The National tribune., 1904-08-18
soldier prior to the 9th day of June, A
d. 1890"

| soldier prior TO the 2th day OF June, A.
ID. 1897
On the 9th of October, 1903, for the
carrying on of the work, | appointed as
the National Committee on Pensions Com
rades Charles G. Burton, Chairman, Ne
vada, Mo-; A. \. Taylor, Cambridge. o.;
John G. Linehan, Penacook, N. H.; III. r.
Taintor. Hartford, Conn; Bernard Kelly,
Topeka, Kans.; l.. B. Raymond, Hampton,
Iowa, and James Owens, of New York.
At the same time l requested the Chair
man to call a meeting of his committee at
Washington. D. c., during the immediate
ensuing session of the Congress, and re-
quested the committee to push matters
along the line of the resolution with the ut
most vigor. They assembled pursuant to
the call and at once addressed themselves
to the work required of them by the En-
campment and with a great degree Of
promised success. The particulars of their
work will be found, as far as desirable
for immediate presentation, in the report
of the Chairman hereto attached, and to
which the attention of comrades is respect
fully invited.
| At the same time. by the direction Of
the Executive Committee Of the Council
of Administration, call was made on the
Grand Army for support of the proposed
law. The result was gratifying. Entire
Departments responded by resolutions ad-
dressed to the Congress; thousands of
Posts took similar action; the Ladies Of
the Grand Army of the Republic, under
the lead of Mrs. Belinda Bailey, their
National President. who in far Golden
Gated California, heard the Macedonian
cry, responded early and long and faith
| fully. Other allied and associated bodies.
| and some strange to our ranks, lent help.
| 1t was manifest that a great cause was
| being presented and urged by great
power; and in March of 1904 it became
| no off nf ha
proponents, and the labors of the COM
| mittee,
BILL WOULD PASS THE CONGRESS
| embodying the main requirements of the
resolution above recited. Upon reference
of the subject-matter of the proposed bin
to the Department of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Pensions very much cal
culation was INDUCED in as to the number
| of survivors to be benefited and the cost
of the bill; and on the figures then given
it was stated in the Congress that the
| amount necessary would be out of all pro-
portion to the capacity of the Treasury to
pay. Thereupon, on March 15, an Ex-
ecutive order, dated March 13, known as
7S, was issued by the Commissioner of
Pensions, to take effect April 13, copy
OF which l here insert, upon the promui-
cation of which all agitation for legisla-
tive relief subsided:
(Ofder NO. lS.}
department of the Interior.
Bureau Of Pensions,
March Is, 1904
Whereas, the Act of June 27, 1880. as
amended, provides that a claimant shall
be entitled to receive pension not ex-
ceeding $12 per month and not less than
$6 per month prOpOrtiOned to the degree
OF inability to earn support, and in de-
termining such inability each and every
Sr,Gr -l,o1l h. I,,1x
aggregate of the disabilities shown to be
rated; and
Whereas, old age is an inirmity the
average nature and extent of which the
experience of the Pension Bureau has es-
tablshed with reasonable certainty; and
,'Whereas, by Act of Congress in 1887,
when 80 years had elapsed after the Mex
lean War, all soldiers of said war who
were over G2 years of age were placed on
the pension roll: and
Whereas, 80 years will have elapsed
on April 13, 1904, since the Civil War,
and there are many survivors over 62
years of age:
Now, Therefore,
Ordered: Q In the adjudication of
pension claims under said Act Of June q,
1890, as amended, it shall be taken and
considered as an evidential fact, if the
contrary does not appear, and if all other
legal requirements are properly met, that
62 years he is disabled one-half in ability
to perform manual labor and is entitled to
be rated at Sc per month; after 65 years
at IS per month; after 68 years at $40 per
month, and after 20 years at $12 per
month.
ceeding $12 per month, will continue to be
made as heretofore, where disabilities
other than age show a condition Of ina
bility to perform manual mbOr.
"3l This order shall take effect April
IL, 1904, and shall not be deemed retroac-
tive. The former rules of the Office fixing
the minimum and maximum at IS and IS
years, respectively, are hereby modified as
above"
ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMMISSIONERS
POWERS.
1t is wholly proper to speak of this or
der. The Commissioner of Pensions has
mine claims for pensions, and to grant the
same. subject to the supervision of the
Secretary of the Interior and of the Pres
ident. Such authority and duty are as old
as the office, and have been and are exer-
cised in every. case before him. No jury
intervenes and no court instructs. The
Commissioner applies the law, settles
claims and makes allowances, or rejects
them. From the vast mass of evidence
presented through many years he arrived
at the conclusion that former soldier of
the Republic who had reached GO years of
age was partially (one-half) manually dis
abled and that he need not prove that
fact: that disability, increasing with
years. was total at three score and ten, the
age when for hundred generations it has
been said they are the full measure of
mans life: and if by reason of strength
they be four score, yet is their strength
Weakness So concluding, he issued Order
No. 7S. dispensing with other proof of
the fact than that of age. In so doing he
followed Iochren. under Cleveland, and
Davis, under Mckinley.
Since the issue of the order both the
great political parties have passed reso-
lutions of moment on the subject of pen |
sions. and the whole people seem to con-
sent to the general view of favoring pen
sion legislation. Yet SO vital matter as
the Service Pension should not rest in in
depreciation or depend on favor; it should
have the strength of statute law.
1t is believed by the Chief |
that attempts instituted under the resou-
ton of August, 1903, should not be aban-
doned, but should be prosecuted and that |
earnest efforts should be made to crystal
liZe the beneicent provisions of Order No. |
1S into statute law, thus effectuating the |
request of the Grand Army of the Repub- |
lie in degree. and placing the whole mat