The National tribune., 1891-07-23
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON D. O. THURSDAY JULY 2 1891

paid Rt least 5000 per MONTH ana that war VIII be
too expensive a luxury TO indulge In. Better make
money payment at once TO the opposing nation
and settle the matter
We have no hesitation whatever On saying
that $500 month would be q very small
inducement indeed for any sensible man TO
20 through even one of the campaigns of the
late war. If there were no other reason
than money, il would lake a very large slice
Of the surplus TO induce man of any wisdom
whatever 10 20 through such a month as
opened up for the Army Of the Potomac
when Grant led it across the Rapidau, May
3. l-Gi. Most men would want NJ least $500
an hour il they knew what was coming
We are frank TO say 81 ,0OO. 900 would be n
small temptation for us to follow regi-
mental banner on such a march rs that from
tbe Rspidan to the James.
Again
The tarir q 30 ccuis per square yarl. and 80 per
cent. ad valorem ON wooden goods means some
ihing. The pension alone amounts 20 S2.S5 per
hoad ON every man, woman and infant in the coun-
irs. Tie pension tax New York aud Brooklyn
amounts 10 over - 0Oa.O0c year; that on Chicago
10 over s. 10000; that Cincinnati 60 over $3.50
900 year This lrfle j. FOR pensions alone. Truly,
put bcggar on horseback and lac will ride TO the
devil" and cali these millions wruug FROM his
fcllo~- ci,izons-most Of whom needy "a
himsoif-iunes. The service pension has not come
yet The Grand Army Of the Republic has had
quiet hint not press il aud not ~ too fast,
aud the ut stand mugll
more.
There is lamentable confusion Of mind
in the above. The tariff on wool and wooden
goods has absolutely nothing 20 do with
pensions. 1t has no more relation 10 them
than has the tax on oleomargarine. Not q
representative Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic ever asked for cent Of duty on
wool, or a cent of tax on oleomargagine, be-
cause the money was wanted for pensions
No man in either House of Congress voted
for such a tax in order 10 provide pension
funds. The President had no such idea when
he approved the bill. The tax was put on
wool because over 100000 organized wool
growers in the United States demanded it rs
a protection for their focks-because they
made il a test in Congressional, State aud
National campaigns, and refused to vote for
any man who was not in favor Of increasing
the duties on wool. Everybody knows this,
and consequently when a man talks about
tie woodbury. being a result Of pensions, he
wilfully lies in order to deceive the igno-
rant. Were the doors of the Pension Bureau
10 be permanently closed tomorrow, and
every officer and employe discharged, the
duty on wool would remain unchanged.
Rather il would be increased, for the wool
growers are firmly of the opinion that it is
too low, and should be made much more
stringent
Mr. Van Bibber is distressed because the
/ pension payments amount TO - 33 per head
Of the population. They really do not
amount TO so much as that, but give him
/ the benefit Of the figures. Doubtless lac was
entirely satisfied, in 1sG6, when our popula-
tion was about half Of what it is to-day and
our wealth not one quarter, the bondholders
wrung Slis.7s1, 5s2 in gold out of the war
wasted, over-iaxed country. This amounted
to over 81 per head for the entire population,
but RS the South paid relatively none Of it,
the burden fell entirely on the people OF the
/ North and the lately-dischaTged veterans.
4 The FAX 10 meet the demands of the bond
holders averaged perhaps SO or 81 head
upon those vino bore its burden. Yet the
men who fought the battles Of the Union
gave more money, in the shape Of sacrificed
wages, than the bondhoIders lent the Gov
eminent.
There is much more in Mr. Van Bibber's
screcd that deserved attention, but he has
already occupied too much space
SCARCITY Of breadstuns has induced Por