The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-11-15
Pensions, Warships, aud Public Build.
ingS Will AbSOrb the SurnIuS.

= " bA0 CvCA xSSs
rnblicans who are bothering themselves
about reductions of the tariff should con.
slider the demands certain to be made on
the Treasury in the immediate future aud
understand that every dollar of revenue
derived from existing customs duties and
internal revenue taxes will be needed to
meet the rapidly increasing appropria-
tons. A modern navy must he had.
Tens of millions will be needed for wal
vessels and Notifications and this work
cannot be delayed longer with safety to
national defense or honor. 1t concerns
not only the seaboard States but every
part Of the country. A siege which would
close the Atlantic ports would sutfocate
trade and prosperity in Illinois, Iowa,
Nebraska, and throughout the West. Tho
law of sclf-preservati, III requires that the
nation shall equip itself with a fighting
navy aud the work should be pushed while
there is money still i'll the Treasury to be
used for that purpose. The rapidly ex-
banding expenditures for pensions, and
for river and harbor improvement
schemes, and logrolling public building
jobs. all over the country will soon oblit-
crate the Treasury surplus. stop the sink
ing fund, and bring public expenses up
to revenues and compel increased taxa
tion to get money for building wal ves-
sells.
The treasury surplus is n snow bank on
which the appropriation bills of CONGRESS
shine hotter and stronger every session,
and it will soon melt awny. The pension
appropriation for the present fiscal year,
1889, amounts to the enormous sun of
$Sl, 75S, 100, and there will be n deficit of
probably Sl0,O 0O, 900 by reason of Black.
Tanner "reratings" and new pensions.
Next year the appropria alton for pensions
will amount to fully $780, 900 900 under
the laws and rulings now in force, and it
may as we'll be understood that Congress
will swell the amount by new legislation
by 100000, 900 or $780, OO, 900 moro by
passing the dependent pension bill.
Tho dependent pension bill which
Cleveland vetoed will certainly DO adopt-
ed by Congress next winter and approved
by President Harrison. The bill passed
the House i'll 1857 by $50 yeas to 7G nays,
and was adopted in the Senate without
division. The House gave l7j yeas to
l25 nays to pass it over the veto, and that
in q Democratic house. The demand for
the bill is stronger now han two yours
ago. and it will go through this winter by
u practically unanimous vote of the
Northern members, irrespective of party.
The bill grants o pension of Sl2 per
month toevery soldier not already %rccciv-
hAS u IcAeiOu WIN keINeu tuTSe MOUlUS
or moro and is unable to earn a support"
Practic lilly this would mean that all
whose incomes are not satisfactory could
apply for and receive a pension. That il
the construction already put on it. The
Government could not investigate each
mans way of living and say to one that
he could earn n support and to another
that he could not. Nor is the pension
based on efficiency or length Of service.
Tho bill is a measure of charity intended
for the relief of needy old soldiers, and
to avoid excluding any of them it was
puiposely made broad and loose. To
avoid burning ont any poor old ~ex-sollier
all are admitted. 1t was recklessly
33,0OD pensions would be called for under
this act; but experience with similar
measures after the revolution and tho war
of 1872 showed that the pensions allowed
were from ten to tirenty times greaserthnn
the estimate. Under the act of 1918.
which was considered to cover not more
than :I75 cases. over 10000 pensions were
gr,nted! In the light of previous ex-
perience with legislation on this general
character the Democrats claimed the act
would add ut least 800, NOO names to the
pension roll, bnt careful and
Republicans thought the number would
no1 bteatiy eAceed zuu,Voo, ana tGat the
annual expense would be about S3O, 0OD.-
OoO. This, doultle 8. will prove pretty
close to the fact. With the general pen-
sion appropriation expanded TO = 500, OOO,-
O0D and $50, 900. 900 added this coming
session by the dependent bill," the nc
emulation of a surplus in the treasury
wonld be permanently stopped. If other
government expenses increased also there
would be q deficit as soon as the surplus
already on hand would be exhausted. The
Indications all are that before long the
treasury will be i'll need of Increased reye.
nues. aud certainly not in q condition to
stand II reduction of either tariff or in.
ternal revenue taxes. 1t is a sheer waste
OF breath for any politician to tell people
that the tux on sugar or on tobacco, cigars