The La Jara chronicle., 1904-10-14
ORDER NO. 78
which Judge Parker VIII Not Have
Chance TO Revoke.


Nothing in the Democratic quiver OF
whcreaScs against President Roosevelt
has failed SO utterly as that arraigning
his pension order, No. IS, making the
proof Of certain ages by old soldiers
evidcntial facts of certain degrees OF dis
ability.
II the order had been cunnngly de
yiSed to betrny the great constitutional
lawyers of the Democracy into making
more than the usual kinds OF continental
asses of themselves it could not have
succeeded more completely and ludicrous-
ly. When the great Parker Constitu-
ton Club" OF New York, started in to
arraign Theodore Roosevelt for going
through the constitution as il it were
4 paper hoop in circus ring. it attack
ed his issuance of order No. rs in these
words:
I'VE md that President Roosevelt de-
liherately dlsregnrded Article l, Section D,
Of the Constitution. providing "No money
shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in
consequence Of appropriations made by
law"
Now, what are the facts?
Order No. rs assumes that an old
soldier who Is G2 years of age is prob
ably able to earn only one-half OF the
support the statute provides in case OF
total disability, at which stage he ar
rives when he is seventy, and says he
shall be entitled to the munihceut sum
of S6 per month as pension; and 1t
finds that at to he is two-thirds disabl
and entitled to SIS.
There can be no serious objection to
the principle of the order, which is
based on the experience of mankind as
10 the gradual decay of human powers.
By reason Of strength many men are
as able to earn support" at seventy
as at thirty, but the vast majority at
sixty have passed the line where they
are fully capable of doing so in the
! performance of manual labor" and the
/ evil days approach when ''the graSshop'
1 per shall be a burden and desire shall
fail"
Order No. rs merely recognizes the
course of nature, but it draws no money
out OF the treasury without authority
of law. 1t was issued March il, 1901.
to be effective April Is. 1904. Congress
being In session it was reported to that
body with the request that Sl,5OO,OOU
he appropriated to carry it into effect
/ The sum was embodied in the pending
deficiency bill. after free discussion the
money was voted. and in due order under
the Act of Congress. the pensions began
TO issue, and not till then. Every cent
paid under Order No. rs was drawn
from the treasury in consequence OF ''au
Appropriation made by law"
Exit the Parker Constitution Club, OF
New York, with its constitutional ears
at half mast.
Now, mark the sequel: On September
10 last, Sl.4l0.OoO was covered back
into the treasury as the unexpendet
balance OF the appropriation OF $500.
600. after paying 100000 on 1897
claims adjudicoted in April. May ant
June to the end of the fiscal year. OF
the certificates issued only 1853 wer,
for original pensions to veterans who
had reached the age OF sixty-two OF
upward. and li.1GS were increases al
lowed to claimants who were receivin.
pensions for disability less than tn,
amount to which they were entitled
under the pension for age.
Thus It will be perceived. the dreat
of a heavy pension raid on the treasury
by reason OF Order No. rs has gon,
glimmcrine along with the constitutional
Mysteries Of the Parker Constitution
Club of New York.