Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-09
The PENSION yEIoEs.
Republican ISLANDERS RefutSd by OmciAl
Facts and Figures.

1
Republican ISLANDERS Refutsd by Omeial
Facts and Figures.
The hberality with which the Dem
+, ocratic party has treated the Union
Veterans in the matter of pensions is q
sufficient answer to the mendacious
| statements of Republican leaders and
| newspapers. The Democratic party
has good reasons to claim the support,
| allegiance and affection of Union vet
Grams upon the record of the work done
by the Administration for them and in
behalf of those connected with or de-
pendent upon them. No reasonable
person can deny that the execution of
any law, except for the benefit Of those
persons intended to be benefited by its
operation, is any thing short of corrup-
ton to those who have its execution in
hand, and degrading to those who re-
ceive its benefits, if so executed. The
record of the past three years shows,
:ncontestibly, that the pension laws
have been administered by the Demo
cratic Government generously, hon
estly and with greater benefits to the
soldier than has ever been the case
under previous Administrations. The
New York Star has taken the trouble
to compile some very valuable figures
from official sources on this question,
comparing the last three years of the
Republican administration with the
first three years of Democratic man.
agement of the Pension Office, and OF
the Democrat Presidents dealings with
pensions. This statement is sufficient
to set at rest forever all charges
against the Administration for indiffer-
ence towards the claims of Union vet
Grams.
During the last three fiscal years of
Republican Administration, 1888, 1884
and 1885, the total claims for pensions
admitted were 191, POI. During the
first three years of Democratic Admin
istration the total claims admitted
were $50, 1852. That is, 16S, 231 more
pensions were admitted by the Demo
Gratis, and the excess of the net increase
was 5,447. When we come to the
amounts of money in either case, we find
that the Republicans paid out during
the three years referred to 1888, 399, 216.-
81 and the Democrats paid out in the
three succeeding years $217, 399, 1870
Or $34, 900, $1,000 more than when Dud-
ley & Co. were working the Pension
Office for the benefit of the party.
Since General Black assumed charge
of the bureau 48, los more new names
were added to the pension lists than
the records of the last three years of
Republican Administration show.
President Cleveland's record in pen
sions is one that should be read by
every American citizen with admira-
ton and esteem. He signed the bill
which increased the pensions of 1922
568 dependent relatives of Union SOL
diers to twelve dollars a month, total
per year of 81, 923. 1854. He signed the
bill increasing the pensions of manned
and crippled soldiers, a total of 81, 069,-
$50 per year. The Mexican pension
act, which he approved, gives to
the pensioners the annual sum of
50, O93, 584. The arrears of pensions
act to widows from the date of their
husbands death, necessitates the pay
ment for the present fiscal year of over
81, 10000 He has signed, or permit
ted to become laws, 1920 private pen
sion bills. During the twenty-fOur
years of Republican power only 1924
such bills became laws. It is very
probable that before the present ses-
sion of Congress is over President
Cleveland will have signed, or allowed
to become laws, more private pension
bills than all his predecessors from
Lincoln to Arthur have done. And yet
Republican Senators and Representa-
tives, organs and stump speakers, dem
agogues and lobbyists, have the effront-
cry to charge President Cleveland with
Indifference toward the claims of Union
veterans. When such charge Is made
in the presence of an old soldier of the
civil war, we would ask him, as a mat
ter of simple justice, to hurl the sub
Joined table in the teeth of the calumnia-
tor of the Democratic party:
Three years of Republican administration of
the Pension ONCE:
Total pensions admitted. ........ 191, PEI
Value of same $685. s99, 216. 81
New names added to rolls I0S, 121
Three years OF Democratic administration of
the Pension ONCE:
Total pensions admitted ...... 359, 452
Value OF same Ell, S99, ID
New names added to rolls -. ..... 156, 226
Total private pension bills signed
or allowed TO become laws dur
ing twenty-four years OF Repub-
llcan rule 1,oS4
Total private pension bills signed
allowed to become laws dur
ing three years under President
Cleveland 1,2OO
Albany On. " Argus