The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-04
GRANTS BROKEN FORTUNES.
He Has Absolutely No Income, and Is
Reported To Be Almost Penniless.
New Phase of the Discussion as to the Cause
of Blaines Defeat-An Effort to Throw
the Blame on Chairman Jones.
GENERAL GRANT.
A Popular Error Corrected-Surprising Ig-
norance Among Congressman.

A Popular Error Corrected-Surprising Ig-
norance Among Congressman.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-''The impression seems
to be quite general" said an intimate friend of
General Grant, to-day, ''that the General has
an assured income of $l5, 900 year from the
fund which was subscribed for him some years
ago. The fact is, however. that the interest on
that investment was guaranteed for only ten
years and that time will soon expire. The whole
amount was invested in Wabash bonds, when
those securities were considered gilt-edged prop
erty. They are to-day comparatively worthless,
and the interest on them is paid out of the es-
tate of the person who guaranteed them His
estate is insolvent-or nearly so-and even if it
We're not there is nothing to compel the execu-
tors to pay the interest after the expiration
of ten years. The fact is that the
Grants arc absolutely and irretrievably ruined.
The General has no income whatever, and un-
less few thousands can be saved from the
wreck he will be pauper"
There is wonderful amount of ignorance
among members of Congress upon subjects with
which they ought to be somewhat familiar 1t
is very doubtful if 20 per cent. of those who
oppose the bill to put Gen. Grant on the retired
list know why they oppose it.
The Journal correspondent asked Representa-
tive Robertson the other day if he favored the
bill. Robertson is red-headed, whisky drink
ing, onion-eating specimen of congressman.
He has no ideas above his stomach,
and is one of those unfortunate accidents who
occasionally create the impression that constitu-
encies return members out of punishment for
their sins. He Isl withal, good fellow" as
good fellows go. He replied to the question,
mo, / don't favor the bill; have come to the
conclusion that my people and the people of this
country generally, think that General Grant
shouldn't get anything more out of the govern
ment."
What do you mean by anything morep was
asked.
II mean that the General is getting enough
now. He was good soldier. and I admire him,
but he has had enough, and l don't think we
ought TO pay him any more annuities than he
now receives"
But do you not know that he is receiving
nothing from the government or anyone else at
present4
What Amt General Sherman on the re-
tired lists" answered Mr.. Robertson, turning
questioner "and didn't General Grant precede
Sherman as General of the United States armyl
Didn't Grant retire to accept the presidency"
Grant certainly preceded General Sherman
at the head of the army. but what has that to
no with his present conditionp
'Why, Sherman receives a big salary, and so
does Grant NV nanp1o 70
ing that salary, because we think it is enough. y
But Grant resigned, and, in consequence, is
not on the retired list That is the reason for
this billn
''Why, is that 500 I'll be hanged if knew it, "
said the honoroble NJ c., as he walked off to the
cloak-room to think the thing over.