Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-11
VETERAN SENDS OPEN
LETTER TO CONGRESS
G. A. R. Man Begs Federal Legis-
Iators to Adequately Pension
Soldiers of Civil War

Alonzo T. Gear, a comrade of Bart
lett-Logan post, G. A. r., has ad-
dressed an open letter to the president
and congress of the United States, ask
ing that the federal legislators pass
measures which will aid old soldiers
of the civil war. The letter follows:
LOS Angeles, November 8, 1910.
ITO the President and Congress of
the United States of America as to
Unfinished Business In orderly pro-
ceedings of men assembled, elected or
otherwise, for the purpose of transact
ing business, after passing upon formal
matters, unfinished business is con-
sidered of the first Importance to be
taken up and disposed of before en-
tertaining new business.
"In this connection the writer re-
spectfully asks the president and the
congress of the United States to
promptly dispose of unfinished business
before considering new business, some
of which has been allowed to rest over
forty-five years.
Before legislating upon the various
propositions presented, on the merits
of the same, in justice to constituents,
equally, and should be preferably en-
titled to consideration. 1 submit
action should be taken at once on the
pledges long ago made, set forth In
bills presented, which may be rightly
considered unfinished business. be first,
and we trust favorably disposed of.
Before your honorable body there
are two important bills introduced for
the relief of the few remaining officers
and soldiers of the civil war, many of
whom are suffering for the necessary
comforts of life in their declining years.
"The president and congress offered
as inducements to those volunteering
or drafted to enter the army and give
up their lives if need be for the pro
lection of the Union that they should
be treated in every respect like the
officers and privates of the, regular
army.
Notwithstanding that promise, from
time to time only in part have the
pledges made been fulfilled, by the
granting of pensions, conditional at
first upon a degree of disability, and
second, upon the age attained OF the
survivors.
PRESERVE THE UNION
"All will admit that the service rem
dered during that period of unprece-
dented strife, in an attempt to sever
or save the Union, resulted in the
preservation of the same, of inestimable
value to the people of the United
States then, now and to future genera
tions. This being the fact, I ask. can
the representatives Of the people IN
congress assembled, at this time, any
longer allow the unfinished business to
be further delayed-lie longer upon
the table, iunacted upon?
"Can they conscientiously take up
and legislate on new business matters
presented and appropriate the peoples
money In the advancement of improve
ments and betterments, no matter how
meritorious, without first acting upon,
favorably it is to be hoped, and dis
posing of unfinished business of the
utmost Observation-Disclosures solemn
ly made by the rulers of the nation?
"The shameful action recently taken
by the Forty-fourth national encamp-
ment of the G. A. r. at Atlantic City
is not a true consensus of opinion of
the grand and honorable body OF
veterans, a very large proportion not
being at that encampment.
'Tn asking the president and con-
gress to fulfill promises made prece-
dent has been established that sub
stantially was what is now sought ana
that after forty odd years after the
close of the revolutionary war was
granted-namely, that volunteer Of
ficers be retired and paid the same as
regular retired officers. In fact, the
bill now presented is almost identical
in character,
"Eighty per cent of the officers that
made 1t possible to save the Union and
end the war were volunteer officers,
and but few of them are left. having
reached an age that in the course of
human events will see probably none
left at the end of the present decade,
and most Of them are not receiving the
ordinary comforts of life in their de-
clining years.
MEN BRING RESULTS
"Ts this right? How could such
henefcent results innure without or