The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-06-04
WONDERFUL FACTS ABOUT PENSIONS

The increase of pension expenditure in
recent years is something wonderful. The
proper maximum pension expenditure on
account of the civil war-On the basis of
real disability incurred in military ser
vice-was reached in 1874, when the out
90 for pegsions was $50, 1913, 40. 1t de-
creased from that year till 1878, when it
was S26,SH,415. The pension attorney,
however, about that time captured the
demagogue, with the result that new leg
islatiOn was devised to shower the public
money upon persons not previously
deemed worthy of pensions. Their OBJ
jects have been greatly favored by the
prOtectiOnists, whose interest it is to keep
tariff taxes at the highest notch. The
consequence is seen in a pension expen-
diture in 1889 of S95, 1924, 779. In the pres
ent fiscal year the expenditure is to be
from S1O5, 100000 to S125,OOO,OOO Next
year the annual expenditure will be from
S15O,OOO,OOO to S16O,OOO,OOO. If the "pris-
Oners' bill' also becomes a law a goodIy
number of millions will be added to this
figure. The amount discussed on account
of pensions since 1861 has been s., I5O.-
21S,413, exclusive of the 5000, 0O0, 600 Civ
en- in bounties to volunteers. There is a
curious relation between the decrease OF
the interest on the public debt and the
increase of pensions, which indicates a
tendency of the war burden to become
perpetual. On August 81, 1865, when the
debt was largest, the principal of the debt
was s, 3S1 $50, 294 and the interest charge
Sl50,977, 097. At present the interest
bearing debt is about S75O,OOO,OOO, and
the interest charge about SIS, 100000. The
saving in interest from debt paid goes, it
is evident, into pensions, so that there is
to be no relief from war burdens. If any
one eherishes the belief that the new pen
sion laws are Of trifing importance for
the reason that the large expenditure they
authorize is to last only a few years, he
will perhaps change his mind when he
learns from the report Of the commission
er Of pensions that there are still 81 per-
sons drawing pensions on account of the
revolutionary war; which ended nearly
10 years ago, and that there are IL 500
pensioners Of the war Of 1915. If our past
experience teaches anything, we shall
still be paying millions for pensions in far
off 1870. There is something very mag
nifcent, doubtless, in the amount we are
giving the survivors of the 100000 pa
triots who, after four years of desperate
fighting, overcame the 100000 Confcder-
ates. This bounteous stream of federal
gratuity brings cheer and ease to count
less happy homes. In 1883 the average
annual value of each pension was SISI IS
an amount Of cash sufficient to relieve
the average recipient from the need Of
working for a living. All through the
North, West and Northwest this money
comes in bounteous and gladdenine
stream, winning votes and support for the
party that opens the treasury gates for its
outflow. But are the other homes made
happy by it Are the taxpayers of the
country prospecting in spite of the drain
upon their resources caused by our pen
sion generosity It is amatter worth con-
sidering. There are signs that some Of
them are being ruined by it. ALTHOUGH
the West and Northwest receive the great
er part Of the golden stream, it is among
the FARMERS OF those very sections Of the
country that the cry OF distress IS louslest.