Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-04-14
Don't Whine About Pensions

Don't Whine About Pensions
In round numbers it costs $780,
000,0 900 to pay the pensioners of this
government. This includes all that
is paid the few pensioners of 1912,
the Mexican war pensioners, and the
soldiers of the rebellion. The sum
seems enormous, and it is the custom
of some newspapers, and some poll
ticians to parade these figures before
the public, as not only a frightfully
large sum, but to leave it to be infer
red that the amount paid is wonder
fully swelled by fraudulent claims;
and that the drain on the country will
be disastrous.
The sum is large, but it must be
remembered that the United States
is great country. The financial re-
sources of the government under any
system of revenue laws are very large.
The whole total paid by govern
ment for every expense, pensions,
The army, the navy, the Indians, riv-
erN-harbors, pahlic building, support
of she legislative and judicial depart
meat, etc., would only be some five
and half dollars per capita. Not
large when it is considered what this
country confers upon its citizens. If
the whole pension expense was dIvid-
ed equally among the peoples 1T would
cost them only one dollar and half
each. The revenues of the govern
ment, to large extent, are raised on
those articles of luxury, including Ii
quor and tobacco, that are easily paid
by the rich, or foolishly paid for by
the consumers of spirits and narcotics.
These classes do not complain of the
burden imposed.
That the government is paying con-
siderable pension money to those
who do not deserve it, is probably
true; but it is all paid under some
pension act that in itself is just, and
approved by public sentiment. If
any man is drawing pension he does
not deserve, he has been able to de-
ceive the examining surgeons, and
has periured himself in his statements
before the pension department. He IS
fraud and is not worthy the name
of soldier. Patriotism, manliness,
honor, were the characteristics of the
true soldier. The deserving soldier
of the war, who had an honOred rec
ord in the field, loses the merit of re-
spect when he becomes perjurer,
or a pension hummer. We think
there are not many of this sort.
Those who seemingly begrudge an
old soldier his deserved pension,
are men without patriotism, without
generosity or decency. Government
paid her soldiers we'll, and congress
has ever been ready to deal fairly with
them, and so are the people; they re-
alize that those who saved a country
in its peril are worthy of just rewards
The money paid them is not given, as
bread or clothing is given the beggar
but as deserving reward.
The great sum paid pensioners il
not given away or thrown away, III
any sense. 1t falls into deserving
honored, oftentimes, needy hands
1t passes quickly into the channels ot
trade, the tide of circulation, and l:
to-day, in many localities, doing ;
deal of good outside the benefits tC
the pensioner. Take the pension
money out of circulation in this time
of business depression and low prices
and the result would be most serious
1t is bread, clothing, trade, life anc
business. None of it goes out of thu
country; none is lost. Really th'
few in the country who pay the larg
est share of it are those whose in
come and whose wealth are such tina
they never realize it. The thousand
who are benefited by it are the poo
who are blessed by it. Let the mar
be ashamed who whines over the mat
ter Of just pensions.