The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-30
Exoro.tans Pension Demands.

6xOTOsLauE EeE6l9n OCmdQQ5.
At a meeting Of some of the leading dem.
ocrats. of the House day or two ago in
Washington the question of how the amount
Of the appropriations of this congress could
be kept below that OF the appropriations Of
last congress was discussed. 1t was agreed
that there could be no reduction in the ap-
preparation for pensions. The demands of
the existing pension laws wall have TO be
met.
But the question of whether or not there
should be other laws passed that would in
crease the pension burden was not consid-
cred. The people would not complain much
OF the pension burden, although it is now
much greater than anybody dozen years
ago thought it would be, If there were
assurances that it would not be increased
What the people are anxious about is
the prospect that congress will go on
passing pension bills until the annual sp-
preparation for pensions becomes so bur-
densome that they cannot bear It. The pol
iticians in congress are so afraid thatif they
oppose pension legislation they will lose pop
ularity in their respective districts that they
vote for about every pension measure that
comes before congress.
Recently there have been signs of dispo-
sition among the veterans to call a halt in
pension legislation. In the December num-
Der of the Forum there was a strong article
counseling veterans TO cease importuniug
congress for additional pensions, and Gen.
Slocum is the author of another article on
the same line which is published in the jan
uary number of the same magazine.
Gen Slocum tells the veterans that If
they do not call halt there is danger that
they will kill the goose that lays the golden
egg" because there will come a reaction In
public sentiment with respect to pensions,
and in that case even deserving pensioners
may not be dealt with as literally as they
| deserve.
IL is not generally understood how steadi~
| ly the pension burden has increased. In 1866
there were only $3.50 pensioners on the
roll, and the amount paid in pensions was
Ss,525, 1873. In 1875 the number of pension
ers had increased to 2S4, s21 and the amount
paid in pensions to s29, 1858, 116. In 1891 the
number Of names on the pension roll was
GIG, 100 and the amount paid in pensions was
Sl1S,54s,9 59. The pension roll is now being
increased at the rate Of about 1000 names
a day, and IL will require a much larger
sum for pensions next year than 1t did this.
1t is not to be wondered at, therefore, that
Gen. Slocum thinks that it is time to call a
halt in pension legislation.
In hisoopinion the veterans are not so
much to blame for the increase In the PEN
sion burden as the pension claim agents,
whose fees depend upon the passage of bills
which open the pension roll 90 new
| pensioners. On this point he says:
1T is for the interest Of the peusioa
claim agent constantly to change
our pension laws so as to enable him to
bring in new claims, each Of which brings
money to his Golfers. At the rate pensions
are now being granted the claim agents are
in receipt Of IS, SOC. 900 per year. 1t is this
class Of men and not the honest pensioner
who isinterested in continuing this agitation.
fear that eventually a reaction will take
place and honest and deserving pensioners
will suffer with the undeserving."
The pension claim agents understand the
timidity of the average congressman, and
when they have got out OF one PEN
sion law ell there is In 1t for
them they immediately begin an agitation
in favor ofanother. They have newspapers
and they make the timid congressman be-
lieve that If he opposes pension legislation
he will not get a reelection. Unless the
veterans themselves are made to see that
the pension claim agents are their enemies
and are doing them harm the increasing of
| the pension burden will 60 on until the re-
action, which Gen. Slocum fears. comes
and those who are entitled to pensions will
| not get them.