The National tribune., 1910-09-08
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENSION
BILL
The Most Fair and Reasonable Measure.

Editor National Tribune: The writer
believes that the bill bearing the above
lcaption, which was introduced in Con-
gress at the session just closed, but
which failed of enactment, is the fairest
and most reasonable measure that has
ever been proposed in behalf of the vet
erans whose thirHing ranks are now
rapidly melting away like Springtime
snowdrift under the melting rays OF
Summers sunshine. i desire, there
fore, TO say few words in its behalf.
! 1t is high time that we should get to-
gether behind some good bill, and push
| 1t thru to enactment into law. This We
| can do if we will unite our efforts. But
! if we are divided, with one faction de-
manding the S1a-day bill. another fac
ton demanding The National Tribune
/ bill and another fragment demanding
some other proposed measure, We shall
accomplish nothing by such discordant
land crosS-purpOse action. l favor The
National Tribune bill because it recog-
nzes the great fact that, other things
being equal. age is the measure of the
veterans disability and corresponding
need of assistance. True, no bill can be
framed that will relieve in exact equal
measure the needs of all comra1 1es, be-
| cause some men are stronger and more
able to fight the battle for bread at 20.
| or even 10 years of age, than others are
| DIT " VI b)- HIS blil may ilOl Dt pei
fect-its author does not claim that it
is-but it is the best that has ghost of
a show of enactment into law. 1t pro-
poses to give the veteran at 62 SIS per
month; at G5, $40 per month; at 10. $50
per month. and at rs. $40 per month.
The writer is now but GA years old.
| Were / writing from a selfish, personal
! standpoint, ] would, of course, favor the
| $1-a-day bill for all veterans Justice,
however, impels me to say that the
| comrades who are older than / should
have more money. / shall be content
to have my increases come as the years
go by. l may never live to reach the
higher grades, probably will not; but if
my comrades more feeble, and possibly
more deserving, receive the greater
benefits, shall be content.
Another thing: If The National Trib-
une bill is passed. it ought to do away
with all further general pension legiSla-
ton, as well as the constant flood OF
special acts which have become a nuis-
ance to the lawmakers. as we'll as too
often a scandal to the cause of the old
soldier. Too often these special acts
have no other claim to favorable con-
sideration than the persistent clamor OF
the applicant.
Give US this law and the boys will not
need to agitate for additional enact
ments. AS fast as they reach the age:
that will entitle them to additional pen
sion all they will need will be to send in
proof to the Pension Department that
they are still alive and proof of age
that will entitle them to the additiona
increase. This proposed increase will
not bankrupt the Government. Most OF
the boys will not live to reach the high
est rate. So long as there is money to
squander in dredging out Skunk Creek
so the geese can swim in it; for improv-
ing the harbor at Hawbuck, and fol
erecting Government building at Po-
dunk. in Congressman, Reubenjack's
"deestrict." to say nothing about paying
Increased salaries to our lawmakers and
buying automobiles for public function
aries, we need not hesitate to demand
some measure of more liberal relief for
ourselves.
Attention, comradesi Let us touch
elbows once more; then forward for
The National Tribune pension bill and
it's author, John McElroy, for our next
National Commander-in-Chie A
Williams, Adjutant, Kenesaw Post, G.
A. R., Danville, Ill.