Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-01
ressle. Extravaganza.

A blll has been rushed through the
s11onse, after but few hours debate,
Ztlch will add some fifty millions of
ullan to the pay roll of the country.
IL called service pension bill aud
31Hpplemenfs the present pension provi-
ton for invalid soldiers, which costs
G3lOS, 900 annually, by giving a pension
E0f eight dollars month TO all
%elvil war soldiers and soldiers widows
70 years old, during the remainder Of
thelr lives and to all soldiers of any
.Seee who are mentally or physically dis
g6bled, from any cause, like pension
5nnd to all INDECENT widows Of the sol
dlers of the war the same pension.
It Is . question for the sober judgment
2fof the country as to whether this ex-
1savagaut legislation Is warranted by
public policy, and whether there is any
proper occasion for such expenditure In
.charity to those who were soldiers IN
:1ke civil war No doubt everyone
would be glad to see the INDECENT
DOOR Of the country cared for 1t Is a
matter of public duty to take care of
Sthose who cannot provide for them
soelves and who have not close rela-
lives to provide for them. This Is
sthe proper duty Of the state, but not Of
'tbs nation and the ground upon which
thls national charity may be dispensed
/ = not that 1t is charity, but that It Is n
6sbt Justly due by the federal govern
Inent to the soldiers whom II employed
- suppressing the rebellion. 1t IL not
Snaid that Il was In the govern
's51neut contract with them but
S& is claimed that Is but a proper
1oward for their services. Yet the
same reward 10 given to those who
orved for three months a. to those who
sl9sre soldiers during the war. And It 10
(nivsn TO them only when they reach the
- of sixty years.
The logic that justifies It to the sixty
EyeaS-old equally demands 1t for the SOL
der Of any age. II the service Ii worth
IN - month after the ex-soldier reaches
& u years, It Is worth it, clearly, when he
& = but fifty. 1t 10 entirely clear that
This gratuity is given as money earned,
nut - charity /; and 1t follows that all
& ~ men Of this country 60 years old,
&&nd their widows 90 years old, are
rually entitled to share of the shower;
md more deserving II II they are poor
Han the ex-soldier who is not poor.
Il 6uch wholesale distribution of the
4easury money will not, we believe,
Inmend itself to the Judgment of the
Duntry, nor will the hurried aud
tced legislation be approved that
nActed It. The committee on
ales, Of whom the speaker Is one and
~ Republican. House leader, Mckinley
mother, and one Of whose Democratic
nembers IL in the grave, with his place
"a the committee and in Congress un.
l)ed, while the other was not consulted,
4eportcd in the morning a rule call.
Ing for vote upon this bill, which
TO dispense from forty to sixty mil.
I lions OF dollars, before the adjournment
~ the House the same day the speaker
and the Republican majority forced its
adOption and under 1t secured the pas
'zoage Of the law. The measures of legis
Il lation that receive the approval Of thu
ppeaker and his party are made into law,
during the shining of one sun. Tht
ponduct of the government Is assumed
4 BY the majority without hearkening Il
the minority. The burthen of theil
dssds will bury them.