Wichita eagle., 1890-02-23
SERVICE PENSIONS.
Continued from First PACE


naturally think the government should
should pay il.
Kansas today. in common with sister
states of the west, is in most deplorable
condition financially. With the most
bountiful crop we have ever harvested we
are in distress. Our graneries groan with
grain and millions OF bushels are piled on
the prairies and it will not sell for cost.
Principal and interest are falling due
on our debts and mortgage foreclosures
are the order of the day. One can
see no light and, in my mind,
the only way out is the service pension.
Why? The passage of Senator ingalls,
bill would in the next year cause to De
paid to the l24,0 600 old soldiers and sailors
of the state of Kansas not less than Sl4,-
900 900. and in the usual course and meth
DDS of business. one dollar paying five Of
debts, this would settle SO. 0.O0G,0 900 OF obii-
CATION, and each succeeding year the
money received from pensions would do
the same service. This system is no rob-
berry of any section. According TO the re-
port of the director of the mint, on July L,
1889. over two-fifths of the circulating me-
dium of the country was accumulated
from revenue and locked i'll the vaults OF
the treasury, not including the cash on de-
posit with the banks. 10 reduce ana
equitably distribute this accumulation or
surplus. as we commonly call it, Is OF the
most vital Importance TO the west. III
three or four hundred millions is voted TOR
Il navy that we have no earthly use for, or
millions paid out as subsidies 10 mall
CARRYING ship lines, or mllions more
recklessly expended. as in the past, In
river and harbor improvement, it all, or
nearly so. goes TO the east, and we OF the
west get but little or any benefit from 1t
and hence must fall back to the old ard
ruinous system OF borrowing money (many
dollars of which rightfully belong 20 u.s.
from the eastern capitalist at ruinous
rates of interest. Yet we sell our agr1cul-
tural products at starvation prices and
swap one bushel of grain to get the other
to market and can hardly realize enough
money to purchase what we need from the
manufacturing districts while We stay Dy
and see home and homestead sold to pay
our debts and ali on account OF the scarcity
of money. To my mind, the service pen
sion channel is the only practicable one
through which the west can procure her
proportion TO the surplus revenue; and the
Sl4 600 0OO that would be paid to Kansas
soldiers aud sailors, after bringing finan-
clal relief to all our people and adding un-
told happiness to many hearts would
naturally float away in the course OF busl-
ness to be gathered again in rev
ehue and repaid to the men who
saved the nation. Let US battle for
this and making battle, do so as right.
We have no Logan now to night our bat
ties in congress and we must fight them
with lesser lights. but let US fight them,
and fight them hard.
The speaker was often interrupted by
enthusiastic cheers.
After music by the band Captain Henry
Booth. OF Larned, was presented, who
spoke for half hour in favor of service
pension. a vote was taken on the ques-
ton and it WAS unanimous tor service
pensions.
The following was adopted and signed
by over 500 old soldiers:
To tbs Kansas Delegation in Congress:
Your petitioners, whose names are here
to appended, and who were present and
participated in a mass meeting of old
soldiers and citizens at Sterling, Kan,
February p, 1890, knowing that the time
has fully arrived when the survivors OF
the union army and navy should receive a
service pension: and further believing that
it is morally right. eternally just and
eminently political. that senate bill No.
1894 should become law: therefore, we
do most earnestly and respectfully re-
quest, entreat and demand that you do all
in your power to aid in the accomplish
ment of the same.