Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-21
WARE MAKES A
MOST IMPORTANT RULING.
GOOD NEWS FOR VETERANS
Old Soldiers of 81 Years and More Get
More Pay and Get 1t More Easily,
Their Years Being Considered Evil
dence of Physical Disability-Mex-
lean War Precedent.

Washington, March 17.-COmmis-
sioner of Pensions Ware, with the ap-
proval of Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock, yesterday promulgated the
most important pension ruling that
has been issued in a long time. II di-
reefs that beginning April Is next if
there is no contrary evidence and all
other legal requirements be met the
claimants for pensions under the gen.
eral act of June q, 1890, who are over
90 years old shall be considered as dis
abled One-half in their ability to per-
fern manual labor and shall be enti-
tied TO So month; over 65. IS; over
6S, $40; over 20. SIP, the usual allow
ances at the higher rates continuing
for disabilities of other than age. The
order concludes as follows:
The allowance at the higher rate,
not exceeding SIP per month, will con-
tinue to he made as heretofore, where
the disabilities of other than age show
a condition of inability to perform
manual labor. This order shall take
effect April Is, 1904. and shall not be
deemed retroactive. The former rules
of the office fixing the minimum and
maximum at So years and 20 years re-
spectively are hereby modified as
above"
The order itself is preceded by a
preamble which after citing the law
says the pension bureau has estab-
lished with reasonable certainty the
trinity of old age; that 80 years after
the Mexican war congress, in 1887,
placed on the pension roll all Mexican
war soldiers who were over 90 years
old. Commissioner Ware just before
leaving on his trip south for his health,
speaking of the order. said that it
would seem that if 80 years after expi-
ration of service Mexican war soldiers
were entitled TO pensions at 90 years
of age. that to soldiers of the civil war
who fought vastly moro and longer az
least as good rule ought to apply.
The act affecting the Mexican war vet
Grams was passed in January, 1887,
and approved by President Cleveland.
There is an advantage and saving
To the government in the use of this
order because every old soldier who
has reached the age of % is able TO
prove almost without the possibility
Of doubt that he is one-half disabled
from earning his support by manual la
Dor" says Mr.. Ware.
This being so. it seems. unwise to
put a soldier TO the. expense of time
and transportation to go to a place
where o medical board can examine
him to find that fact out and on the
other hand il seems unnecessary for
the government to keep boards estab-
lished and then pay So for the exami-
nation of a soldier when the result of
the examination can be so accurately
fOretold.
In the rulings of the department in
ability TO earn support by manual la
Dor does not include brain work, but
applies to those who can by bodily la
bor earn support. The order will with
out doubt increase payments TO some
extent, but no one is able fix the
amount. The bureau has not con
sidered that as a proper element OF
What the bureau has
considered has been whether or not it
was right and just. and the proper
thing to do leaving results TO take care |
Of themselves. ! do not think. how
ever. that the increased expense in the
long run will be very noticeable, be-
cause the death rate is always to be
considered and there is also to lie con-
sidered the fact that the ones to whom
We give pensions without proof other
than their ages would have proven
themselves anyhow under the former
as entitled to a pension /
by reason of their disabilities"