The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-07
Glass Legislation and Reckless Ex-
penditurc.

The Blair bill, to give preference to hon
orally discharged ex-Confederates, in APP
pointments under the civil service, from the
South. is measure that should not pass.
The bill is a credit to the generosity and mag
nanimity of the New Hampshire Senator, but
it is class legislation and unconstitutional,
just as is the law giving preference to ex-
Federal soldiers in the matter of appointments
under the government. The country has al
ready had too much of this kind of legisla-
ton, and it is time to call halt. 1t is time,
too, that halt be called in the matter OF
pensions to the civil list, and the expensive
funerals of those who die while holding Off
cial positions. The government grants liberal
salaries and wages to. all in its employ, and
when they become incapacitated for duty, or
reach the age of retirement, their pay should
cease. The system of pensions to those on
the civil list, and to regular Army and Navy
officers also, is wrong and an injustice, and
calculated, and does, beget extravaganza and
reckless expenditure. The late Chief Justice
had been receiving an annual salary of $40, 900
for many years, and yet he was buried at the
public expense, the sum of $1,000 being ap-
propriated therefor. A pension for his widow
will next be voted, and thus the peoples
money goes to make up for the Indifference
to the wants of the future by one who had
been receiving small fortune yearly for
performing duty that was not at all labor
ious.
Last week pensions of $1,000 year were
voted to the widows of Gen. Logan and Gen.
Hancock. Gen. Logan was only volunteer
soldier and had not been in the army for
nearly quarter of century. Since his re-
tirement he managed to keep himself in lu-
crative public positions, and there was no
need for the government to support his widow
Neither was there any valid reason why Mrs
Hancock should be pensioned. Gen. Han
cock had been receiving large salaries for
many years, and if he did not provide for
those dependent upon him, it was his neglect
and no fault of the government. Neither of
these ladies are dependent upon charity, but
on the contrary have ample means.
If the pension lists go on increasing, the
dependents upon the bounty of the govern
ment will soon bear an alarming proportion
to those able to contribute, and Il radical
change will not only be advocated but de-
manded. And there will also be a demand
for the repeal of all laws giving preference to
any class in the matter of appointments.
The system of indirect taxation removes the
government so far away from the great body
of the people that they have no realization OF
the burdens they bear, nor do they inquire
into the vast sums of money squandered and
spent. If the revenue were raised by direct
taxation, there would be an awakening among
the people. The amount now collected is an
average of about seven dollars for each man,
woman and child in the country, and if the
! tax bills we're presented by collector as are
the county and state, there would be speedy
and ra deal change, and an economy would
be enforced such as is practiced in admins
tering local governments.
If the officials of county were to appro-
pirate money to pay the funeral expenses for
those other than paupers, or to grant pensions
GANtpL W thO phi'5 iH pOTSA FOAiu
60 down under the weight of ballots at the
first election thereafter. And yet the gov
eminent is doing both continually. 1t costs
S., 900 to bury a Senator or Representative,
and liberal sum is paid for the funeral ex-
penses of every employe at the Capitol who
dies in the service, and six months pay grant
ed besides. The pensions appropriations for
the next fiscal year alone amount to upwards
of $50. ZOO, 900, and there are bills pending
that will greatly increase this amount if they
become laws. A very large reduction could
be very properly made in the matter of pen
sions, and many more millions could be saved
fthe same economy were practiced as is en-
forced in the administration of local and state
governments. There is no reason why it
should not be, and the people should demand
it. Great reforms have been inaugurated in
the administrative departments of govern
ment, in the past three years, and it is in the
halls of Legislation where economy is demand
ed, where more regard SHOULD be paid to the
constitutional limitations in public expendi-
lures, and where privileged classes are
created and exalted above other citizens or
supported at the public expense.