The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-05
MORRILL, PENSION BILL,,
A Measure that Ought to Please
All Old Soldiers.
PENSION LAW NOT CHANGED
By Its sProyislons-Thc G Government Is
Amply Ablo to Meet the Charges
Tho Dependent Clause In tho
Bill-Washinston News.
Sattiai Di,patcA 10 he Ias.!,iseaee,.

t'ptCi"4 O'SpaffA ~ ne {"tsiiicfafSf. .
WAsnIsdroN. D. G., May Tho
Morrill, pension bill which has just passed
the House OF Representative Is regarded
among ex'Union soldiers ms the iairest
measure which has ever been presented
TO Congress. 1.-THE bill passes tho Sen.
ate in It's present shape 1t would seem Us
though there wouldremain no just cause
for complaint among soldiers.
1t mny bc well TO explain that II this
bill becomes law It will not interfere
with nor change in the slightest degree
present pension laws, but simply adds
two general classes OF pensioners. I'm.
der the law as 1t will then stand, soldiers
will be entitled TO disability pension
rs at present.; but the law as 1t now
stands provides that the disability must
have been incurred In the service, while
according &c the Morrill, bill it makes no
difference whether th6 disability was in.
cured in OR out OF the service, provided,
however, that where the disability has
been incurred ont Of service tho soldier
is not entitled to 4 pension unless he Ia
dependent on bis own labor for support,
Under the present law where the SOL
dier incurred disabilit yin the service he
is entitled to pension without regard
to his financial condition, but. us above
stated, he ia not entitled to a pension
under the proposed law unless depend.
ent on his own labor for support.
Then, In addition to this class Of pen.
sioners. the proposed bill provides that
every Union soldier who served ninety
dnys, WIS honorably discharged, and is
sixty years Of age. may be placed on the
pension rolls ut SS per month. There
can be no reasonable cause for com.
plaint in this. The only soldiers who
will then not be.pentioned are those who
arc not sixty years Of age and in good
health, or, il in bad health, having
other means Of support.
The increase in pension appropriations
which would be caused by the passage
Of this bill is variously estimated. There
ia, OF course, no means OF ascertaining
with any great accuracy how many sol.
diels are now living who are over the |
aye of sixty und are not on the rolls
and it is still more difficult to ascertain |
how many are sick and unable to pro.
vide for themselves under that age, and
arc rot at present ptovlden for. The
estimated increase varies from $4,000
600 to Sl00.000,000. 1t will be remem-
bered that bill was passed while Mr..
C!eveland.was President which included |
only the dependent clause, and that the
bill was vetoed by Mr.. Cleveland on the
ground that it would cost too much |
money. But suppose such measure
should add SlOO0O0000 to the present
pension appropriation, making in all
$200,OC0,0OO This estimate is without
doubt much too large, yet granting it |
the 1evenues Of the government will
permit the expenditure OF even that
sum for pensions.
During the tiscal year ended June 30th,
1888, the total revenue OF the govern
ment were S3S7 ,050,05S 81. The ordin-
ary expenses OF the government were
s2Sl, ,996 Gl5 GO, leaving q surplus OF
SlU5,053, ,443 "a. The revenues OF the
government tor the present fiscal year
are not likely to fall short OF S4O0000,-
600. Supposing, then, IN addition OF
100000, ,0CO TO the pension list and we
should still have something to be used
in the purchase OF bonds for the sinking
fund.
But, though the increase will not be
Sl00,0O0,O00, it will be large enough to
justify Congress in withholding any
further pension legislation for the pres
cnt and soldiers will see in this reason
for not making general service pension.
They will readily see that such meas
ure could not obtain without in some
manner increasing inxaiion. The Nor
rill bill is wise and just one, and it
will doubtless pass the Senate substan.
TALLY rs it now stands. The financial
condition Of the government justities it;
but further than the limitations OF this
bill no. party should be expected to 90.