Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-07-20

in determining that the pension OF a
veteran for disability. under the act of
June 27, 1890. shall begin at that age
at the rate of Sc a month and be in
creased gradually until. at the age of
seventy. $12 month is allowed AS
Senator Spoouer we'll said s.Se"vice in
the army is a draft upon the future
which must be honored ir old age"
The average age Of the survivors is
now between sixty-twe and sixty-fve
years. Many a soldier or sailor in
one day of battle does the VIC. X of
years. Veteran soldiers and sailors
feel the intirmit;es of age sooner than
the average man.
Is the Roosevelt order censurable be
cause it says that the disabilities of old
age begin at sixty-two and culminate
at seventy? Why was rot Cleveland
denounced for the pension Office order
of 1898? Is it because seventy-fve
years was fixed as the pensionable age?
Why was not Mckinley denounced for
the Pension office order Of 1892 Is
it because sixty-fve years was fixed as
the pensionable age? If Roosevelt's
order is usurpation OF legislative au-
thority, then Cleveland and Mckinley
are ''particeps cr:minis"-equally
guilty. But nobody ever complained
of these acts of Roosevelt's predeces-
sors. 1t is only our strenuous Hot
spur. now president. who is foua9 to
be in fault in following the footsteps Of
his predecessors.
DECISIONS THAT SUPPORT THE
ORDER.
Are these acts of Cleveland, McKin-
ley and Roosevelt lawful? Yes. 1t is
a long established rule of our courts
that in constituting law which is to
be applied by the executive depart
ment Of the government, the courts
will sanction and accept the prac
tical operation and effect given %
the statute by those charged with the
duty of putting it in force unless such
Interpretation OF the law is repugnant
to it's plain intent and meaning. For
Ten years the government has regard cd
old age as disa biliJy emitting sol
dier or sailor of the Civil War to pc
sion, under the act Of June 27, 1890.
which grants pensions to those who
are unable to support themselves by
manual labor. Congress has uniform
ly appropriated the money necessary
to pay these old age pensions. These
appropriations are all recognitions and
approvals of the executive action,
granting old age pensions. The
courts hold that such sanction by con-
gress is conclusive on judicial tri-
bunals
President Roosevelt's Order No. 7S
of March Is, 1904, is therefore the
law OF the land, having the authority
of the executive, legislative and judi
cial departments of Ghe government.
The propositions of law, maintained in
this letter, are supported by familiar
cases to be found in the reports of the
Supreme Court of the United States.
(See MeKesp ys. Delany, Crauch %;
Brown vs.. United States, lib United
States. 568; the Laura. ia United
States, Ill; United States VS.. Graham,
11O United States, 40; United States
United States VS.. Johnston, 124 United
States, 1867
1t is said that Order No. 78 COS is
money. Yes, that is true. Time is
responsible tor this; not Roosevelt.
The veterans are growing old; thou
sands of them every year pass the old
age period Of sixty-two. The War Of
the Rebellion began more than forty
years ago. Most of the men who
fought for the Union are past three
score years. The critics have the
consolation Of knowing that death will
soon terminate the pensions granted
for old age.
Both parties. Democratic and Re-
publican, have recognized and adopted
this humane and reasonable interpre-