The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-16
PENSIONS AND VETERANS

We do not wonder that there is a
feeling of indignation prevalent among
the surviving soldiers OF thc Union
| armv of the War of the Rebellion
against tho comments that 4 good
MANY editors are making In regard to
the new pension law. 1t is the sort of
comment. however. that has run right
along for Il number Of years. even
against the peuson laws AS they were.
There appears in that comment to he
vein of iubilation that the old sol.
dicrs are DYING OF so fast, and that
after while but few of them will be
left to "pilla9e tho treasury and to
- hold up Congressman by threats OF
non support, thereby getting public
money which those editors think could
be better spent.
With respect TO the new pension law,
various estimates are made on the
amount OF money which 1t VIII cali for
over and above what has been paid
yearly Tor pensions heretofore. The
estimate runs all the way from SO.
100000 to $4,000, ,000. But a number
the old soldiers are dying of so rap
idlY, and since, as one OF those papers
expresses il. 100000 pensioners will
probably die within the next five years,
note Of congratulatiou is evident
over the assumption that such addition
would not last very long, and that be.
fore many wears the pension payments
will materially decrease, no matter how
lavish Congress may be IN passing pen
sion bills.
1t is mournful exhibit of selfish,
flint, hearted inconsiderateness to see
such comments in any American news
paper But for the heroic sacrifices of
these veterans in their young manhood,
We would have had no country; at
least, the Union would have been brok-
EN- in two and perhaps into three por-
lions, The South would have gone its
own way as an independent nation but
for the men who barred their breasts to
the storm of battle in order that the
Nation might live. 1t might have been
that the Pacific Coast and Mountain
States would have formed another sep
arate Nation of their own: but at all
ring Republics in what is now the
United States, at constant cost IN
armament, in blood, and In treasure
that would have far exceeded in costh-
ness. even of money, all possible estl.
mates of pension expenses. The cost
of the war was very great, ia lives and
in money. The cost of pensions has
been very great since the war; but
after all, could the Nation have better
afforded TO break up than to pay these
costs7 That is the real question to face
in considerin" this whole matter. If
the Nation is better as it is, 1T can
afford to pay the cost, and 1t can af-
ford TO pay even a vet greater price
to the deserving survivors OF the arm
les of the Union.
If, however, the contention is that
the objection lies only against the
fraudulent names on the pension roll,
then We say, Very we'll, purge that roll
of all fraudulent names, and if any
name is found on that roll unlawfully
or fraudulently, then by all means not
only eliminate that name, but send the
person bearing 1T to Jail as a felon
Thus Will the pension roll become a
roll of honor, and the nation will be en-
titled, as ii is even now entitled, TO
look upon the names on that roll Wit
grateful appreciate and also with
special vcneration and love.