Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-25
Pensions and a Deficit.

The course of the democrats in the
House in asking for an amendment to the
rules for an imposition of new taxes to
pay pension bills. either means that en-
barrassments are to be cast in the way OF
the passage of a certain class OF pension
bills, or that the government is without
the ability to pay the amounts called tor
should they be passed. Mr.. Morrison
estimates that the new taxes called for
will Weld from $50 ,000.0 to 800. 000,-
900 year. The proposition is that every
pension bill, general or individual, shall
contain a provision for the Appropriation
of the money necessary to carry it into
effect. out of the proceeds of some speci-
fic tax to be levied for that purpose. Mr..
Reed regarded the proposition as unfrend-
lv to pension legislation. Why should
the money to pay pensions be raised by
an income tax-the most odious kind of
tax-instead of coming from the usual
appropriations Why should pension leg
islation be handicapped by such a measure
"a thisp
Mr. Mckinley. OF Ohio. thought that
the proposition. If it meant anything,
meant that the Government had not reven-
tie enough now to pay the pensions of de-
serving soldiers. If it meant anything it
was confession for the House and the
A.. ., q,
to meet the Just demands of the soldiers
of the republic.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa regarded it as a
measure inimical to the soldiers. The
democratic leaders, while attempting to
present flower to the lips of the soldier
were plunging dagger into his heart. 1t
was cowardly blow at the hearts and
homes of the best blood in the country
Mr.. Hiscock of New York charged that
the proposition was direct confession
that the democracy could not redeem its
pledge to reduce taxation. 1t was an adj
mission that no more taxes were being
collected TO-DAY than were necessary to
the economic administration of the gov
ernment The men who had made these
pledges admitted abjectly that the next
year there would be a deficiency exhibited
to the country The President had sent
message commanding the democrats to
redeem their pledges, and the Secretary
OF the Treasury had dashed himself into a
l;,,,, hn,, 20, 4 p,,t ha
democrats abandoned their pledges and
admitted that the tariff could not be re-
daeed. Where were the reform measures
and the full treasury which the democrat
ic party had promised to the peoples 1t
had not redeemed single pledge it had
made, but had stood covering before the
country. admitting that it was powerless
to lift any burden from the people. that it
had spent all the money, and that empty
treasury vaults we're the fruit OF democrat
ic victory. He wished to emphasize that
. de nocratic Congress had been in session
for six months. that it had accomplished
nothing and that in these last days of the
sess IN it stood confessing that it had
kno vn nothing about the receipts of the
go eminent aud WAS incompetent to carry
out any of its promises and pledges.
Certainly the conclusion is fair and leg
II nate. that the introduction of such q
proposition for new and increased taxa
ton means that the government funds
have run low and new measures must be
taken to replenish the treasury; also that
raising money to pay pension bills by the
method proposed would have tendency
to defeat the just claims of soldiers. The
wrangle which the democrats got into
among themselves during the discussion
of this proposition, serves to show how
incapable the party is OF ruling the coun
try and administering its affairs. After
all its promises about reducing taxation,
and its promises and batteries to the