The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-02-06

he pension law Just enacted IL attract
| ing wide attention, and will receive more
as the facts become better known. The law
formerly provided that all claims for pen.
sions not filed within FIVE years from the
time when the right accrued should, when
granted, only begin from the date when the
last evidence 10 complete the claim was
presented. a part OF the pensioners, there
| fore, have received pensions from the date
of their discharge or disability, while
another part hare only received theirs iron,
the period when their claims were proven.
The new law places all on an equality and
dates all pensions back 10 the day OF death
| or their discharge.
While upon this subject, it ia worth
while to allude to the importance OF this
measure in its relations to the trade OF the
country. Few seem TO appreciate this, and
there il disposition in certain quarters to
look upon the measure solely az a means OF
taking money out OF the Treasury without
putting any back. The fact il, 10 measure
has been enacted for years which will have
such a direct influence in the wav Of re-
viying prosperity. True, the money will
come out of the National Treasury, but it
certainly will not be paid out without pros
poets OF corresponding benefits. Through
this law II will go into the hands OF thou
sands OF men ana women, aDd be expended
in the ordinary transactions OF life, return
ing to the Treasury again through the vari-
GUS channels OF direct and indirect taxa
ton thus, in reality, il will, by increasing
the general prosperity and thereby the
amount OF tax paid under our present laws,
make the expenditure more Of temporary
than permanent law.
The importance of the measure will be
better comprehended by giving a few facts
and figures upon the subject.
Estimating S25 ,O00, 900 a. the amount to
be expended under the sct, it is equivalent
to giving employment TO about 10000 per-
sons, at - per day, for an entire year. This
OF itself, would he sufficient TO give 7 tre
mendous impetus to trade, but this money
would 60 into hands where the benefit will
be more distinctly felt than II disbursed TO
day laborers simply.
A large proportion of the persons berc
fited by this bill are people in moderate
circumstances, and not dependent alone
upon the stipend received from the govern
ment. They have not got to e1pend the
money they receive in living simply, but
in the majority OF cases will want to invest
it. They are, for the most part, good citi
zens, intent upon providing themselves
with comfortable homes and 50 it will he
found that, in the country, the
money received from the government
will, in many instance, go toward COM
pleting payments on land already bargained
for, or toward purchasing email fsrms
while in the towns and cities il will be ex-
pended IN little homes, in buying lots or in
some such permanent investment. OF course,
some Of il will go into the government
bonds or something similar, but the inter
est by the government is so small that not
8 great deal will seek this channel.
Taking it for granted thst the money will
be expended largely "a indicated, note the
necessary result in this city for illustration
There are paid at the Chicago Pension
Agency 1922 people. 1t is estimated that
one-half of these will have arrearsges due |
them, under the new law, amounting, prob |
ably, TO FIVE or six millions OF dollars, this |
being one Of the largest districts in The |
IL tied States. From one to two millions
will be disbursed TO persons living in the
city, while the large proportion will be
paid out in localities directly tributary to
Chicago. Within radius OF 100 miles
from Chicago, reaching ont into
he interior of four or five
,reat States, probably not less than eight
,r ten millions of dollars will be disbursed
md the estimates are the lowest. Taking
he figures Of the Secretary OF the Treasury,
md the eight or ten millions will reach
hirty or forty millions; but we are conf
lent these figures are too high. In any
went, however, calculate the effect upon
business and upon real and other property
rom the expenditure OF such vast amounts,
{ is well worth including az fact or in
very estimate Of the coming years busi-
less. Nor do We apprehend that the effect
pon the national finances is TO he at all
DISASTROUS. A few days ago we printed the
pprehensions Of the United States Tress-
rer that there would be a glut OF silver
ollars in the Treasury. He feared they
-ould be piled up until no room could be
,und for them. Since that time these
.ars have been allayed, through the I
Multitude of orders receive! for .
lem, but il the Treasury officials o
lould become again excited, here is an r
pportunity for relief. The silver dollars q
i'll buy as much food, psy az many debts, 2
nd are Just as available for investment as 4
,ld or paper. Send them along il you ge, n
ightened, and we warrant the pensioners a
i'll take them without grumbling. The \
ct is, twenty-five, fifty, or over one hun |,
ed and fifty millions will not embarrsss Il
e Treasury in its present state. We
ould spend five times the amount in max p
2 war upon Mexico or some other coun- ;
y, where destruction of life ard property Il
'ly could result, and this without grum
ing. This nation can afford to be just, y
i'd even generous, in this better way with Ia
It bowling about national bankruptcy ty
kpended thus the people en- masse will be re
nefted. Expended in war and privation as
d death, another list Of pensioners would ~
sue. The law is one to be approved. lie