Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-01-14
Mexican War Pensions.

which is likely to become law, IS one
which pensions, so we understand,
every man who was in the regular or
volunteer forces during the Mexican
war of 1868. This bill deeply con-
Germs every farmer, every mechanic,
every business man and Overy labor
er in the United States.
The men who took part in the Mex
lean war have put in claim against
the people of the United States, that,
for and in consideration of their SER
vices during the Mexican war, they,
the survivors, shall each be paid a
stated sum per month during their
life time. The duty of the people is
to audit the claim and see if it is a
lust claim. Bear in mind these pen
sions demanded are not for wounds
and disabilities received during the
war, but for mere service. Thousands
of the men who were in service du-
ring the Mexican war served only a
few months and did not even leave
the territory of the United States.
Thousands of them never took part
in a battle or skirmish. They merely
drilled few months; had sort Of
pleasure trip, and then returned to
their homes. They now ask that the
taxpayers be burdened SO as to pro-
vide a pension for them. In the
Mexican war service there were en-
rolled, according to the American
Treasury of Facts, in the regular and
volunteer service 101, 2S2 men; of
these 1,049 were killed, 508 died of
wounds and 1920 were wounded.
The wounded and the families of the
dead have been, we believe, all pen
stoned, and it is right they should be.
The demands that are now made are
to allow pensions to those who were
not wounded, and to the many thous-
ands who served but few months
and were never in action. Is it right,
fair or Just, and ought you, taxpay-
ers, to pay these pensions that are de-
manded
How much will it cost? Well, the
lowest estimate we have seen from
Washington places the amount that
will be needed at twenty-five million
dollars per year. Half a dollar per
head for every man, woman and child
in the United States, every year.
Are you willing to pay it'
Who will have to pay it? Not the
property owner; not the monopolist;
not the millionaire. Who then ?
The government. Where will the
government get the s25,O0O,000 per
year? Part of it by internal revenue
tax, but most of it by revenue tax
collected on bread stufs, drugs, coal,
cotton goods, earthenware, fax goods,
glassware, iron, steel, lead, leather,
salt, lumber, soap, spices, sugar, mo-
lasses, tin, wooden goods, and hun
dreds of other necessary articles.
From whom will the government col
lect these taxes to pay the claims de-
manded? The greater part will be
paid by the farmers, mechanics and
laborers. 1t does not matter if you do
not own even a nail of the house you
live in, you will have to contribute
your share of the tax required to pay
these pensions demanded, because the
necessities of life compel you to buy
these goods that are heavily taxed.
Are you willing to do so?
Like the Nicaraguan canal scheme
which will cost you, the tax payers,
about $9O0,000,000, this Mexican
pension business is one Of the great
questions that will effect, afflict and
previously burden the farmer, me-
chanic and laborer, and they should
consider them carefully, and scrutinize
them closely. If you think it right
to shoulder these terrible burdens,
there is no need of protest or further
agitation. If you do not think it
right to pay these pension claims and
to build that canal, then you ought to
be up and in action. You should
protest against it if you think it is
wrong. You should let Congress
know whether you favor this heavy
burden or not, and if the people
should tell Congress that they are OPP
posed to it, then Congress would not
dare put such a burden on them.
These are proper questions, we be-
lieve, that should be discussed in the
assemblies and oranges. and the re-
suit of the investigations should be
forwarded to Congress.
AT present there is said to be a
large aud powerful pension ring in
Washington engaged in advocating
this pension bill. The members are
mostly pension agents. Their organ
is the Washington Tribune, and by
one means or another they have Sc
cured thousands of names to their pc
titions to Congress to pass said bill.
Congress is made TO believe that the
people favor the Mexican pension tax,