The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-21
THE NEW PENSION BILL.


and not in q spiri! of simple justice to
the benefciaries. 1t proposes the pay
ment of $500 per month to all the sur
ylvors of the Mexican war, and OF the
various Indian wars of years age.
Under the bill, sny man who
served sixty days in the Mexican, or
thirty days in any of the Indian wars
will be entitled to the pension. 1t is eS-
tima,ed that this would place on the
pension rolls $4,000 persons for the Mex
lean war, and $500 for the Indian wars,
requiring an annual outlay OF $7,5G0'ooo.
There don't seem to be any special de-
msnd, or any just reason, for saddling
the treasury with this additional burden.
Those who fought in those wars long ago
received all they were promised Tor
their services. Whether that compensa-
ton wss much or little, we Gre bound TO
suppose it 10 be entirely satisfactory to
those who enlisted. This thing OF pen
sioning of class of men after the SER
vice has been performed, after the fash
Ion of monarch!al governments, has
tendency to create {Gzer0nt who be-
come blot upon the social and burden
upon the industrial structure. The disa-
bed defenders OF the country, and the
widowed and orphaned, should be well
and tenderly cared for, but the able
bodied should be satisfied with the origi-
nal contract price. All else is gratuity
and savors much of slms-giying.
As we said in the beginning of this
article, we see neither reason nor justice
IN this grab, and we hope it will be de-
fcsted.
Let our Congressman turn their at
tention to doing something to Tighten
the burdens of the industrious but over
burdened taxpayer, instead OF spending
their time cudgeling their brains to ln-
vent schemes for the further de-
depletion of their well-nigh empty
nurses. Let them realize il they can
that the honest, Woodworking taxpayer
has some rights that even Congress
man who Is scheming for reelection
is bound TO respect. Let them re-
feet that there arc at least some
taxpayers smart enough to know that
every dollar voted to a subsidng scheme
for the improvement of an insignificant
J creek, or TO satisfy the yawing maws OF
claim agents, adds IN additional burden
to the already well-nigh crushed indus
tries of the land. Otherwise it will be-
come the duty of the Taxpayers to let
the Congressman understand, a. the pro-
per time, that for every vote he pur-
chased for himself by voting into private
pockets money that belonged to other
people, no lost ten votes from among the
men he has helped to rob.
Since the opening OF the special session
of Congress in October, nearly 5000 bills
have been introduced in both Houses and
new ones are added to this number daily.
During the entire session OF the last Con-
gress, some 5000 bills were introduced.
The vast increase is very noticeable. Az
the present rate, 1t seems not IMPROBABLE
that 10000 bills may be offered in the
Forthwith Congress. Thus far but six
have passed both Houses, the rest being
safely slowed in tho pigeon
holes of tho various commit
tees. But very small percentage
of these bills have any merit. NiHcty-
ne out OF every hundred are TO satisfy
private claims Of one kind and another,
or to obtain immunity for some neglect
or violation of existing statutes. Most of
them are "lor the relief Of -" They
are referred to committees and sub COM
mttees, are laid aside TIL almost forgot
ten, reported back with OF without rec
concentration, though generally with the
recommendation that they b. indeinitcly
postponed, and so disappear Till the next
session, when they are introduced again.
Some get through every year. and thus
the un!ortunatcs who fail Il! one session
arc encouraged TO present their claims
again. Ifthc claimant himself wGskens
or dies there Is always an agent or lob.
byist ready to take charge of the matter
on commission.
OF the character OF the great bulk Of
these clsms little need be said further
than that they would not DO allowed to
stand for moment in any Court, be-
cause there is neither law nor equity to
support them. They are brought before
Congress for the very reasons that
would throw them out Of Court. There
is always the hope that they may be
slipped through the committees through
favoritism or inadverterce, and so pass
both Houses. And it is true that al
every session q lsrge number of such
bills do &c. through, and in this
way the Treasury is robbed of large
amounts annually. If the claims are
large it will pay to employ lobby to help
them on their way; if they are small, the
Congressman introducing them must
make such bargains and concessions as
he can to help them along, and so mske
himself solid with his interested con-
stiluonts. As every member has num-
Der OF these measures to take care OF, it
is easy to see how bargains