The National tribune., 1910-09-29
Pension Computations.

Computations in pension matters, II
honestly and. inteliigently undertaken,
are not to be ranked as mere guess
work. There is much misinformation
afoat, but misleading statements as TO
.cst sometimes proceed from enthu-
lasts who are more intent upon win
ing favor in one direction or another
than in being accurate. -
II. r. .13411 tby Mr.. Campbell).
granting pension to any person who
served so days or more in the civil war,
or 60 DAYS in the War with Mexico, at
the rate of SIS per month at 81 years
of age. $40 per month at 65 years Of
age $50 per month at 70 years of age,
$40 per month at IS years of age. and
repeating the limitation as to date OF
marriage Of widows in the acts of June
-, 1890, May 8, 1900, and April 19,
1905" has received much attention from
Posts ard Departments. From pub
ishcd reports in the press il is appar-
ent that this measure is n close COM
petitor with the dolIar-a-day PROPOSE
ton in popular favor. Senate bill 1882
Thy Mr. jones' tx identical in terms
with the House bill. Notwithstanding
the fact that this attempt at "liberaliz-
ing the rates" provided for in the Nc
Cumber act has been "indorsed' hun
dreds of times and duly chronicled in
the press, tne allePeu oiHtldi dttS VI
Posts and Departments given the wild
est and most continuous, not to say i'm
prcssive publicity, as the alleged scnti-
ment of the veterans of the q. A. r.,
your Pension Committee is without Off
cial information in so much as half
dozen instances. Cognizance is here
taken of the pienitude of aggeded, So
called Endorsements Of this proposed
legislation, primarily that this Encamp-
ment may be advised of the repeated
and continuous violations of the orders
of the Denver Encampment 81 years
ago. and reaffirmed many times since.
II enduring public sentiment is to be
created, surely the initiative should be
taken and direction given at the ses-
sions of the National Encampment and
not in Post Halls or in Department
Encampments, haste being made TO ac-
quaint the American public with the
| action had thru journals of local or
| National circulation. 1t is a little late
in the day, and hazardous as well, to
attempt the winning of popular favor
| in the writing of new pension bills or
! 10 engage in the exploitation of per
sonal service in that regard. The Ma
tional Encampment, in its wisdom, has
put the seal of condemnation on this
reprehensible and incongruous practice,
and there is need of applying the brakes
here and now. Posts and Departments
Ilegitimately may discuss and pass upon
proposed pension legislation, and ceru-
| fy the action had thru the prescribed
| channels to National Headquarters for
appropriate reference, but il is mani
| fest!y improper and hurtful to rush into
print, whatever may be the motive. Be
cause of this growing evil we face to-
day, as we have in the past, the un-
lanswerable and too often sneering sug-
| gestion of acrimonious division in ouI
ranks In union there is strength.
Those who have had TO do with pension
legislation in the Congress know of the
drawbacks and cruel setbacks because
of this more than apparent lack OF
single e-mindedness-the solidarity which
makes for success in any just cause.
The bills referred to above are Nv
J ing issue, and we must meet this issue