Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-28
PENSION ORDER, NO. 7s.
President RooseveIt's Action Is in
Line with Law and Precedent.

President RooseveIt's Action Is in
Line with Law and Precedent.
The groundless character of the charge
that President Roosevelt has exceeded
his constitutional powers is shown clear
ly by examination OF the facts and ths
laws concerned in the executive action
known as the age pension order issued
last March by direction of the President.
Anyone who will take the trouble to
read the act of June 81. 1890. as amend
ed May 8, 1900. will find clear basis
to begin with. 1t directs who shall have
pensions, and how the amount OF the
pension, in each case, snail be determin-
ed, as follows:
All persons who served 90 days or more
IN the military or naval service OF the
United States durin the late war of the
rebellion and who have been honorably dis
charged therefrOm, and who are now or
who may hereafter be suffering from Il
mental or physical disability of a perma-
nent character not the result Of their own
Nlcious habits, which mcapacitates them
from the performance Of manual labor in
such degree as to render them unable to
earn Il support, shall, upon making due
proof Of the fact according to such rules
and regulations the Secretary OF the
Interior my provide. be placed upon the
list &C invalid pensioners of the United
States aud be entitled to receive a pen
sion not exceeding S12 per month, and not
less than So per month. proportional to the
degree Of inability TO earn a support. and
in determining such inability c ith and ey-
cry disability shall be duly considered, and
the aggregate of the disabilities shown shall
be rated.
Thus, as plain as words can make it.
is authority given to the Secretary of the
Interior to determine what pension shall
be paid to any applicant for pension who
served ninety days in the War OF Re-
bellion, was honorab1y discharged. and
who is disabled for the performance OF
manual labor by any cause other than
the results of his own vicious habits.
The Supreme Court has decided that
upon the point of establishing the rate of
pension to be paid, within the limits pre-
scribed by the law the Secretary of thu
Interior has entire control. The only
check or supervision upon him is from
the President of the United States, whom
the general laws specifically direct shall
have control of the Commissioner Of Pen
sions and the administration Of the pen
sion system.
Therefore, it was directly in line with
the duties imposed upon him according
to section All, u. S. Revised Statutes,
that President Roosevelt gave the cele-
brated order which has been called an
evidence of 'usurpation," imperialism"
"a desire to override the constitution"
footing of the treasury" and other
hard names. by excitable Democrats. The
section of the Revised Statutes referred
to reads as follows:
1.-The Commissioner OF Pensions shall
perform, under the direction of the See
rotary of the Interior, such duties in the
execution of the various pension and
bounty-land laws as may be prescribed
by the President"
President Roosevelt. in his pension or
der, did no more than his plain duty, act
ing strictly within the powers conferred
upon him by the Congress Of the United
States.