Daily globe., 1879-02-13
DIVERGENT ESTIMATES.
Witot Vnrioass People Think the arrears of
Pension Act Wilt Cost the Country.
WASHINGTON Special

What Vnr;oass People Think the arrears Of
Pension Act Witt Cost the Country.
Washington Special.
The authorities are still unable to agree as to
the sum required to pay the claimants under
the arrears-of-pension bill and no one is cour-
ageous enough to suggest the only way in hich
it is possible to prevent this great burden from
falling upon the people, namely, by refusing
the necessary appropriation to execute the law.
The estimates of the amount required still vary
from $l9,0O0,000 to $780, 600. Senator In
gals has placed the sum at $4,000, 600. Rep
resentative Rice, of Ohio, who claims to have
been the father of the act, and who hopes to
become Governor of Ohio on account of it, fixes
the amount required at $29,000,000; Senator
Morrill,, chairman of the finance committee. at
1888, 600 900 ;Bentley, commissioner of pensions.
at $52. .OOO, 000; and the secretary of the treas
ury at $l5O, 100000. Representative Rice says
that, of the 25O, 900 pensioners on the roll, not
more than 10000 VIII be affected by this bill.
Taking the figures of Rice, the average dona-
tions to each one of these 20, 900 person will be
$l,5OO. Taking the figures of the commissioner
of pensions, the average amount to which each
beneficiary will be entitled is So, ,00O and TAX
ing
URY,
persons entitled to the benefits of the act
would each receive an average of $5 OOO. This
bill thus gives 10000 persons from $1,000 to
5000 each, taking the range of the estimates
Yet the Hehdrick B. Wright bill only asked
that $500 be loaned to any person willing to
improve the homestead, the homestead being
taken as security, and the twenty four persons
who voted in the House for the Wright bill
were characterized by the remainder of the 800
Representatives as demagogues. Meanwhile,
Claln-GV6ntS RI bor IL.
doors OF the treasury opened wide under this
law, One of the leading agents of this city
publishes
of which the following is the substance: s'Com
missioner Bentley has made rulings which, if
carried OUT will practically render null and
void the efforts of the soldiers friends in Con-
gress. 1t is clearly the object of Congress to
DO even and exact justice to all. But, under.
Bentley's rulings and construction, tho pen
sions laws will be more inc.ngrucus and
conflicting than in the past The fathers
OF this law could do more for the
than fighting over the paternity of.the measure.
The Indians are given friend at the head of
their bureau. every industry of the country
has friend chief, and only the poor disabled
soldiec has placed over him as commissioner a
man who never days service, and has
shown himself opposed to all bills for their re-
lief. Mr.. Hayes has appointed only union SOL
dlers pension agents. If this was right. how
| much more important is it that a soldier shonld
be at the head of the pension office. II ia
stated that Bentley is to be removed, and. if 40.
let us have brave soldier appointed. The
most scored Of all national debts is the one to
those disabled in the service of the country.
Let the soldiers combine and demand the;r
rights if the courts of the interior denartnoon+
refuse them"