New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-29
Nrw.voRK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY DECEMBER %, 1881

try which many persons suppose. Whether ah
appropriation or debt involves loss to the Ma
tion depends on the nature of the expenditure.
The Government, indeed will be, assuming inc
popular estimate correct, out OF pocAe'
$3.50, 900, 900; that is to say, this sum VIII DO
gradually withdrawn from the Treasury. But
the Government is not the Nation; and the
people do not lose the money. The war debt
represented a loss; the time of the men
Withdrawn from productive labor, the food
eaten and clothing worn out IN their
campaigns and marches the cannon, IRE
arms and ammunitiOn-in short, all the war
material bought with the borrowed money
and destroyed in the war-were so much value
consumed. Undertaking to pay arrears Oh
pensions does not involve such loss, but
only transfer of the value which the money
represents from those who pay duties and IN
ternal revenue taxes to those who receive pen
siOns Such a transfer, made without adequate
necessity, is q gross injustice to the taxpayers
and is, in any aspect, loss 70 them; but view
ing the nation as an entirety, it is only
redistribution of wealth. 1t stirs the money
as it were, among the common people. Inc
sum is not lost, as it would be if required Tor
a war, or if recovered from America by Eng
land on the score of something Like the Ala
bama claims.
On the other hand the law ought to be con-
sidered subject to reconsideration by Congress-
Whatever sums have been paid under it are
gone past recall and there may be reasons
for considering that claims which may have
been perfected under the law ought not to be
disturbed But WHY should the law be deemed
irrepeaabe2 It has been suggested that
provision of the Fourteenth Amendment pro-
tccts it. The language is:
The validity of the public debt OF tho United States
authorized by law including debts incurred for payment
of pensions and bountes for services suppressug In
surrectiou rebellion, shall not be questioned
The known purpose of this enactment was
to prevent the Rebel States, on their restOra-
ton to relations in the Union, from acquiring
influence in Congress by which they might re-
pudate Che public debt incurred in suppress
ing the Rebellion and it relates TO debts in
cured for the purpose Of paying pensions
and bountics. Whatever debt then rested upon
the United States is protected. Possibly if
new Government loan had been lately negoti-
ated for thepurpose ofpaying the newly granted
pensions, the lenders could claim a like protec-
an afterward-madc promise by the Govern
ment to allow and pay pensions for here no
debt is involved. There is much more reason
for doubling the cOnstitutionaity of the Pen
sions law itself than that Of an act to repeal
it. Congress has only limited powers. The
power of granting pensions has always
been dcduced from the power " 70 raise
and support armies" Gcunane to these are
a power to provide and maintain a navy,
to make rules for the government Of the land
and naval forces, and 10 provide for calling
forth the militia and for governing it in the
service of the United States. 1t has been con
sidered that authority to offer a pension is an
appropriate and customary way of obtaining
men for military service; but it may be worth
question whether this extends so far rs to au-
thorizc a gift by wholesale of the public money
made fifteen years after the service was COM
pleted, at time when no necessity existed
for encouraging enlistments, and operating, III
deed, largely for the benefit of persons who
took part in the war;