The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-05-09
A Service Pension.

In his speech in advocacy of the
Service Pension bill, which passed the
House on Wednesday last, Represeu-
tative Grosvenor, of Ohio, speaking
for the measure, assured the House
that "this bill, when to it is superadd-
ed the Prisoner of War bill, which
will be passed at once, will add to the
pension rolls of the Government the
names of 100000 persons, and will ex.
tend that roll to 100000 pensioners.
1t will produ Sc an annual expenditure
of $l5O,000,00O, or nearly As per cent.
OF TIE gloss revenue of the Govern
ment, an exhibition of munificent gen.
erosity upon the part of this Govern.
ment such as has never been equaled
by all of the civilized nations of the
world put together"
This is certainly magnificent show
ing, but is it just and proper use of
the public money! IT is right that the
MANNED and feeble veteran of the war
should be cared for by grateful
people. 1t is right that his widow and
orphans and his dependent parents,
where be has any, should be provided
for from the public pnrse. The coun-
try recognizes this debt, and every
pension bill which is limited to this
class of claims is cordially approved or
at least eheerfully acquiesced in by the
people.
But why should able bodied men of
ond vno,tsa& ha
draw SO month from the public
treasury because some time between
1861 and 1865 they served ninety days
in the army or navy of the United
States and are now go years olds A
considerable number of those whose
500 year will go to swell the annual
pension charge are now drawing $4,000
year as members of Congress. 9th
ers are in good positions and comfort
able circumstances elsewhere and some
are men of large wealth, but all alike
who served a scant three months in
the Union army and are three score
years of age are made by this bill pub
lie pensioners.
A service pension is proper enough
after such lapse of time as 10 raise a
presumption of febleness in all the sur
vivors of the war, and the sm Ill mum,
Der of such survivors makes an inquiry
to determine which are necessitous and
which not hardly worth the trouble.
There are now l49,59l survivors OF
the war 62 years of age and over,
OF these 63,427 are already drawing
pensions for wounds and disabilities.
The House pension bill as reported pro-
posed to put the other 80,493 on the
pension roll who at present, being il
good health and condition, have nc
claim on the Governments bounty
This would have added $7,727,32s t.
the pension charge of this year anG
would have increased largely every
year until 1907, according to the tabl,
submitted by Commissioner Raum
The House, by changing the age 6xeC
upon by the committee for pensions tC
begin from 62 to so, made all the esti
mates submitted much under the mark
The service pension Is but one featur,
OF comprehensive pension bill who's,
full effects in depicting the Treasury
may be gathered from Mr.. Grosveno, I
frank statement given above.
There are men totally disabled b,
reason of wounds received in the wa
who are petitioning for a small in
crease in their pension. Their claim
are highly meritorious, but the pros
pect OF their being recognized is less
ened by this voluntary donation of 80
year to thousands of men who do nc
need it in the least, The house ha
made a mistake in inaugurating thl
service pension business. 1t is sure I
create a pop pular reaction on the sui
ect of pensions to the prejudice q
veterans whose claims ON the countr
are Legitimate and whose necessitit
are real. The Senate voted down
service pension once this season.
will do the soldiers a real service
rejecting this House amendment TO Il
dependent pension b II. Pres.