The Washington times., 1904-08-01
DECREASING PENSION ROLL.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
In your issue of Thursday. July q oc-
ours what purports to be an interview
with Commissioner Of Pensions Eugene
F. Ware. touching the subject Of the
number Of pensions borne upon the Gov
eminent rolls.
After giving some Of the points to be
Incorporated by the commissioner in his
forthcoming annual report, the inter-
view represents that the number at pres
ent borne upon the register is somewhat
, less than million. This seems TO be a
surprise TO many who expected il. in
consequence Of order No. IS. 10 soar be-
yOnd that limit
We are reminded that there is only
one thing that keeps the total below
100000, and that is the heavy mortality
among the veterans. They are dying of
at rapid rate, we are told, but their
places" the statement continues, are
filled by pensioning widows and men
with no other disability than old age
The article reminds as that more
than 900 pensioners died during the
month OF May. and the monthly average
will soon be $500"
After the prOnOunCement OF all party
platforms in behalf Of liberal pensions
tor the survivors Of the various wars, is
it not strange. ME- Editor. that the toll
ing Of funeral bells and the obituary
notices are watched with such apparent
satisfaction TO ascertain whether the
pension roll has been decreased? Has
the time arrived in the history of this
nation when the death of one OF its de-
tenders can be hooked upon as a bless
ing?
The climax, however, Is reached in
the alleged statement Of Commissioner
Ware. As quoted in The Times Com
missioner says that II IL were not for
the widows of old soldiers the pension
roll would shrink with pleasing regu-
larity, despite the operations OF order
No. IS"
Concerning this matter a few ques-
uOns naturally suggest themselves:
l. Is II not misfortune enough for the
life companion OF veteran TO be be-
reft of her husband without being
taunted with being widow" and that
of an old sOldier?" Is IL not possible
to devise some humane plan of extermi-
mating. once for all, these widows" and
these old soldiers?'
2. Does not this fling at old soldiers"
come with III grace from one who is
himself rapidly approaching the limit OF
three score and ten2
3. Is not the shrinkage OF the pen
sion roll at the rate Of 5000 per month,
or 1900 a year. sufficiently rapid to
crafty the commercial spirit of the age
which measures all patriotism and true
citizenship by the standard of the al
mighty dOllarE
T. What does the commissioner mean
by pleasing regularity"
The Standard dictionary, and Webster
agrees with II, thus defines the term:
Pleasing-affording pleasure or salts
faction; agreeable TO the senses, or the
mind; gratifying" Does the commits
siOner mean to assert that the death,
every month, OF 5000 veterans Of the war
Of the rebellion. and the consequent
breaking up Of homes and families, Is a
condition 'affOrding pleasure or salts
faction" TO him and, on account Of It's
regularity" specially "gratifying?"
Using his own classical language on
another occasion. does he consider II an
occasion of .'pellucid and squiruferous
joy?"
Does he think that by his iugglery
OF words on this occasion he will secure
as much and as undesirable nOtoriety
as he did at San Francisco a year ago
when he strove to erect, out of the ag-
grcgate pension appropriation, an
obel!sk Of gold reaching the blue vault
Of heaven If so, he will have made the !
mistake Of his life; and IL will not be
condoned by the millions of loyal hearts |
whom il touches.
J. FRAISE RICHARD, |
Secretary and Historian Army of the
Ohio.
Washington, D. c., July 30, 1904