The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-03
ONE WAY OF SOLVING PROBLEM.

Office.
ONE WAY OF SOLVING A PROBLEM.
The pension problem in this country may
be very much simplifed by first simplifying
the whole question from top to bottom by
sensible and searching investigation whereby
the pay of fraudulent claimants may be cut
off and the legitimate, deserving cases made
permanent, except that the pensioner shall
have the privilege of surrendering his certif-
cate and in lieu thereof receive from the gov
eminent warrant for a quarter section of
land. There is no statute at present author
izing such an interchange, but the matter ap-
effect would pass without objection. As to
the willingness of the soldier to enter into
this arrangement there is no question but
that hundreds and thousands would gladly
accept 1t. None should be compelled to do
so. 1t has been the practice of the govern
ment heretofore to issue these land warrants
to its soldiers unconditio nally, but for rea-
sons not stated the practice has been sus-
pended as to the men engaged in the war.
In the absence Of the voluntary donation on
the part of the government. the offer of
choice quarter section of land for the surren-
der and cancellation of the pension certificate
would be wise and popular measure. 1t
would at once furnish home to a deserving
man and his family, and at the same time
the burden of the taxpayers of the country.
1t would seem, too, that the land, out of
which can readily be developed a valuable
farm and permanent home, would be more
beneficial to the pensoner than the small
quarterly allowance, eaten up as fast as it is
received. The inequality in the amount of
pension drawn by different men would re-
quire adjustment, of course, but this feature
would be no serious barrier to tine arrange
ment. 1t might, also, be argued that there
would be no advantage, and that it would be
a hardship upon the pensioner to strip him
of his allowance and place him upon bar
rem tract of land. This objection can be met
in several ways In the first place, there is
to be nothing compulsory about the arrange
ment for exchanging certificates for land
warrants; in the second place, the govern
ment could we'll afford to let the pension run
limited time, say two or three years after
the location upon the land designated in the
warrant. This very feature of the case shows
the way whereby Congress can easily adjust
and egualize the rights of those drawing diff
ferent monthly allowances. For instance
one man draws ten dollars per month and an
other FIVE; let the pension of the five dollar
man continue to run twice as long after To-
eating upon the land as that of the ten dollar
pensioner. This would seem to be fair and
equitable.
Another general advantage in the trans
fer of claims would be the increase in the
ownership of small farms. As simple as the
matter appears, the welfare of this country
and the perpetuity of our free institutions
depends very largely upon the question of
individual ownership of homes, instead of
the vicious system now agitating European
society, OF lanulorulsm ana dependent ten-
antry. the government should avail itself
of every opportunity to aid in settling our
people in permanent homes of their own.
Between the wild doctrine that no man
should own land, and the wicked doctrine
that few men shall own it all, the Ameri-
can idea of absolute ownership of fair-sized
homes and farms is the golden mean. The
suggestion concerning the exchange of pen
sion certificates for land warrants is noted
under the belief that it will receive the at
tention of those who shall have the power to
act in the premises.