The Van Buren press., 1903-01-31
CHANGE IN PENSION LAWS.
Senator Scott, of West Virginia,
Speaks in Relation to His
Resolution.
WOULD HAVE COMMISSION APPOINTED,
HIS Most Pertinent Suggestion IL
that Granting Twelve Dollars n
Month 10 All Union Veterans who
Have Passed the Axe of sixty
Two and why Mny Apply for II.

Washington, Jan. Pin the senate,
Tuesday afternoon, Mr.. Scott, of West
Virginia, spoke on his resolution pro-
viding for commission to suggest
changes in the pension laws and to
inquire into the advisability of grant
ing a pension of $12 per month to
any soldier of the civil war who
served 90 days. In the course of his
remarks he said
Large as the pension roll now ap-
pears, mammoth as seems the aggre-
gate of a nations bounty, it is an ag-
gregate summed from all its wars,
Yet, however large that roll be, it is
not so large as the muster roll, and
no man who answered the call, to
which none but the true and brave
responded, should now be forgotten.
Go, Mr.. President, read the muster
roll from 81 to '65, subtract from it
those who sleep in the cemeteries and
then compare the remainder with the
pension roll and tell me where that
vast army is.
who cares for them? There is not
one of them, perhaps, but who was as
brave and true a patriot as his com
rades, who are now provided for.
Their names have never been enrolled
upon the pension list; they have been
knocking in vain. Upon what prin-
ciple of justice, by what teaching OF
humanity shall one-half be clothed
and the other naked? 1t was the
blood of the union soldier that cs.
mented the stones erected by the
fathers of the constitution; and they
are not asking for the last drop Of
blood and the last pound of flesh, but
are asking for justice.
This resolution provides that the
union veteran be paid Sl2 per month
after reaching the age of SO, and max
ing application for the same. This
Will be scanty living; even then the
wolf will howl close by. After the
age Of 62 few men, especially those
who have undergone the hardships of
war, are able to do manual labor.
Many of these are to-day worthy and
suffering for the necessaries of life.
believe this resolution will meet with
the hearty approval OF n brave and
generous people. | know it will meet
the approval of our conscience. Let
this commission be appointed; let it
assume the task that will appeal TO
duty and to patriotism, and not TO
partisanship or sectionalism. Let us
be men who cannot be swerved from
duty by the cheer Of the demagogue
or the groans Of the miser, and rec
ommend TO the next congress such a
measure as will simplify our present
complex system and broaden the
pedestal of our philanthropy. When
the soldier served 90 days and was
honorably discharged, and has reached
the age of G2, he should receive from
this government not less than Sl2 per
month. This will give him a few OF
the necessities and none OF the luNu'
ries Of life. 1t is small TO the indiyid
ual and the aggregate would never be
felt by this people. Can human
genius devise Il more appropriate out
lay for the accumulated surplus? 1t
would prove a generous method OF
redistribution.
MANY soldier files his claim and
long before it is reached, he has
passed over the river aud filed n
claim elsewhere. Nearly 40 years
have come and gone; oGi,o76 applica'
tions are on file OF these, 47O,SjC
have been allowed, leaving nearly
4O0,0 900 not acted upon, At this rate
It will require so years to complete
| the roll, and when completed there
will be none left to answer it,