The Washington times., 1904-06-27
Famous Order No. 78''
Finds Strong Veteran
Support.
FOLLOWED PRECEDENTS
Example Was Set by CIeve-
land and Nc
Kinley.


In the course OF a conversation on
train recently, Gen. Daniel Sickles and
Gen. o. o. Howard discussed the we'll
known order OF Secretary Hitchcock
fixing the age of sixty-two rs estab-
fishing, without further proof, the dis
ability pension applicants to perform
manual labor. The following letter is
an outline of General Sickles' views as
then expressed:
Text Of Letter.
Mai. Gen. o. O. Howard. /. S. A.
Dear General: Complying with your
request. 7 have much pleasure in re-
captivating the views expressed by me
the other day about the recent pension
order of President Roosevelt.
The Constitution commands the Pres
ident 10 take care that the laws be
faithfully executed" Congress in the
organization OF the Pension Office. i'm
posed upon the President the duty of
supervising the execution OF the pen
sion laws 1t is the only bureau in the
Government placed under the Immediate
direction of the President by an act
of Congress.
Order No. IS, dated March IS 1904
which recognizes old age as a disability
incapacitating soldier or sailor to
earn living by manual labor and
therefore emitting him TO a graduated
pension under the act OF June 27. 1890
Is sustained by precedent and law. ana
Is one of the wisest acts of President
Roosevelt's Administration.
Democratic Precedents.
You and 1 have heard this order do.
HuGnced as a usurpation OF legislative
authority by the Executive. These
critics forget that Judge Lochran. Presi-
osnl Cleveland's Commissioner of Pen
sloiis. By his order of September ? 1909
gave the same effect to the act of 1sqO
i'.Sins' however. the age Of seventy-five
a. the period Of disa bility The legality
OF Judge Lochran's order was not cues
toned
, ro ldent McKinley's Secretary of the
interior. in July, 1897. established the
ruie that "A claimant for pension nm
der the act Of June p, 1890. who has ar
tain@d the age OF sixty-five years. shall
o. entitled 10 at least the minimum rate
- - pension tSo a month";, provided by
Inat act This order Of President Nc
hlnley was not disputed
Ies-dent RooseVelt's Commissioner
ol OF tensions, Colonel Ware, in his now
famous order No. rs approved bv tbe
secretary of the Interior. Mr.. fitch
cock directs that when a Claimant nm
dti the act Of June q, 1890. has passed
M ~ sse OF slXty-two years. he is dis
dbied one-haf In ability to perform,
ranual labor and is entitled to be rated
al - Der month. the minimum, men
SION after sixty-five years at Ss per
=, ~, 9Iter SiAty-elsht years at SO
Iei month, an1 after seventy years at
o. per month, the maximum.
Cleveland, Mckinley, and Roosevelt
Each OF these orders is based upon the
same Interpretation of the act of june
2. 1890. II Cleveland and Mckinley were
right Roosevelt is right.
II Is the common experience of man
kind that old age units one TO earn a
hNing by manual labor. Who will give
JOB Of hard work to a man over sfxtvs
we nave seen that our Pension once
has for many years recognized old a aee
as legal disability" affecting the nt-
ness OF a veteran soldier or sailor to
earn "A support.
President Roosevelt declares this ina
bhty begins at the age of sixtv-two
That is tTue-and Roosevelt has the
same authority to fix the pensionable
period as Cleveland and Mckinley
when they were in power. Oficers Of
the navy are retired from service at
Inat age, army officers are retired at
siSty-tOur. Congress determines these
periods In 1887 Congress directed that
al or our soldiers who served in the
Mexican war, who were over siXty-two
years o. age, should be placed on the
pension roll. giving them s. a month
= more per month than is allowed by
order No. Is 10 the civil war soldiers OF
the same age. The President followed
these anala gOus cases.
The Almighty Ruler has enacted that
the great mass Of mankind are seriously
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