New-York tribune., 1904-09-15
CATGRT II THE ACT
Said President Roosevelt in his letter of &C


Said President Roosevelt in his letter of &C.
ceptance:
Our opponents DO not venture to reoite the
facts about our policies and acts and then op-
pose them. They attack them only when they
have lrst misrepresented them; for a truthful
recital would leave no room for adverse COM
snent.
The Presidents letter appeared On Monday
That very afternoon, in commenting on the So
called pension order, Order No. rs" ''The
Evening Post fully and strikingIy though per
haps unintenGonally, confirmed the justice of
his biting comment. Said The POST:
He Iths PresidentI hotly asserts that his IA
rhority OF existing law" How uniucky for
him that the solid Republican vote of the
House sustained the Point. when the order was
later offered by the Democrats as an amend
ment, that it was contrary to existing law:
Through ignorance, doubtless, rather than
through malice. The Post" grossly misrepre-
seIts the action taken in the House CT Repre-
sentstives when the amendment alluded TO
above-the oIoon aIneE6ment-was under con-
sideration. IL the writer of the paragraph had
taken the pains TO consult ''rhe Congressional
Record" for Monday. April IS, he would have
discovered that no solid Republican vote and
20 vote Of any kind. sustained such a point of
order. Tbs Gensral Deficiency Appropriation
bill. ss reported 10 The House. contained a para
SN0pl TOT pension Qen-
ciencies for the fiscal year 1903-04. 4 part of
this slm-about $4,000. as it afterward turned
out-was needed to pay pensions or increases
IN pensions allowed under Executive Order No
IS. AS rider 70 the S4000,000 appropria-
ton Representative Moon, of Tennessee Of
fered the following:
In the military naval service Of the United
States during the late War of the Rebellion.
and who have been honorably discharged there
from, and who are now, or shall hereafter
reach. the age Of sixty-two years shall receive
pension thereafter on account of such SER
vice az the rate OF SO per month after attain
ing the age OF sixty-two years, at the rate Of
IS per month after attaining the age of sixty
FIVE years, at the rate OF SO per month after
attaining the age Of sixty-eigtt years ard al
the rate Of S12 per month after attaining the
age OF seventy years: Provided, however that
the pensions hereafter granted shall not be In
addition TO the pensions allowed by existing
law.
Mr.. Moon and Mr. John Sharp Williams
seeraed--fo think at the time, as "The POST
does now, that this amendment was q transcript
oI order No. 7s. But glance at Order No rs
viii show the error of such ar assumption The
first paragraph OF the order reads:
I'D In the adjudication of pension claims un-
der said act Of June 27 1890 as amended II
shah be taken and considered an evidential
fact II the contrary does-n appear and IL
aii other legal requirements are properly met
that when a claimant has passed the age OF
sixty-two years he IS disabled to one-hals of
his ability 10 perform manual labor and IS en-
Tilted 70 be rated at SO per month"; after sixty-
five years at IS per month; after sixty-eight
years at $40 PEP month, and after seventy year.
az So per month.
Mr. Moons amendment enacted iiat seryIce
pension lew for claimants of ei1ty-fyyo Years
and oyeT. Tie executive order simply estab-
tshed rehutsablc presumption TO be applied In
dealing with such claimants. In ruling on the
point Of order raised against the Moon amend