The National tribune., 1910-08-11
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENSION

this committee secured the reassertion
of the principle in pension legislation
established for the survivors of previous
wars that old age is specific disability.
This. with the cordial approval of the
country, was made operative in the
Pension Bureaus administration by
President Roosevelts age order and 1t
was subsequently made statute law by
acts of Congress.
The only objection that can be made
to The National Tribune pension bill is
that it increases the rates for ages too
much and too rapidly. Whether it does
this or not is matter for the consider
alton of Congress and the G. a. r. Ma
tional Pension Committee. We have
done in this matter what we have done
in every other bill which subsequently
became a law: that is, we have asked
for what we may reasonably expect to
get and then accepted such shrinkage
as Congress would give us. The old
readers of The National Tribune will
recall that this was our consistent
course with regard to the act of June
g.,
thereto.
For more than 10 years we pleaded
and struggled for the various bills
which subsequently became merged in
to the act of June 81, 1890. AS the
years went by, bringing increased dis
abilities to the comrades, we kept up
the struggle for increased rates and
more liberal Interpretation of that act,
and a result was the age order, legisla-
ton following that, and finally the Nc
Cumber bill The McCumber bill was
great boon to the comrades and at the
them and approved by the country. 1t
has done an infinite amount of good.
The McCumber act was approved
Feb. 6, 1907, and is consequently now
in the fourth year of its operation. In
those nearly four years the needs of all
the comrades have necessarily and
greatly increased Age is not merely
stealing upon them, but it is coming
like an armed man, like one that trav-
eleth." Tens of thousands who four
years ago felt themselves still in the
vigor of manhood are now past the
period of practical, useful effort, and
are in need of more assistance from
the Government. Their needs are i'm
mediate and pressing and demand i'm
mediate action. The agitation for this
cannot be begun too soon nor pressed
too vigorously, for Congress is never in
a hurry in passing pension legislation.
We have it from the highest authority,
however, that there will be additional
legislation on the lines of The National
bill at an early date, and we
trust that this will be at the next ses-
sion of Congress.
At the time the McCumber bill was
passed the only criticism in Congress
were too low and inadequate. We feel
that this conviction has been growing in
the minds of members of Congress, and
that it will take effect at the coming
session we feel certain. While we are
in earnest for the passage of The Ma
tional Tribune pension bill as a whole,
it is not improbable that Congress will
take it up piecemeal and pass it by sec
tons at different sessions. The bill nat
urally divides itself into several clauses,
which may be treated independently.
For example, the bill proposes SIS a
month for everyone who has reached
the age of 62. This clause is of dimin-
ishing importance, as the great body of
the veterans past that age some years
ago. The same is true in less degree
of the rate of $40 a month to those
who have reached the age of 65. The
likelihood is that the mass of veterans
are rapidly nearing the 70-year mark,
and the rate of $50 for those who are
10 becomes of more vital Importance
to them.
It will be seen that the conditions af-
fecting the final passing of the bill
change rapidly with every year, with
every month even. They change not
only on account of the veterans. but of
the heavy inroads which death is max
ing upon them. Over 100000 veterans
have passed away since the McCumber
bill was passed. Between 10000 and
10000 more will pass away before an
other bill could be passed and put in
operation even If Congress should take
up the consideration of The National
Tribune pension bill Immediately upon
it's reassembling in December. These
are facts of startling magnitude which
must be kept in mind in considering the
measure.
When, therefore. people talk about
The National Tribune pension bill cost
ing as high as s50,000,00O to put in op-
Grafton, they are forgetting important,
even vital, facts. They are basing their
calculations upon the condition Of the
pension roll June 80, 1909, which was
the last published report of the Com
missioner of Pensions. A year has
elapsed since then, full of mighty
changes. Even If we admit that the
bill would have involved an expendi-
ture of $4,000, 900 If 1t had been passed
and in operation June 80, 1909. we can
not escape conclusions that il would
cost much less than half that sum If
passed next Winter. 1t is hardly likely
that Congress will pass the bill exactly
as formulated by The National Tribune
1t will be on the lines of The National
Tribune bill, modified by consideration
of the momentous changes which have
taken place since it was formulated and
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