Ware made
the proper allowances without requiring
the filing of new application. A list of
pensioners of the different classes, with
their post Office addresses were obtained
from the United States Pension Agents,
and new certificates granting the increas-
ed rates were at once forwarded to the
benefciaries without trouble or expense
to them. The Commissioner without de-
lay took official cogniZance of the statutes,
promptly set the machinery in motion to
give effect 60 these Congressional enact
ments, and thus performed plain duty as
becomes a high official of the Government
whose first thought is that of graciously
obeying the mandates of the law-mak-
ing branch of the Government
MEXICAN WAR VETERANS.
March 3, 1903, bill increasing the pen
sions of all Mexican War survivors now
on the roll or hereafter to be placed on
the roll under the Acts of Jan. %, 1887;