Evening journal., 1921-07-20

they did not enlist with a chief view
to the awards in money; nor would
they unduly burden the country they
offered their lives TO save"
Senator Beck OF Kentucky de-
clared that the Arrears act was "a
fraud upon the American people,
and a standing monument to the ig-
norance. selhshness and cowardice
of the American Congress" But the
appetite for pensions grew by what
1t fed on. The G. A. r. posts were
soon demanding service pensions.
Nine out of ten of the veterans
wanted a service pension, declared
Comrade Johnston of Indiana. who
was a Representative in Congress.
The Dependent Pension bill. provid-
ing a pension of $12 a month for
veterans who had served three
,months. had been honorably dis
charged and were unable to perform
labor to support themselves, was
passed and sent to President Cfeve-
land on January 81. 1887. He We
toed IL, asserting that 'the race af-
ter the pensions ossred by this bin
would not only stimulate weakness
and pretended incapacity for labor,
but put a further premium upon dis
honesty and mendacity." The sup
porters of the bill in Congress failed
to pass it over his veto.
The so-called Disability Pension
act of 1890 was really" 1t has been
pointed out, "a service pension law
subject to a Limitation, the exist
ence in applicants Of disabilities re-
gardless of origin" A pension of
s12 a month does not seem very lib
eral in these days of bonus legisla-
ton; but the act of 1890, as finally
passed. made no distinction between
those in prosperous circumstances
and the poor. The result was that
thousands of veterans who did not
need the pension accepted it without
compunction. The. pension agents
did a 'land Office business But
the pension system was stn to be
expanded. In 1907 a service-and-
age pension bill became a law. Vet
Grams 62 or over, and who had
served ninety days in the Civil or the
Mexican War, were eligible, and
payments we're according to age on
a rising scale. The Gaping Of tbs
Civil War pension legislation, the
supreme and final effort of friends
of the veterans. was the service-and-
age act of 1919. a collaboration by
General Sherwood of the House and
Senator McCumber of North Dakota
on a Senate amendment of the Sher-
wood bill It provided pensions foI
practically all the veterans who were
left, according to age and length OF
service. General Sherwood was
quoted as saying: you can get any
want in any Legislature of the
North. because the members do moi
dare to vote against it," In forty
two business days after President
Taft's approval OF this act 4O6,O4s
applications were made for the new
pension. Special pension legislation
has been perennial, a graft on gen
eral legislation. Between 1861 and
1917 the number of special bills
l.passed was 5S,2S3. Mr.. Cleveland
was the only President who made a
stand against the abuse. He vetoed
many bills. In the Taft administra-
ton 1899 pensions were granted by
special act.
The Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie exerted its influence in favor OF
practically all Civil War pension
legislation with increasing persist
ence as the years passed. The bill
Of the taxpayers has exceeded S5,-
600, 100000. A question for the
American people TO ponder is how
much pensions growing out Of the
World War. in which 1000, 900 sol
diers and sailors wore the uniform
are going TO cost the country in tbs
years TO come. The demand for
bonuses is obviously a beginning.