The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-08
why NOt-W NOIi

The pension bills that have passed
the Senate or been favOrably consider
ed by the House Committee, will call
for an expenditure of two or three
hundred million of dollars,
The Democrats of the House propose
that provisions shall be made in these
bills for raising the revenue necessary
to meet this great dralt on the treasury
and they think an income tax the best
method of secu. ing the money. They
would impose graded tax Oh all in =
comes over So 900 a year, ranging from
q to 10 per cent, the latter reaching
net incomes of over $4,000 a year
The intention is to apply this rule only
to general pension legislation which
may be enated hereafter and not to
past pensions.
| If this pension legislation is de-
manded by the people aud obligatory
on the Government to keep its faith
1 with the Union veterans-we don't
say that it is, but that is the allegation
what more proper method could be
suggested of raising the needful than
taxing the surplus wealth of the cOun
try, represented by great incomes
The way to test public sentiment in
these great grants in the way of pen.
siOns, is to make every pension bill
provide its own revenues, and any
pension bill that will not stand thi.
test is an improperly to say the least
The great sums proposed TO be vote,
will bankrupt the treasury unless new
resources are provided. OfcOurse thii
is not to be thought Of The question
resolves itself into this simple propo
sition: EIther All income tax to NEE
the pension appropriations or ther,
will be no pension legislation in tn
way of extending and increasing tn
bounties TO the disabled veterans
Secretary Lamar in his report, refer
ring to the pension system, states tina
1.-The amount of money paid as pen
sions does not equal the amount O
interest paid upon the public debt in
CURED during the war. 80 long as tn
premium paid to those who contrib
uted the money exceeds that paid t
the defenders of the country, 1 thin
the complaint of excessive pensions i
not we'll founded"
The income tax proposed to pay pen
siOns will reach thousands of income
resulting from profitable financis
speculation on the contingencies of tn
civil war. Is there not something {
rugged justice i'll drawing the none
AoA PChSioho lAOn IAi
source?
The Republicans in Congress, il
violently opposing this income tar
which is essential to Increased pensio
, appropriations, show either the hol
lOwness Of their professions of devO
ton to the veterans, or that they ar
bound hand and glove to the interest
of milliOnaires and bOndhOlders.
For our part we believe much of tn
proposed pension legislature is uncal
, ed for, and what sentiment exists fe
it has been largely worked up by CLAIM
T agents or demagogues bidding for tn
t soldier vote. But if, as appears prot
> able, the increased Pension bills al
!. liable to become laws, let them carr
l with them the methods of raising til
1 necessary revenue. Who so cOmpt
e tent to pay as those having large an
q stated incomes? Other taxation effect
the industries of the country or til
pockets of the telling millions. Civ
e the milliOnaires chance to sho'
9 their appreciation of the services
@ the Union soldiers by something mol
substantial than nice words.-[ Pitt
burgh Post.