The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-21
MIR. CLEVELAND AND PENSIONS.


A Washington dispatch states that II
Is known that President Cleveland has
strong views on tho pension question, and
the statement is justified by the course OF
Mr.. Cleveland while President OF the
United States. The Senators and Repre-
sentatives who have recently visited him
in New York have corroborated this re-
port. however. and the general rumor
now is that the Presldcnt-elect believes
that revision of the pension laws should
be made IN justice to the country at large
as well as TO those veterans who deserve
assistance at the hands Of the Govern
ment. He is said to be convinced that
many hundreds Of names now on the pen
sion lists should be stricken therefrom,
and that the $500 900 day now being paid
out in pensions are not being expended
according to the spirit OF the original
pension law.
II Mr. Cleveland really entcrtains these
opinions-and there is no reason to doubt
that he does-he is certainly in accord
with the large majority Of his fellow
citizens who recently sent him back to
the White House. 1t is conceded fact
that # the present rate Of increase in
| pension payments is maintained II will
not be long before the people will have
10 contribute 81 100000 day for that pur-
pose Secretary Foster himself is quoted
as saying that the annual pension expen-
ditures will. in short time, reach the
enormous sum Of $3.50, 100000 a year.
To this prospective demand on the
Treasury is largely due the anticipated
deficit in the vaults Of that building.
and IL the pension requirements increase
nj the rate expected they will soon abb
sorb all tho revenues OF the country, leav-
| ing the legitimate expenses for running
the Government to be supplied as best
they may. This would, Of course, neces-
! state increased taxation and the probable
| increase Of the public debt. IT is pre-
| dicted. therefore, that Mr. Cleveland WILL
In his first message. recommend a re-
vision Of the pension roll to such an ex-
tent that it will be a roll Of honor, and
only those will be found upon it who
were wounded during the war or who have
| been disabled since" 1t is estimated that
fully one-half of the names on the list
are those of unworthy pensioners.
This reduction of the pension lists is
one Of the most important tasks before
Congress, equal even to that of tariff
reform. It is a matter of the gravest in
] Il I'D
ciaIiy to the South. Should an increase
OF the revenues Of the Government be
demanded the people everywhere Will be
subjected 10 increased taxation to
supply it, and the South already heavily
drained Of her resources to furnish mil
lions of dollars to be scattered annually
throughout the North. would be called on
TO bear a still heavier burden 1t Is but
the part of Justice and wisdom that she
should be relieved OF this strain upon
her, and that she should not be asked to
pay her needy means to support class
! Of men who have no shadow OF claim
! to Government aid, and whose names
were only put on the pension roll in the
first place as a pretext of forcing her
to contribute more largely than ever to
the prosperity Of the North. She las long
since paid a tremendous war debt, and
now every sentiment of right demands
that she be relieved as far as possible
| She is willing 10 pay her part TO the sup
port OF the Government and to the pen
sionlng of deserving veterans of the war;
beyond that nothing more should be ex-