The Forrest City times., 1890-04-12
ASSURING DANGEROUS fkOf0rr-
 lUxS.

 The subject of pensions is becoming on of great interest The democratic party is disposed to look upon ex. soldiers with T kindly sympathy and has ever been ready to do justice tc them. For instance the Saline (Kan. sasl Herald, of recent date says:
 My avice to Democrats has always been to abstain from criticism or abuse of sol dier legislation. The shoulderstraps were mostly worn by Republicans, but the rank and file were always largely Demo. crats, and therefore we are always glad of all measures favorable to the common sol dier. For over a quarter of century we have borne the odium of Brccknridge's half million of votes, while Douglas 1. .;550- 900 Democratic votes in 1860 is overlooked. Douglas was the first to declare that we must all stand by the country. and no class of men were more loyal than the Douglas war Democrats, although the youth of the country arc taught that the Democrats of 1860 voted for Breckinrdge and joined the rebellion in 1861. Let the c, A. k. clubs and their critics fight it out. The Democrats arc not ashamed of their place
 
 Inc did. he would have entered the volun- tecr army as major general and in all probability would have been elected prcsi- dent in place of Grant, after the war"
 This advice. however good, is not timely, Read these facts and figures:
 Within few days the house will have passed an appropration bill calling for S9s. .461 for pensions, says the Times Democrat. an increase of Si6. .66S, 76l over last year. This, however, will not re- present the total donations for the year, for adding the money in the urgent dc ticicncy' bill, 1t will bring the total up to Si03. .357, ,534. This is large sum to give the ex-soldiers, but 1t is as nothing com pared with what we may expect to give in the near future. There are now 4S9. 755 men on the pension rolls, and AGO, 5l6 claims still pending in the pension office, If only half of them be granted, the total annual appropriation will be increased to over Si5o.0W, ,000; indeed. it looks as though We would ultimately reach S2O0, Wo.oO0 annually in the course of time.
 All the appropriations passed or under way arc based on the legislation of previ- ous sessions. The present congress has done nothing yet in the way of pensions, although it is understood that it intends to pursue very liberal policy. Should 1t pass the service pension bill it will increase the annual appropriation to s250 000. .0OO. lf, however, it contents itself with the de- pendent pension bill. which has the special sanction of the secretary of the interior, the total will reach only si40. coo, coo. The people of the United States have al ready paid somewhat over Si.O00, ,00O. OUO In pensions; between now and the end of tho century they will pay between l.5OO. 600, 00O and a,000, 000,OO0 more. After that IL is impossible to say.
 The cost of the war promises to be small compared with its aftcrcosts in the way of pensions
 Now the question arises is it right to thus appropriate the peoples moneyg If the widow and the fatherless and helpless children, and the absolutely disabled soldier, were alone considered, we would support most liberal pen sion policy. Being aware however. that there are countless numbers of white men and unhurt negroes who are receiving pensions; We must emphhtically protest. Not only is this true, but there arc mum. Der of pension agents at Washington City who arc amassing millions of money by procuring the said unde- served pensions.
 We suggest that bill be presented in congress which will fix time for the barring of all new claims and also when the pensions now being granted shall cease, say five years; or, if the treasury will hold out, ten years. If new claims arc to be presented forever, we might just as well turn our national capital into charitable institution and let every fellow who ever had rel ative who served in the war hc entitled to . pension. As before stated, the pension is all right as to widows. help less children, if any, and absolutely disabled men. When 1t goes further, il is all wrong. and should be abolished.