The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-24
Not Compromise, but Repndiation.

----N--ss LIZ I4~~42S AuttD 42AtfN DS~n
proposed for the final solution of the pen
sion question, the most remarkable is, UNI
doubtedly, that suggested by the New York
Herald Says that journal, in the course of
an editorial on what it is pleased to term
the Pension swindle,1 in its issue of January
10th:
The only way TO prevent further unnecessary ex-
pense on pension account, is TO offer TO commute
claims by tie immediate payment of lump sum
for instance, the amount that would be paid the
peTsioner in five years-in full of all demands.
With the aggregate of several years pension
money many veterans who have never a got on
their feet since the war could establish themselves
in business, and the thousands who be1nean their
financial inability TO take advantage of the special
favor offered them by the Homestead law would
have money enough TO 60 on quarter section"
work it, and maintain themselves until they could
harvest crop.
a great deal OF money would be required to buy
of the many pensioners who would avail them
selves Of an offer of communication; but In business
1t Is considered good policy to anticipate absolute
obligations when much money can be saved by so
doing il is better to give the pensioner five hum
cred dollars this year, if he will be satisfied with
him several times as much in small sums during
the coming twenty or thirty years. The aggregate
sum required would probably be far in excess of
the Treasury surplus or of what can be obtained
by the present scale of tariff and internal revenue
taxes; but If higher taxation seemed inadvisable
the money could be raised by the issue of bonds at
very low interest, and such bonds might relieve
the national banks and all sound inanciers of their
perplexity as to what win become of our banking
system when the existing bonds are all called in or
mature. The present annual payment on regular
pensions. aside from arrears Is about sixty million
dollars. and this sum viii undoubtedly increase
ten or fifteen million dollars before it begins 10 di-
minish by deaths exceeding in number the nesv
pensioners. Bonds for even portion of this SUM
for five years would put al the national banks ont
OF misery for as long time might be specified
for the bonds 10 reach maturity
We agree with the Herald that this would
De, In one sense, a very profitable arrange
ment Tor the Government; but it strikes us
that very important condition of its sue
cess has been entirely overlooked, namely,
the assent of the claimants themselves.
Why should they accept from the Govern
ment anything less than the amount that
it owes them? If their claims to pension
constitute, as the Herald significantly adj
nlits, absolute obligations On the part of
the Government. On what grounds can they
be asked to compromise them? Because
the Government is too poor to pay? Evil
IDENTIFY that .cannet be offered as a reason,
since SO high is Its financial credit at the
present moment that should IFS surplus rev.
enaes not be sufficient to meet all demands
On account Of pensions, it could readily, as
the Herald frankly comedies, raise the nee
essary money by an issue Of bonds at very
low rate of interest
Because it win be to their own advan-
tage2 Clearly the inducements offered do
not warrant that conclusion. On the con-
traTy, TO compel our ex-soldiers to accent a
lump sum in lieu Of the pension which, un-
der existing laws, they are entitled to re-
ceiFe during their lifetime, would be equiv
alent in most cases to downright robbery
since the interest ON the money so received
would 60 but little way towards supplying
the support guaranteed by the Government.
What for instance would the class of pen
sicners who now receive So per month. for
loss Of both legs or both arms or for other
disabilities which render necessary the con-
slant aid and attendance of another person,
do when the lump sum" paid in settle
menf Of their claims was exhausted? They
would then be as helpless as when they
originally applied for pension, yet with
out resource save the aImshouse. Would
that be such fulfllmcnt Of the Natiou's
obligations to its veterans as was con-
tempiated in the promise 10 q care forhin who
shall have borne the battle and his widow
and orphansg"
The fact, as pointed out by the Herald.
that many Of our veterans have never got
on their feet since the year, so far from.
afIcrding reason why the Government
should thus seek to eyade the fall execution
Of its contract with them, is conclusive evi-
dence, it seems to US, Of the necessity of an
immediate and complete satisfaction Of their
claiEns. The hardness which has marked the
course Of the Government in the settlement
Of It's obligations TO the soldier, in marked
contrast to its CELEBRITY in redeeming its
promises TO the bondbolder, increases rather
than dininishes its responsibility, and to
resort to such a mode Of eFading that re-
sponsibility as the Herald suggests would be
equivalent to reputation. Such it surely
would have been pronounced had it been
proposed as basis Of settlement with the
bonaholaers.
But The truth of the matter is that the
Government is under no necessity Of driving
hard bargain with any of its creditors. The
annual value Of tho pension roll, aside from
arrears, is not sixty millions Of dollars, as
the Herald ignorantly declares, but only
thirty-two millions (Ss2, 245, 10. 49,, and so
vast is the surplus lying idle in the Treasury
that. without any increase of taxation or
issue of bonds. ample means are at hand for
the payment of The full measure of the Gov