New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-07
TINE TO HALT.

Tr,r TRIrI.NE has done its fair share for
many years in securing justice for the veterans
of the Union As long as there was reason u
believe that any of those 10 whom thc Nation
owed its life were i'll want or suffering II APP
pcalcd constantly and earnestly TO the people
on behalf of that body of citizens to whom tAe
debt of the Nation can never he wholly paid.
If has earned the right 10 say now that tn" H'lr-
yiving Union veterans of this country do not
ask to be supported at public expense when
they are able u support themselves ny h0hor-
able labor. and do not want, where they are
thus able t. support themselves, to have other
people taxed in order 10 fill their pockets. II Is
the feeling of the great majority OF these Nc'-
Grams that it would humiliate them ana pace
them in the attitude of mcndicantS II they were
further to cOuntcnanCe any measure urged u!
pension attorneys and lobbyists.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa, who entered the ser
vice as private at the age OF tWenty-onc, lost
q leg in the service. and still commanded the
4Gth Iowa as colonel at the close of the war. Is
\ stanch Republican and has been four times
elected TO Congress from the same district
This Union veteran, in advocating Pension
Deficiency bill in the House June II, made the
current year:
We have appropriated by our legislation. including
what /, covered In the Sundry CIVIL bill pending
in tbe House the sim OF slG4.115.7oi %. Then add
tho amount carried by the pending bill. and VIC have
a grand total Of 1907 .724,733 "a. More than ono
third Of the entire receipts Of the Government a.
provided for IN this Congress. 80 for the bc"cht OF
the soldiers Of the Union The estimated revenues
for the next year arc $i3O.41i.337 -, includ
from tho a
from the latter service for this year Is eStl-
mated at SG5.414 .337 81, leaving all orr Federal
income from import duties and Internal revenue
and miscellaneous items amounting 10 T3-1oF''"o"'
OF this sum- have shown, We have appropriated
this year. and c1dly the sum Of @lG7.-2i7 "a ior
the benefit Of old soldiers, their widows children ana
helpless parents. Almost onehalf Of the revenues
Of the Government 10 this sacred uSe and II is
proper that the soldiers should know these facts
Mr.. Henderson does not say, but he seems 10
have implied a belief that no larger share OF
the public revenues should be appropriated for
this purpose. The number of pensioners on the
rolls is about half million. II viii be IN
creased to $50 600 by the bills recently passed
If the entire population is 6G,o0OOOo, about
one person in lightweight of the population re-
ccivcs a pension. and the amount 50 appro-
pria,cd is about 1924 for every person on the
customs. internal taxes and miscellaneous re-
cciptS for the benefit of all the people, nearly
half is pad over to one cghty-c of the
people. and little more than onc-half IS OK
pended for all other National purposes. Yet
there arc further bill proposed, and camor-
ouSy urged by pension agents, which would
take out of the Treasury about -, 900 GOO, 600
more.
THE TRIBUNE thinks it time to say that this
is going 900 far. The measure of rropcf cX-
pcnditurc for this purpose has been reached
if indeed il has not been passed already. There
/ is no active demand, on the part of the veterans
| of the Union. for sums exceeding those already
appropriated and those veterans are sensible
enough TO know that appropriations exceeding
half the entire revenue Of the Government 10
| the benefit of small fraction of the people,
ght quickly cause the collapse of the whole
system for lack of popular approval and sup
port While any part Of those who saved the
! Nation from destruction were subject to want,
! or their widows. children or helpless parents,
there was an honorable feeling that they should
be remembered by a powerful and prosperous
people. even though in the attempt to do 50
avenues should unavoidaby be opened for cx-
tersivc frauds. But the people will certainly
step somewhere. and then, if appropriations for
this object seem 10 them excessive or frauds too
numerous, there may be a fat refusal to con
tinue the appropriations already made. lie Is
not the true friend of the soldier, il the de-
libcratc judgment of THE TRIBUNE. who now
I asks for further appropriations in his lchalt.
The youngest of those who served IN the
Union Army must to-day be about forty seven
wears of age Only onc-eighth Of those living
az any time exceed that age, so that OF the
| 1000 900 male adults Who were living when
the war closed not more than 800, 900 are liv-
ing now and over third OF these are South
crnerS. voting population of 12,O0O,OOO
will not long consent 10 pay more than hall the
entire revenues of the Government - TWEEN
ticth of their number. Further appropriations
for pensions cannot be asked without impcrl-
ling the continuance of all grants for that