The Delta independent., 1904-10-14
ORDER NO. 70
Which Judge Parker Will Not Have
Chance to Revoke.

Which Judge Parker Will Not Have
Chance to Revoke.
Nothing in the Democratic quivcr of
whereases against President Roosevelt
| has failed SO utterly as that arraigning
his pension order, No. 70, making the
proof OF certain ages by old soldiers
| evidential facts OF certain degrees Of dis
ability.
II the order had been cunningly de-
vised to betray the great constitutional
lawyers of the Democracy into making
more than the usual kinds of continental
asses OF themselves it could not have
succeeded more completely and ludicrous.
ly. When the great Parker Constitu-
tion Club" of New York, started in to
| nrraign Theodore Roosevelt for going
through the constitution as IL 1t were
paper hoop in a circus ring. 1t attack
ed his issuance of order No. IS In these
words:
Iiberately disregarded Article l., Section 0.
| Of the Constitution. providing mo money
| shall be drawn from the Treasury, hut In
/ consequence of appropriations made by
law"
Now, what are the facts?
Order No. IS assumes that an old
soldier who is CO years of age Is prob
ably able to earn only one-half of the
support the statute provides In case of
total disability. at which stage he ar
rives when he Is seventy, and says he
shall be entitled to the muni6cent sum
of Sc per month as a pension; and 1t
finds that ut G5 he Is two-thirds disa bled
and entitled to $S.
There can be no serious objection to
the principle of the order, which Is
based on the experience Of mankind as
to the gradual decay of human powers.
By reason Of strength many men are
us able to learn a support" Mt seventy
as at thirty, but the vast majority at
sixty have passed the line where they
are fully capable OF doing so In ''the
performance OF manual labor" and the
] evil days approach when "the grasshop-
per shall be burden and desire shall
fail"
Order No. IS merely recognizes the
course OF nature, but Il draws no money
out Of the treasury without authority
OF law. 1t was issued March IS. 1904.
to be effective April 13, 1904. Congress
being in session it was reported to that
body with the request that $150O.OOC
be appropriated to carry it into effect
The sum was embodied in the pending
deficiency bill, after free discussion the
money was voted, and in due order under
the Act of Congress. the pensions began
to issue, and not till then. Every cen,
paid under Order No. 7S was drawn
from the treasury In consequence Of ''ar
appropriation made by law"
| Exit the Parker Constitution Club, ol
New York, with its constitutional carr
| at half mast.
Now, mark the sequel: On September
10 last, $1.41O,000 was covered back
into the treasury as the unexpended
balance of the appropriation OF $1,000.
600. after paying $4,000 on 1862
claims adjudicated in April. May and
June to the end of the fiscal year. Oi
the certificates issued only $3.50 were
for original pensions to veterans who
had reached the age Of sixty-two OIL
upward. and 14,7GS were increases al
lowed to claimants who were receiving
pensions for disability less than the
amount 10 which they were entitled
under the pension for age.
Thus. it will be perceived. the dread
OF a heavy pension raid on the trcasur!
by reason of Order No. IS has gone
glimmering along with the constitutions
Mysteries Of the Parker Constitution
Club of New York.