Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-25
THE THREATENING PENSION RAID
Spanish War Veterans PilinE Up
Many Claims.
yYaehipgtnp Doat

Washington Post.
1t is perhaps Just as we'll that the ques-
tion of Spanish war pensions should be
raised at once, thoroughly investigated,
permanently settled, and finally and for
ever disposed of. The facts in the case
of every claim that may be advanced at
this time are easily accessible. The re-
cords are all complete, and competent wit
nesses by the hundreds still survive to
prove or to disprove their authority.
Everybody wants justice for the victims
of that unhappy war. Everybody wishes
to see the taxpayers protected against the
unworthy. The sooner the inquiry is set
on foot the better for the government and
the individual. ts
1t appears that already nearly 10000 PEN
sion claims have been filed, about 12,00C
of which met with favorable eonsidera-
ton. OF the remainder. 1875 are rejected.
The rest await determination. This, how
ever, brings us only TO May l. 1903 and
cases" have been steadily pouring in
ever since. At the present rate fully one
half of the army recruited and organized
in 1898 and 1899 will have been represented
in the total claims entered by the 1st OF
next January. OF course, this will be a
preposterous situation. So far as con-
Germs the Cuban expedition of June. 1898
1t is known that less than 1900 men were
sent to Santiago at that time. The num-
Der dispatched later hardly brought the
total above 10000. The mortality for the
entire army while in the island was only
$780, of whom but 2ls were killed in battle
or died as the result of wounds. In this
case of the Porto Rican expedition under
General Miles the casualties were In
significant OF the deaths in camps
Alger. Thomas, Wikoff etc.-the report OF
the Dodge commission speaks with un.
answerable authority. The number was
very small, and the causes, in a great
proportion to the whole, not at all relateC
to the emergencies of military life. Il
| win be found, we think. that the claim,
already filed greatly exceed-probably II
the ratio Of or 1 to 1.-The total of deaths
and disabilities from May ! 1898
to the present day. What will be their vol
ume six months hence the widest imagi
nation would hardly dare to conjecture.
For the sake of justice, both to the de
serving applicant and to the treasury, tn,
! government should inaugurate an impair
tial but most intelligent and searcing in
/ vestigation without loss of time The tire
mendous mass Of testimony taken by thu
War Investigation commission, but neve
made public, is, of course, at the disposa
OF the authorities. The same officers VIII,
testified four or five years ago. or most o
them can be made TO testify again. TIL,
falsehOods and ISLANDERS against the Wa
] department which were then disproved car
with even more emphasis, If necessary
be disproved a second time. And in ou
opinion, many Of these pension claims hav
as little foundation in truth as had thos
vile, exploded scandals Of 1898.
Let us by all means come to the rescu
Of the real victims of the war That 4
the nations sacred duty. and no true maj
would wink at its evasion. But this vora
cious raid upon the treasury Is not to b
endured. 1t should be checked at once
and with an iron hand