The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-02
Pension Bills.

OF the pension schemes devised by sem
ators and representatives., The Independent
says "Pension bills seem to be the order
of the day with congress. If all the
propositions on this subject now pending
were adopted, the pension expenditures
of the government would be increased by
several hundred millions of dollars, which
means just so much addition to the bur-
dens of taxpayers. Congress may pass
the bills by simply voting; but taxpayers
have to pay the bills. The question
whether they have any rights which con-
gress is bound to respect is certainly per-
tinent. The Mexican pension bill, which
has already passed the house, and is now
pending before the senate, places on the
pension roll, without any regard to his
pecuniary or physical condition, every SOL
der or sailor who served sixty days in the
Mexican war, or who was engaged in any
battle and was honorably discharged from
the service, whether he fought against the
Union or not in the late war of the rebel.
lion. Every such person, whether sick or
well, able-bodied or disabled, rich or poor,
would, under the provisions of this bill,
receive during the remainder of his life a
regular monthly pension and the same
right would belong to his widow during
her life, after his death. 1t is computed
by the pension bureau that this bill, should
it become law, would cost the govern
ment about fifty millions of dollars. The
senate committee on pensions, not to be
outdone by the house of representatives
in bidding for the soldier vote, has added
an amendment which provides that those
who served three months in the late war
and were honorably discharged, and who
are, or shall be, disabled from any cause
not the result of their own gross careless
ness, disreputable conduct or vicious hab.
its, and shall also be dependent wholly or
in part upon their own labor, or upon Pc
cuniary assistance from others for the
means of comfortable support shall also
be placed on the pension list. 1t is esti-
mated that the adoption of this amend
ment will add another fifty millions to the
pension expenses of the government.
Still another amendment has been pro-
posed, which repeats the limitation con-
tanned in the arrears pension act, and
provides that all applicants, whose claims
may be filed after June Both, 1880, shall
be entitled to the arrears provided for in
the arrears pension act. 1t is estimated
that the addition to the cost made by this
amendment would swell the whole addi-
ton to the round sum of about two hun
dred and seventy-five millions of dollars.
This would about double the pension cost
of the government. These are very grave
figures for the people to ponder, and for
congress to consider before imposing such
a burden upon the productive industry of
the country. This is the presidential
year and both parties in congress are
under q strong temptation to use pension
bills as political bid for the soldier vote.
Inc law, aS ~ hoW staius, los III eno way
of pensions, exceedingly liberal toward
those soldiers and sailors who have served
their country in war. We believe that
the time has fully come when good sense
and fair dealing with the whole people
sternly demand that congress should call
a halt in this pension business. Political
aud party reasons should have nothing to
do with the subject; and the soldier vote
of the country ought not to be Ia the
market, to be influenced and bought up
by the pension legislation OF congress-"
VERGENNEs VERMONTER: Hon. w. p.
Dillingham; is favoraby mentioned as the