The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-31
SCOTT PLAN GOOD
Grand Army Men Favor Proposition
to Give All Civil War Veterans
$12 Pensions.
U. S, Senator SCOTS Plan as Viewed
by Local Veterans Of the
War Of '6165.

Senator SCOTS plan to give every old
soldier who is more than e. years of age
monthly pension of ST., providing he
applies for it. radical though it may seem,
has the support Of prominent Grand Army
men in Minneapolis.
Senator Scott, who is from West Viz
Ginia, by the way, in support of his reso-
luton for commission to suggest changes
in the pension laws, made the speech of
his life. It's eloquence appealed to the
members Of the senate and carried much
weight. 1t finds an echo in the hearts of
Minneapolis veterans. ,f-:
The plan provides that every union vet
eran, after reaching the age OF g., shall.
upon application, be given pension of
S12 a rnoath-a scanty living, but one that
would 60 far to keep the wolf from the
door Said Senator Scott: after the age
of 81 few men, especially those who have
undergone the hardships of war, are able
to-day worthy and suffering for the neces-
sarfes OF ltfe.'' ...555, ~: ,:
IT believe in this short cut in the pen
sion SYSTEM said one Minneapolis vet
eran to-day. ''1'het regular army officers
are retired at the age of 81 on half pay,
but the old union soldier at the age Of g.
is often incapacitated by age for civil
service or for any position, in fact. and
is often left with little or nothing to live
on : This pension Of So a month would
be Sodsend to many such =
The old soldier who applies for pen
sion because Of the result OF wounds re-
ceived in battle is not ashamed Of it. 1T
is a badge of honor to him and he is not
unwilling to have the fact Of his dlsaplll-
ty go on record at Washington.
witt, disabilities received following
hardships endured in campaigning it is
different, and the effect of the system
now in vogue is demoralizing to the Old
soldier and cheapens his service to his
country. ", ".
THE mind has great deal to do with
the body in nearly everything. and when
an old soldier has an ordinary trouble en-
titling him to a pension. he Is likely 10
have fallen into a bad state by the time
his claim is allowed.
, :. '"The plan suggested by Senator Scott
would do away with an immense amount
Of ma chinery and a. great many bogus
affidaNits. About 5000 special examiners
through the country would be let out and
many clerks at Washington, yet the ex-
pense to the government would undOubt-
edly be heavier at first than the cost OF
running the bureau :" ......'. 49,
=, II thoroughly believe in the plan. The
government records are in such good
shape that every veteran would be able
to make his claim good at Washington
and at the sa me time false claims would
never get through Many veterans have
not and never would apply for pensions
because Of their comfortable financial Cir
cumstances. but to many soldier the
bounty of $144 a year would be a great
lift '-,' 49, ..
Senator Scott gave In a few words the
difficulties attending the securing of a
pension under the present method. He
said: ".- Cd. ~ 49, l..
MANY : soldier files his claim and long
before it is reached he has passed over
the, river and filed claim elsewhere
Nearly forty years have come and gone;
S61,076 applications are on file:, of these
470.S50 have been, allowed, leaving nearly
400, 900 not acted upon. J., it, -
AT, this rate. it will require eighty
years to complete the roll and, when com
pleted, there will be none left to answe,
If :.