Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-30
MORE PENSIONS.

fined opinion among the masses that
the billion-dollar congress did very
well, exceedingly well, by the old SOL
diers. 1t did not turn over to them
the entire income of the government
to be sure, as it nigh. have done. But
that was probably because there were a
few Republicans and a great many
Democratic congressman who felt deep
down in their souls that the govern
ment did not exist, and taxes, the high
protective tariff taxes, were not col
lected for the sole use and benefit OF
the nations saviors." There were 81
few others that needed help, the great
steamship companies, for example ;
and incidentally the running expenses
OF the government had to be held back.
OF course it was trifle unfortunate
that such paltry considerations should
come in to rob the veterans" Of por-
ton OF their patrimony, but they, or
their spokesman, haveanot lost cour-
age auo aiO St1il w oSSh a. ShipPSA
and saucy as ever in setting forth their
claims. Although given one hundred
and fifty millions per annum, they are
far from satisfied, that being, in their
estimation, little more than sop
thrown to a whale. Their organ, the
National Tribune, recently said:
= b,, afr oT,r
been given us, the per diem pension bill.
the equalization of bounties, the repeal Of
the arrears of pension the prisoners OF war
pension, the MANNED soldiers pension, and
all other acts Of justice for which we have
long struggled.
That is a rather imposing list OF
wants, and when rightly considered
shows how very little the government
has done in rewarding those who have
so long struggled for justice"
Viewed in the proper light, that list
ought to make the government hang
it's head in shame, and hasten to add Il
few more cubits to the altitude Of the
rather high protective tariff that it
may be in position to do Justice" to
the struggling veterans. What q bless
ing it is for the Democratic party that
this terrible catalogue of omissions and.
heartless derelictions cannot be laid at
its doors. As the fates would have it,
the blame for it rests with Harrison,
Reed and Mckinley. Well may the
party of Jefersonian simplicity and
honesty exclairn, Never shake thy
CORY locks at me, thou canst not say 1
did it" No. Ben and Tom and Billie
did it. They alone are to blame that
the war-scarred veterans have to strug-
gle and totter towards the tomb with
no other help in recognition from the
government than the miserable pit
lance of one hundred and fifty millions
q year. What is that to the sum justly
due them under the claims set forth
above by the National Tribune?
Figured out by those familiar with
pension matters, the per diem service
bill would net the brethren annually
S144, 600, 600, and the repeal OF arrears
bill ISL, 46S, 600 the first year, while the
entire cost OF such a bill would reach q
total OF s47S,OOO,0OO. Official estimates
show also that a service bill granting
pension only to veterans sixty years
old would call for nearly billion and
a half, and that the total cost OF the
measures asked for by the veterans
would exceed two billions, or a sum
nearly equal to the public debt at the
close OF the war.
Do not these figures throw into bold
relief the misery treatment which the
government has extended to its
"saviors" and preservers? If it does
not, what is the use to talk any more
about it?