The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-07
TOO MUCH MONEY.
Ex-Governor Crawford criticises Ex-.
penditure BY Government.

Samuel J. Crawford has written a
letter which was read today at the state
G. A. R. encampneRt at Salina IN
which he criticises bitterly the action
OF the government in spending money
on the Panama canal or the control OF
the Philippines, and declares that all
this money should be thrown into a
heap and distributed to the old SOL
diers OF the country. He also wants
all the pension Office force dismissed,
and the money now used for examining
pensions be used to pay pensions 70
every one on the muster rolls. This is
part Of Mr.. Crawford's letter:
Since the close of that great war
the government of the United states
has dealt fairly well with the survivors.
but II has not done all that should
have been done. The pension laws are
not as they should be. They do not
bear with even-handed justice upon all.
They require Representatives,. and as
result, a few are receiving reasonable
pensions, some paItry pensions, and
some nothing at all. That is not just
Every soldier who participated in the
war should be taken care Of by the
government, and placed in a position
where he would not have to struggle
in his old age for the necessaries OF
life. By reason of what these men
and their comrades did the government
mas grown rich. Its revenues are faDu-
lous, hundreds of millions of dollars are
being wasted on assassins in the Phil
ippines, and other hundreds of millions
are being dumped into a ditch down on
the 1Sthmus for the benefit of other
countries, while the War-worn veterans
who CALAMITY defended their flag and
country are left in their declining years
to exc out an existence as best they
may. If the government was poor,
that might be an excuse for paltry
pensions, but having millions to squan-
der on diseased, stricken barbarians
over on the other side of the globe, and
other millions to throw away on the
vagaries of a dream, it looks as though
the survivors of the civil war might be
protected. If not. then it is their duty
to protect themselves. They have the
power and they ought to use it. They
should make their wants known in no
uncertain way. The pension laws are
all wrong. The great army of examin-
ing surgeons, inspectors. detectives and
pension clerks should be dis
missed from the service, and
the money thus squander-
ed, applied to the payment of pensions.
The muster rolls on file in the war de-
partment should be evidence sufficient
in the making up of pension rolls. Ev-
cry living soldier whose name appears
on said rolls and who was honorably
discharged should be given a pension of
at least 50 cents per day, and from that
on up. to reasonable amount, accord
ing to his age. or the nature of his
wounds or disability.
Il hope Kansas win lead off in this
matter with resolutions that will not
be misunderstood. The time has come
for action. If the department of Kan
sas, with the aid of our senators and
representa- tives in congress will start
the bali rolling. other states will follow
and something tangible win be done
The greatest obstacle in the way of
success is the fact that there are so
few soldiers in either house of con-
gress, but that can be overcome by
united action on the part of the G. A.
r. With best wishes for you and the
Bows in Blue, I remain your sincere
"sAMII CRAWFnR1A,