The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-08-20
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY

that it may BE- q Christmas gift % our
comrades, and that those resolutions b
made q part Of the record Of the Senate.
i Resolved, further, That the Command
erin Chief 10 hereby instructed TO hand
to our comrads, the Hon. Marcus A.
Hanna, q copy Of these resolutions, asking
him to present the resolution erecting such
roll. and that It receive immediate consid-
Grafton under the rules without the usual
delay incident to a reference to commit
tee.
The COMMANDMENT Chief complied with
the requirements Of the resolution, and
during the session Of Congress visited the
Senate four times IN advocacy OF this
measure He had the honor Of consulta-
ton with several Senators upon the sub
ject, and was given reasonable assurance
that the same would be acted upon fav-
orably. No action was taken. and 1 sus-
gest that further effort be made.
The U. 8. Senate is the only branch OF
q. s. Government that up to this time
has given no special recognition to the vet
eran as far as tenure Of place is concerned.
PENSIONS.
The administration by the Bureau OF
Pensions Of the pension laws, that for so
many years had proven so vexatious and
unsatisfactory, seems to have been adjusted
admirable and comprehensive report OF
the Committee on Pensions to the last Ma
tional Encampment, and the action Of the
Encampment thereon.
Since that time additional legislation by
Congress has provided, as follows:
An act passed March 2. 1903, increased
the pensions to all invalid survivors OF
the Mexican War from IS to $12 per
month.
An act passed March 9, 1903. increased
the pensions of all who lost a hand, foot,
leg or arm, or total loss Of use Of same.
$40 per month SO that those receiving S3O
per month would under the new law re-
ceive $40 per month.
On Jan. Is, 1903, as recommended by
the Grand Army Committee, an act was
passed increasing the pensions of comrades
suffering from total deafness (the result OF
service during the war; from $50 to $40
per month.
A number OF special acts in favor Of in
diyiduals were passed during the session.
believe the present Commissioner OF
Pensions is earnestly endeavoring TO dis
charge the duties Of his high and impor-
tant Office honestly. literally and justly,
and vet he is not able to satisfy the many
who feel and assert that the Government
has not and is not dealing justly with
them. The complaints are not so numer-
ours OF SO vigorous as III Tue ieceh' pos
ana yet they are sulicieht W ""iiah J,i
Grafton Complaint will never entirely
cease nor will cases of injustice be entirely
eliminated from the administration of such
a great trust. but by an honest. fair and
liberal administration Of the laws we may
reach the minimum OF Complaint anu VI
injustice: DEMANDS TOT evidence may pe
so cXactihg ana techhic;'l CONSTRUCTION Vi
the rules or evidence ana Oh law Drawn 81
hne as 10 De virtually p,ohio,tor!, auo
may pace lnhuheraDie oDstaces III tne
way OF the Needy ana deserving ciaihiahl.
Llberality IN administration OF the Ii, ~"
Will not encourage the uhdeservihs. ~, he
law itself is snfhclentiy protective. !here
was Tune wnen tne "oVerhIheh, III IL
stress ana time OF triai warren tfcniiicaii :
! ties ana llDeraiiy accepteu the services VI
, the men VINO were VIKING 10 give lhe,i
lives that the Union might be preserved.
These men made up the armies ana haSies
Of the Union. ana the result OF their oar
ing, dong ana dying is tme natcniess glory
! of the present time. Ihirty-eight years
have passed since the last Diow was
/ struck. the last gun fired in civil strife
The Union was saved, ana we i've 10 see
the Nation powerful beyond what we mao
ever hoped Tor, ana wealthy Deyohd gu,
widest dreams Nine hundred thoushna
OF that mlghty most sun survive; Eacn
hour lessons the hummer. forty thousahu
will fall this year, more than that mex
year more the next, ana there are none
to MI the vacant places III the rahh :.
With each day the Nation increases IN
power and IN wealth. Let the men Wht
made tins possible be the oDJects OF mel
; sohcitude ana care, wheh IN their ues II
ing years the mite from ner Weh-hiiee
/ purse would be SO heipfui.
That all entitled thereto may NOT heee
her help is a source OF cohGratuiatioll' pu
let not this make justice travei win tara.
3 feet is not the time at mana wnen WIS
. dom and justice botn warrant shen an au
j Justment OF the pension laws as WIN VII, NEE
the condition that exists d! proVlaihg 10
a fixed amount OF pension per month. lh'
n Commandments Chief is aware OF the man!
difficulties to be met ana overcome, I'M
8 conflicting opinions as what character o.
= amount OF pension Should be advocated
8 but sure 1T is that under the present Jaw
f injustice Is OFTEN done the worthy appil
/ cant. AS PROOF OF TINS, quote an eA
f tract from the adInlraple report OK the Ma
! tional Pension COMMITTEE OF the Hran'
o Army OF the Republic, quoting from IN
Q Report, Medical keferee OF the Pensiol
= Bureau, in which he says: After NOR
4 than three years of effort to improve tn
o work of Examining Surgeons, 1t has beel
5 found that such effort has not beel
| crowned with the measure or success