The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-30
ZINE TO CALL A HALT"


1t will not be surprising if, in the near
future, there shall occur such a revolution
in public sentiment in reference to pen
sions as will result in a radical change in
the laws and the d~iscontinuance Of pen
slons to all who are not entitled to them by
all the rules of justice; in other words, if
the question be taken out of politics and
passed upon as to its real merits without
reference to party votes. The agitation in
favor Of reform is steadily increasing, and
is now participated in by ex-soldiers them
selves, many of whom blush when they
think of the recklessness and vlciousness
which have characterized recentlegislation.
Lately an association has been formed
OF ex-soldiers of the late war, which has for
Its object the combining of pensions to the
meritorious. The organization is eulisting
many In its ranks, aud maintains an Office
In Washington, where it can best work to
prevent these raids upon the treasury in
the name of patriotism. In ad-
dition to opposing threatened legis-
lation which will increase the
evil, the society will also endeavor to ex-
pose and defeat fraudulent claims; and in
other ways try to make the receipt of a
pension a badge of honor and not an evil
dence of greed or cunning.
Under the heading, thine to Call a
Halt" General HENRY w. SLoCUM has a
vigorous protest in the January Forum
against our pension laws. He begins by
showing from the official records how the
pensions have grown. Thus, in 1865, the
lvnoy~ rnhnn shn ,r,a, af4-.l +l4,o
the pension rolls So, $50 names, and the
payments for the year aggregated IS, 525, 1853.
Five years later the pensioners had in
creased to 19S, CSC; ten years later, to
234,S2l; in 1880, to 250, S02; in 1885, to
345, 125; in 1890, to 537, ga, and the present
year, to676, 100, the payments amounting to
Sis, 54S, 959, for the year ending June 80,
1891.
The writer supplements this table by
statements OF the pensions paid by other
nations. Thus Great Britain paid S25, 000,-
900 for the year ending March 81 last for
pensions and the pay OF general officers
ana the retired pay. In 1891 France pays
for military and naval pensions, 500, S51, 600;
Germany, for military and invalid pen
sions, Sl3, 2S3, 600; Austria, Tor military
pensions, Sl2. 245,000, In 1878 Russia paid
SIS, DOC, GOO for pensions. The pension roll
of the United States is to-day far greater
than those of England, France, Germany,
Russia and Austria combined.
In the light of such statements as these
should there be surprise when indications
appear of a revulsion of public sentiment
and a popular disposition is manifest to
cry out for a halt! Rather is it not sur
prlsing that the people nave so long sub
mltted to these treasury raids, not in the
interest of the patriotic and the needy, but
for the benefit largely of the claim agents,
and next in behalf of the men who al
though they may have participated in the
war are in no sense entitled to the lavish
bounty of the nation!
General SLoCUM makes some strong
points when he says:
Congress is besieged at every session so to
change the laws as to increase the roll of pen
sloners and vastly to increase the expenditures
OF the government. 1 believe the time has come
when this agitation should cease. 1 earnestly
hope that ii will be checked for two reasons;
First, l believe the tendency of these constant
demands Will be to lessen the esteem and affec
ton which our people have always felt for the
veterans of the late war. The liberality of the
people and their desire to be generous towards
the nations defenders have been evinced not
only by this vast pension roll, but by the estab,
ment by the general government of national
homes in different sections of the country, anC
by several states of like Institutions. In these
homes, the disabled veteran is as kindly cared
for as in any similar institu ton supported b,
any government in the world TomS baro ,1.,
been passed. giving the veteran preference il
the employment of the government. In fac
nothing has been left undone by our people t.
testify their gratitude to the veteran soldiers.
But 1 have a still stronger reason for opposin.
the u luther agitation of this question, and tina
is the interest l feel in the welfare of the man,
thousands of honest and deserving peopl,
whose names are now on our pension roll
There is great danger, if we allow the pension
claim agents to represent the soldiers as a bod,
of cormorants who are disconnected with wha
they have received, that sooner or later W.
shall kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
1t is for the interest of the pension claim agen'
constantly to change our pension laws so as t.
enable him to bring in new claims, each o
which brings money to his Golfers. At the rat,
pensions are now being granted, the CLAIM
agents are in receipt OF IS, 5000 O per year. 1
Is THIS class OF men ana not the honest pen
sioner who is interested in continuing this agi
tation. 1 fear that eventually a reaction viii
take place and honest and deserving pension
ers Will suffer with the undeserving.
He fears that sooner or later the cours,
which is being pursued will result in tn,
adoption Of the recommendation of Presi
dent JACKSON, that an actual inspection b.
made into the circumstance and claims o
every person drawing a pension. "Ol,
Hickory'' said: 1.-The honest veteran ha
nothing to fear from such scrutiny, Will
the fraudulent claimant will be detecte,
and he public treasury relieved to a.
amount / nave reason to believe far create
than has heretofore been suspected Il
that event the deserving and those emit
tied to support will not suffer from th
the greed and dishonesty of the undesery
ing.
Who of our so-called statesmen will bay
the courage to stand up in Congress. an
defying the claim agents and the dema
goGues, demand that the government ca
a halt in this pension madnessl
THE WORK BEFORE CONGRESS.