Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-04
Pension NetOeS.

The disposition shown by the president
to scan private pension bills with as Sc
we're scrutiny as the duties of his posi-
tion will permit is laudable one. 1t is
also encouraging as indicating his possi-
bic action in case some of the pension
schemes now part way through congress
should come before him for signature.
There can be but one opinion among the
people as to the necessity of calling halt
upon the prOfuse r>cklessness with which
senators and representatives proceed to
dispose of practically all the avail
able resources of the country for
a generation to come. Not a voice is
raised, or ought to be raised, against
generous provision for those who were
injured or disabled i'll the defense of
their country. This government has
adopted the most liberal pension policy
ever heard of in the history of the people,
and 1t has done so with the most cordial
approval of those who pay taxes. But
when 1t comes to a simple distribution of
the entire national assets for the purpose
of bidding, party against party, for the
soldier vote, it is time for the people
upon whom the burden must fall to ex-
press themselves plainly. The govern
ment has provided and maintains. at
great expense, bureau for the exam
inatiOn of pension claims under laws al
ready enacted. 1t is matter of common
knowledge that the rules of the bureau are
lenlent, and that 1t can only be under some
extraordinary combination of circum-
stances that deserving applicant is re-
Jected. Yet, at every session, private
pension claims are pushed through by
scores and hundreds. These are the
yNf, -,
mission to the lists after thorough ex-
animation of the case, and for reasons
stated. The rejected Immediately apply
to the proper member of congress. bill
is prepared, and the pension is allowed
without examination or debate. In few
cases, without doubt, injustice is thus
remedied. In the great majority, it is
simply the abolition by congress of all
tests and requirements against fraud
established by its own laws. How un-
reasonable and improper this may be has
been pointed out by the president III
some of the cases analyzed.
The private pension business, however.
though adding many thousands yearly to
the burden of annual Indebtedness. is
bagatelle when compared with the general
pension legislation under way. The Blair
bill, for which there were two and half
times as many senators voting as voted
against it, offers pension to every person
who served i'll the army or navy for the
space of three months, and who at any
time thereafter became disabled. This is
to add to the pension rolls the name
of every man who was enrolled
three months. 1t matters not whether
he ever saw the enemy or ever
heard a gun fired. 1t is absolutely
mprehensive, because every man is GER
tain at some period of his life, to become
incapacitated for earsinr his own living.
To all such, no matter when or how the
disability originates, a pension Is to be
given. This bill, as Mr.. Blair expressly
states, is only the prelude to another
which he will introduce, pensioning every
person who enlisted, no matter whether he
has become disabled or is now in perfect
health. And while the senate is sending
this bill down to the house, the house is
sending up to the senate the scarcely less
extravagant pension bill. The sums
demanded for these purposes would
not only exhaust the revenues of
government, but they would at least
double the present rate of taxation and
forbid reduction of it for generation
to come. 1t would be libel on the sol
der to think that he has asked or desires
any such legislation. He deserves and
receives that care which his great services
earned. But the men who play the horse
leech's daughter appropriate and abuse
his name to purchase political preferment
by stripping the nation bare. Some time
there must be limit fixed. Congress has
simply gone mad on the question OF
squandering the peoples money. The
public will hope that the president, in the
last resort, may stand between it and ut
ter spoliation.