The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-10
Going Too Ear.


For several years the MORNING NEWS
has been calling the attention of the people
10 the rapidly increasing pension burden
and pointing out that the burden was be
coming heavier than the people were willing
TO bear. That its position on this pension
business has all along been the right one
was pretty clearly shown the other day
by the leading republican organ, the
New York Tribune That paper
has finally been forced TO the conclusion
that it is time to call halt in the granting
Of pensions, although it has been one Of the
most persistent advocates of the pension
bills which the Washington pension agent
sharks have succeeded in getting introduced
into congress. 1t did not think it necessary
even 10 advise a halt until the outrageous
dependent pension bill became law. Now
however, 1t has become thoroughly alarmed
at the prospect of the passage of other, and
even more outrageous, pension bills, and it
utters a word of warning
Too many congressman vote for
pension bills not because they be-
lieve that the ex-union veterans
are entitled to additional pensions, but be
cause they are afraid Of losing the support
of the veterans. Their desire 20 remain in
public life and their anxiety for the sue
cess of their party are so great that they
cease to be honest representatives of the
people and become demagogues.
The Tribune says that. estimating the pop
ulation of the country at &C. OOO. 900, one per
son In every lightweight receives a pension,
and the amount each pensioner receives is
S244 year. In this statement the fact is
not taken into account that nearly all of
those who receives pensions are citizens Of
northern states. In the north, there
fore, it is probable that about one person
out of every sixty is paid pension.
Very nearly onehalf of all the revenue
Of the government is paid to pensioners.
This is an astounding statement, but 1t is
true, nevertheless. Think of it, One
eighty-eighth of the people get almost as
large share of the revenues as is appro-
priated for all other national purposes.
And halt has not yet been called. There
are pending pension bills which, if passed,
would call for at least 81, 900 100000 more.
Are the people going to permit this pension
Senator Ingalls, said on the floor of the
Senate the other day that there ought to
be more pensions granted even if the taxes
had to be increased 10 raise the money
necessary to pay them. A more dema-
gogical speech has seldom been uttered in
congress. Senator Ingalls, is a candidate
for reelection, and he wants TO secure the
support of the ex-soldiers of his state. Is
it not remarkable that man who pretends
TO be a statesman would use the public
treasury to secure political position!
The Tribune suggests that if a halt is not
called the continuance of appropriations for
pensions will be imperiled. How is it that
that paper failed for 80 long a time to warn
its party that it was going too far in the
matter of granting pensions, and why does
it now call haltl The reason probably is
that it favored extravagant pension legisla-
ton as long as it thought that such legislation
would strengthen the Republican party and
opposes the further granting of pensions
because it sees the people are beginning to
show signs of hostility to the policy of fur
Their increase of the pension burden.
Public men hesitate now TO attack the
pension policy because they are afraid of
injuring their popularity and lessening
their influence, but tho time is not distant
when they will be as eager to condemn ex-
travagant pension legislation as they have
been quick TO favor it.