Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-09
Wonderful Facts About Pensions.

The increase Of pension expenditure
in recent years is something wonder
full. The proper maximum pension
expenditure on account OF the civil
war-on the basis of real disability IN
Cured in military service-was reach
ed in 1874. when the outgo for pen
sions was O,593, 749. 1t decreased
from that year till 1878, when it was
S26,S44, 415. The pension attorney,
however, about that time captured
the demagogue, with the result that
new legislation was devised to show
er the public money upon persons
not previously deemed worthy OF
pensions. Their objects have been
greatly favored by the protectionists'
whose interest it is to keep tariff tax
es at the highest notch. The conse
ouence is seen in pension eIpendl-
ture in 1889 Of $95,624,779. In the
present fiscal year the expenditure Is
to be from S1O5, OC0, 900 to 1925, 900, OOO
Next year, il the service pension bill
lust passed by the House becomes a
law, the annual expenditure will be
from $50, 0OO,OO to $3.50, 1000, 900. Ii
the prisoners bill'' also becomes a
law a good number OF millions Will be
added to this figure. The amount
disbursed on account OF pensions
since 1861 has been S1,150, 21s, Alb, ex-
elusive of the 5000, 100000 given 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 indl-
Gates tendency Of the war burden
to become perpetual. On Aug Just 81,
1865. when the debt was largest, the
principal of the debt was 80, 381 $50,
294 and the interest charge $3.50, 977, 697.
At present the interest bearing
debt is about $3.50, 900, 900, and the in
terest charge about $4,000, 600. The
saving in interest from debt paid goes,
it is evident, into pensions, so that
there is to be no relief from war bur
dens. II any one cherishes the belief
that the new pension laws are OF tri-
Hing Importance for the reason that
the large expenditure they authorize is
to last only few years, he Will per-
haps change his mind when he learns
from the report Of the commissioner OF
pensions that there are still 81 persons
drawing pensions on account OF the
revolutionary war, which ended near
ly 100 wears ago, and that there are
II .593 pensioners OF the war Of 1921.
II our past experience teaches any
thing, we shall still be paying mil
lions for pensions in far of 1878.
There is something very magnificent,
doubtless, in the amount we are Civ
ing the survivors Of the 2,5OO,O 600 pa
triots who, after four years OF des-
perate fighting, overcame the 6Oo,ooo
Confederates. This bounteous stream
of federal gratuity brings cheer and
ease to countless happy homes. In
1888 the average annual value OF
each pension was $13l. 1S-an amount
OF cash sufficient to relieve the aver
age recipient from the need Of work
ing for a living. All through the
North, West and Northwest this
money comes in bounteous and
gladdening steam, winning votes and
support for the party that opens the
treasury gates for its outflow. But
are the other homes made happy b? iii
Are the taxpayers Of the country
prospecting in spite OF the drain upon
their resources caused by our pension
generosity? 1t is a matter worth con-
sidering. There are signs that some
of them are being ruined by it. Al
though the West and Northwest re-
ceive the greater part OF the golden
stream, it is among the farmers OF
those very sections Of the country
that the cry Of distress is loudest.--
PoHiuore Sim