The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-11-06
Pensions, Warships, and Pubic Build.
ings Will Absorb the Surplus.

Democratic free traders and even Re-
publicans 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 and
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. modern navy must be had.
Tens of millions will be needed for war
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 Ill nois, Iowa.
Nebraska, and throughout the West. The
law Of representation requires that the
nation shall equip itself with lighting
navy and the work should be pushed while
there is money still in the Treasury TO be
used for that purpose. The rapidly ex-
panding expenditures for pensions, and
for river and harEor 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
ton to get money for building war yes-
sells.
The treasury surplus is a snow bank on
which the appropriation bills OF Congress
shine hotter and stronger every session,
and 1t will soon melt away. The pension
appropriation for the present fiscal year,
1889, amounts to the enormous sum of
$Sl, 75S, 700, and there will be deficit of
probably $40, 900, 900 'bv reason of Black
Tanner "reratings" and new pensions.
Next year the appropriation for pensions
will amount to fully 500, OOO, 900 under
the laws and ratings now in force, and it
may as we'll be understood that Congress
will swell the amount by new legislation
by 500, 600, 900 or $50, 900 more by
passing the dependent pension bill.
The dependent pension bill which
Cleveland vetoed will certainly be adopt
ed by Congress next winter and approved
by President Harrison. The bill passed
the House in 1887 by $50 yeas to rs nays,
and was adopted in the Senate without
division. The House gave l75 yeas to
l25 nays to pass il over the veto, and that
in Democratic house. The demand f6e
the bill is stronger now than two years
ago, and 1t will 90 through this winter by
n practically unanimous vote of the
Northern members, irrespective of party.
The bill grants pension OF Sl2 per
month to every soldier not already receiv-
ing a pension who served three months
or more and is unable to earn a support.
Practically this would mean that all
whose incomes are not satisfactory could
apply for and receive pension. That is
the construction already put on it. The
Government could not Investigate each
mans way of living and say to one that
he could earn support and TO another
that he could not. Nor is the penEi"a
based on efficiency or length - -e-ice.
The bill is /: measure of charity intended
for the relief of needy old soldiers, and
to avoid excluding any of them it was
purposely made broad and loose. To
avoid barring out any poor old ex-soldier
all are admitted. 1t was recklessly
claimed in the House that not more than
SO, 900 pensions would be called for under
this act; but experience with similar
measures after the revolution aud the war
Of 1912 showed that the pensions allowed
were from ten to tlcenty times greater than
the estimate. Under the act of 1918,
which was considered to cover not more
than 375 cases, over 20, 90 pensions were
granted In the light of previous ex-
perience with legislation on this general
character the Democrats claimed the act
would add at least SOC, 900 names to the
pension roll, but careful and conservative
Republicans thought the number would
not greatly exceed ZOU,OUU, ana that the
annual expense would be about 0,000,-
900. This, doubtles, will prove pretty
close to the fact. With the general PEN
sion appropriation expanded to ; 100, 000,-
000 and $50 900, 900 added this coming
session by the dependent BILL" the ac-
emulation of a surplus in the treasury
would be permanently stopped. If other
government expenses incre ased also there
would be deficit as soon as the surplus
already on hand would be exhausted The
indications all are that before long the
treasury will be in need of in creased reve-
nucs. and certainly not in condition to
stand a reduction of either tariff or in
ternal revenue taxes. Ii is sheer waste
of breath for any politician to tell people
that the tax on sugar or on tobacoC, cigars
and cigarettes will be repealed at tie
next session OF Congress, for the good
reason that not n dollar of it can be
spared. Chicago Tribune. 4
A VIGOROUS old age is able to ac-
complish, out of all proportion, more
-