The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-04
They Are Afraid to Tackle 1t.


There isn't public man in the country
who does not know that the government Is
being outrageously robbed by means OF
| fraudulent pensions, and there isn't one " 10
! does not know that great deal OF Che pen
I sion legislation is unjust and inexcusapie.
The whole pension business IS honeycotnpel
with fraud, but it is so Intimately cohnecIeu
with politics that public men are oiraiI "
! tackle it. Democrats and repuoi--HI' III
/ all parts Of the country are beginning u Oe
alarmed at the immensely Of the pension
burden but while they talk about II, very
few have the courage TO speak their sen'l-
ments with regard 70 1t.
The Republican party is prepared 10 go
70 snv length TO retain control OF the gov
srpn,ent and. hence. it fsvors ali the pen
sion Legislation that is proposed, and the
democratic party, knowing how important
the soldier vote Is, weakly yields to the con-
tipued demands of the pension sharks
Fifteen years ago the leading men Of the
Republican party did not ,nink that the
pension burden would ever reach 10000
600 a wear. IL Is now $3.50, 100000, and
there is every reason to think that 1t will be
800 900, 900 within a comparatively few
years. The two great parties are so nearly
equal in strength tbat each is willing to
make almost any sacrifice for the control Of
the government. The pension sharks at
Washington understand this thoroughly.
They are the ones who propose pension leg
islation and influence the soldier element to
demand the passage Of bills which increase
the pension list.
Unless the people take decided stand
against further increase of the pension
burden it is certain that their representa-
tives will not do so. A public man who is
candidate for Office whether he is democrat
or a republican, is willing to have the public
treasury used to gain votes for him. The
reference is, of course, to the public men Of
the north, because there are comparatively
few men in the south who receive, or who
have any hope of receiving, pensions from
the federal government.
And there appears to be plenty Of evil
dence that money has been paid out through
the pension bureau for campaign purposes.
The charge has been made and never sue
commissioner OF pensions hundreds Of
thousands of dollars were paid out to men
in the doubtful states during the Cleveland
and Blaine campaign to work for the Re
publican party aad vote the republican
ticket. These men were known as special
examiners, but the only service they
rendered or were expected to render was Of |
a political character. And if Mr.. Raum Is
retained as commissioner it is not improb-
able that be Will do the same thing In the |
next year.
Mr.. Cleveland is the only man who has |
had the courage to tackle the pension evil. |
When he was President be vetoed private |
pension bills by the hundred and he re-
turned to congress with his disapproval a |
general pension bill that would have taken |
many millions of dollars out of the pockets |
Of the people. He did what he knew to be |
right, although he was aware that his |
course would make the soldier element |
hostile TO him.
But the people do not seem to appreciate
The sacrifice he made to protect their inter
ests Indeed, his efforts in their behalf and |
his attempts TO lessen their burdens seem to |
be almost forgotten. Demag0Zu who at |
tack him and e1deavor 70 belittle him are
listened to with approval and their remarks
ire received with applause.
1t IS not strange, all things considered,
hat upright men-men who are honorable
md oonscientious-are less inclined than
ormerly to enter upon political career.
There is very little appreciation of honest
ervice. This demagogue who promises
much and accompanies nothing is far more
popular than the honest statesman who
rom a sense of duty tells unpalataOis
ruths.