The National tribune., 1891-02-26
WHO PAY THE PENsIoNsP

gate Sld2,6OG,705, or fnlly Ss,OOO,0OO more
than the entire expenditures Of the Pension
Bureau, and also that not one dollar of this
money is levied and collected for the pur-
pose Of paying pensions, but for other rea-
sons. Were there absolutely no pensioners
on The roll, these taxes would be continued
in about the same shape they are to-day,
for the sufficient reason that il is generally
conceded that the Government should exer-
else control Of the manufacture Of distilled
and fermented spirits, tobacco, and Oleomar-
garine. Therefore, the payment Of pensions
entails no burden upon the people so far as
the Internal Revenue Bureau is concerned.
Next we find that the Government made
last year S10,217,2i4 by profits on the coin
age of silver. A portion of this went into
the pension fund. Will anybody say that
here was a burden placed upon the people ?
The next revenue item of importance is
S6.35s,272 from sales Of public lands.
Whether the Government should sell these
lands or not is question for debate. But
it has always eKacted payment for its lands,
and probably always will, without the
slightest reference to whether it had any
pensioners on its rolls OF not. The price
fixed upon the lands has never had any
relation whatever to the need Of the money
for pensions.
The next revenue item is S3l4G,692 for
Consular patent, and other fees. Here,
again, we meet with system which yields
the Government large income, but which
was adopted before pensions were a matter
for consideration, and which viii continue
after the last pensioner has been laid in his
OF her grave.
Next we have an item Of 81 So, 5G4 col
lected from the Pacific railroads, for their
sinking fund, which need not be discussed.
Then comes an item Of 81 ,3Ol 1876 from
taxes on National Banks. Here is a tax
imposed for the purpose Of regulating the
banks and their circulation, and has no
reference whatever TO any use or need Of the
money
Next we have a number Of miscellaneous
items such as customs fines penalties and
iOrieitures, tax on sealskins immigrant fund,
sales Of Government property, depredations
on public lands, etc, which aggregate
6,6f9 PCS, and has little relation TO the pay
ment of pensions as they have 10 the digging
Of the Nicaragua Canal
The last item in the Secretary Of the
TreasShrY's list is SEQ $50, 0g7, received from
the Postofice Department
The items we have enumerated make
up a total of 1924, 29l 496, or more than
half the whole revenue OF the United States,
and we reiterate that 40 man can truthfully
say that one dollar of this vast amount is
collected with the slightest reference TO its
use for pensions, was levied for the purpose
Of paying pensions, or would be abolished L
there were absolutely no pensions 10 pay.
The remainder Of the Governments in
come SOS, &C., 5S4-is collected from GUS
toms duties, levied for the sole purpose Of
protecting our agricultural products and the
building up Of our manufactures Again,
we find no relation whatever 10 pensions.
Had there never been pension law OF a
pensioner the farmers and manufacturers of
this country would have insisted upon and
received precisely the amount Of protection
they are now receiving. When they de-
nanded higher duties on wool and wooden
products, on hay and barley, and iron and
glass, and tin plate, they had no thought
whatever Of the pensioner. He was not
alluded to in any argument in favor OF
maintaining or increasing duties. The
needs Of the special interests formed the
burden Of the argument, and were regarded
as q sufficient reason for the action desired
Did anyone ever hear woolgrower arguing
/ for higher duties because the money was
needed for pensions? Never He argued
with great truth-that it was necessary tc
impose higher duties in order 10 protect ouI
own fockmasters from the destructive com.
petition Of Australian and South American
woolgrowers What the Government did
with the money il received from these duties
was Of no consequence whatever TO him. II,
cared nothing whether il used it 10 build 8
navy, or make seacosst guns, or dig canals
4 all that be wanted was that itshould impos,
the duties aud collect them vigorously. What
is true Of the woolgroweTs is equally true o
every other class protected by the tariff
The man who claims that pensions produc,
taxes simply states a falsehood, which Ia,
knows TO be a ialsehOod, and be docs ii fo
the deliberate purpose Of deceiying.
/
A LETTER from a comrade and subscribe
in Berlin gives funny account Of solemn
official manifestation Of hatred for the Amer
ican hog and all bis products. A citizen o
Berlin who formerly resided in America