Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-02-08
PENSION BILL.


We regard the passage of the late
Pension Bill as total surrender, by
both the democrat and republican par
ties, of the principle of economical gov
eminent to the subservienoy of party
ends. No plea of philanthropy or pa
triotism can justify such sweeping tax
alton Of the many for the benefit of the
few. The millions of dollars which the
government will be required to pay out
will have to be made up off of the in
dustries of the people, while the pri"ci-
pls it fosters promotes idleness in many
of its recipients and creates in the mind
of many dependency upon national
bounty, which is becoming through the
military organization-tbe army and
navy-a great barden to our people
We would rejoice 10 find some indepen-
dent spirit rise up in Congress aud op-
pose any bill looking to the appreprla-
ton of money from the Treasury to pay
to the provisions of this scheming and
plundering bill. There may be cases in
which a government is justifable in
pensioning notary, or the descendants
of a martyr, but this prevailing habit,
which seems to be growing upon our
Congress, of multiplying national pen
sioners, and some.to the extent of very
comfortable incomes, from the peoples
pocket, is becoming in our judgment
national evil, which should be promptly
checked.
The Baltimore Sur says:-
The New Pension Bill, facetiously
STYLED the ''arrears pension bill" as if
it were bill to pay the legitimate debts
of the government, instead of to volun-
tarily assume new obligations and be-
slowed gratuity in money belonging
to the people upon some classes Of per
sons who have already been fairly dealt
with, and on as good terms as others
who have gone before them, has been
signed by the President and is now
law. This bill provides that all pensions
on account of death or wounds received
or disease contracted in the service OF
the United States during the late war
of the rebellion, which have been grant
ed or which shall hereafter be granted,
shall commence from the date OF death
or discharge from the service OF the
United States. 1t is in the nature OF
provision for shack pay" The estimates
for the next fiscal year for pensions on
account of death or wounds received or
disease contracted during the late war
of the rebellion are as follows: lnvalids
s13,40O,OOO. widows and dependent re-
latives S12,0O0,000; total s25,4OO,OO0.
The total number of pensioners on the
rolls on June so, 1877, was 232, lO4.
The average annual value of a pension
is therefore about S109. In 1865, at
the close of the war, the number OF
pensioners was 1896. The number of
pensioners, therefore, to whom one
years arrearages will have to be paid
under the new law will exceed 100000,
and the arrearages will amount to not
less than Sl5,O00,00o. The number
who will draw two years arrearage will
reach 100000, and their back pay will
exceed S2O,0O0,000. These figures will
illustrate the enormous sums to be taken
FROM the treasury by this bill, which
was passed without debate and without
consideration. No one can examine
the last report of the commissioners OF
pensions, and particularly the tables
showing the number of pensioners on
the rolls at the termination ofeach fiscal
wear since 1861, aud resist the conclu,
sion that the arrearages under this bill
will amount TO at least $90,O0O,OOO,
and may exceed s150,00O,0OO. The
question arises where is the treasury to
fluid this money, and from what sources
will Congress provide it? Will the
party now in power in the House OF
Representatives venture to seek tor new
sources of revenue in new modes OF
taxation, when the reduction Of expen-
SEES has been the specific policy OF that
party throughout Will the party now
in power in the Senate vote to increase
the national debt in order to make this
new law effectivel No matter how we
look at the subject, the difficulties seem
to thicken in connection with this most
lnopportune and unnecessary measure.
Nor do the charges put upon the treas
ury end with the arrearages in pensions
now upon tho rolls. There are now
pending in the pension bureau ss,655
applications for new pensions, of which
at least 20 per cent, will be granted. and
upon each of these arrearages OF from
twelve to thirteen years will have to be
paid at the present increased rates OF
pensions, which are much higher than
formerly. The whole thing to US seems
to indicate more the cowardice OF poll
ticians, or their selfceeking, than any
thing else.
30 SALES OF LAND.-G. II. McGilncy
& Son, AuctiCneas, sold on Saturday
last, for JOS. S Bragonier, Trustee, the