The sun., 1889-12-15
GREAT PENSION GRABS.
Senators Outdotns Each Other In Extravn-
gant Propositions.

gnnt EropoetuonH.
WASHINGTON, Dec I2.-Secretary Window
| has reported that the pension expenditures Of
the current fiscal year will be t97,75S,7 700, and
that for the year following Congress must APP
propriate t9S.5s7,252 In order to meet the
actual demands OF legislation already on the
| statute book. Nevertheless. In the Senate
there have been introduced bills which would
at least double this annual expenditure. The
House will soon match the Senate with its own
preposterous proposals., but Just now tho Sem
ators have a monopoly OF these projects for
spending the money Of the people.
Three OF the proposed measures are particu-
larly worth mention. One is the Dependent
Pension bill which has been introduced this
session under circumstances that can hardly
fail to secure its enactment. IL is announced
as an Administration measure, TO be supported
by party that has q majority in both Houses
and with an express approval OF II in advance
in Mr.. Harrison's message. The vast amount
Of money that this will take from tho Treasury
cannot bo made the subject OF exact cslcula-
tion. A second noteworthy measure is the bill
for q service pension, Mt monthly ratio which
shall be equal to one cent per day for every day
n Union soldier may have served in the civil
war. This has no relation to disability, Is
payable alike to the pauper and the million
aire, is an addition to pensions already issued,
and would amount for those who served three
years to S1095 a month and to those who
served four years to S1460 month. The sum
PAYABLE under this bill Is also enormous.
remarkably comprehensive grab has also Just
boon introduced by Senator Ingalls, OF Kansas
1t unites certain features OF the two already
spoken OF. 1t puts on the pension roll at 50 per
month all Union soldiers who have arrived or
may arrive at the age Of 30. and who served
sixty days or moro and were honorably dis
charged. II they served over 800 days q
monthly pension at cent day ia to be sub
stituted In addition to this monthly pension
SI ana s r %ona SF s
ior persons now disabled from performing
labor necessary to their support There are
also to be arrears at s5 month. Female nurses
during the war are te have PEI pensions hereafter.
81 tSoG TRen erS are tns su6ds
other Of 81 I'm month 70 for and
Senator Mitchell also has bill extending
the benefits q The 4sScan Pension % act which
for thirty days or more Then here Is Bill to
gether. which would cost HUNDREDS Of millions
Of dollars. There is also bill giving to eer-
9 eass s ns %opS %nh ana 1pd
greater claims to consideration than measures
as paRns tSdsS rs
captured and confined In Confederate prisons
50 per day for the period OF imprisonment is
smaller item Of the many that have already ap-
peared in the Senate on this subject.
The one thing made clear is that tho Fifty
frat Congress Is likely to embark on o career
OF enormous pension expenditure. Whatever
may be done or left undone for the national de-
fence. the outgo for pensions, which has already
aggregated fully 81 900 900 0O0 since the begin
Ming OF the civil war. 10 to be greatly increased
Gould this be effected simply by imposing once
COunfTV.
policy. and be followed by q reaction But the
difficulty Is that Legislation OF the sort now
proposed is mostly for burdens that are re-
peated annually and that are certain TO mako
the pension outlay moro than $100.000.U00 q
year for many years to come.