Smyrna times., 1890-07-16
Time To Halt.

The Tribune has done its fair share
for many years in securing justice for
the veterans of the Union. AS long as
there was no reason to believe that any
of those to whom the Nation owed its
life were in want or suffering, it ap-
peaied constantly and earnestly to the
people on behalf ofthat body of citizens
to whom the debt of the nation cannever
be wholly paid. 1t has earned the
right to say now that the surviving
Union veterans of this county do not
ask to be supported at public expense
when they are able to support them
selves by honorable labor, and do NOT
want, when they are thus able to sup
port themselves, to have other people
taxed in order to fill their pockets. It
is the feeling of the great majority of
these veterans that it would humiliate
them and place them in the attitude
OF medicants if they were further to
countenance any measure urged bv
pension attorneys and lobbyists.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa, who en-
tered the service as a private, at the
age OF twenty-one, lost a leg in the war
and still commanded the 46th Iowa as
colonel at the close of the war, is a
stanch Republican and has been four
times elected to Congress from the
same district. This Union veteran. in
advocating Pension Deficiency bill in
the House June y, made the follow
ing statement as to pensions voted for
the currant year:
We have appropriated by our legis-
lation, including what is covered in
the Sundry Civil bill now pending in
the House, the sum of S167.824 1888 "a
More than one-third of the
entire receipts of the government, as
provided for in this congress, 90 for
the benefit of the soldiers of the Union
The estimated revenues for
the next year are $3.50, 1874, in
cluding receipts from the postal SER
vice. The amount from the latter SER
vice for this year is estimated at s65.
Ola, 37.34, leaving all our Federal in
come from import duties and internal
revenue and miscellaneous items
amounting to 1885, 100000. of this
sum, as | have shown, we have appro-
priated this year, and gladly, the sum
OF Sl67, 1924, 1924 for the benefit of old
soldiers. their widows, children and
helpless parents. Almost one-half of
the revenues Of the government goes
to this sacred use, and it is proper
that the soldiers should know these
facts.
Mr.. Henderson does not say, but
he seems to have implied a belief that
no larger share of the public revenues
should be appropriated for this pur-
pose. The number of pensioners on
the rolls is about half million. 1t will
be increased to $4,000 by the bills re-
Gently passed. If the entire popula-
ton is 66,0O00oO, about one person in
lightweight of the population receives
a pension, and the amount so appro-
priated is about 1924 for every person
on the rolls this year. Out of all the
money raised by customs, internal
taxes and miscellaneous receipts for
the benefit of all the people, nearly
half is paid over to one-eighty-eighth
of the people, and little more than one
half is expended for all other National
Yet there are further bills
and clamorously urged by
pension agents, which would take out
of the Treasury about 100000 900
more.
The Tribune thinks it time to say
that this is going too far. The meas
ure of proper expenditure for this pur-
pose has been reached, if indeed it has
not been passed already.-Ne,o York