The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-06
The First Step Toward Pension Reform.


In face OF the certainty that next years
pension expenditures will exceed Sl65,OO0,-
600. and the strong probability that they
will reach $500. 900 OO0 the most urgent duty
OF Congress is to attack this gigantic and
rapidly growing ey:l
Tho 0utgO must be checked or the Treas
ury will be bankrupt.
The annual expenditure for pensions
alone already amounts TO about thrice what
was the total annual cost OF government in
the United States ut the time Of the Begin
ming OF the civil war.
1t already amounts to very nearly the
total revenue which the Government now
derives from the tariff. In other words.
almost every dollar taken in ut the Custom
Houses Is paid out to the pensioners.
Every other item of Government expen-
diture Is Insignificant in comparison. The
central point in the nations finances. the
chief problem of ways and means. is to
raise tho stupendous sum now annually
expended on account OF war that ended
nearly thirty years ago.
The reform must be radical and it must
be immediate. 1t is easy enough to point
out the magnitude Of tho scandal and tho
danger, and to discuss in gencralties the
Imperative necessity of change in the
pension policy OF the Government. But
whPt Is the first practical step toward re-
trcnchment and reform
Common sense and common honesty, we
Should say. have their answer ready. AS
certain first of nil the extent to which the
annual pension expenditure of from one
hi nIp nI md tn, t,,.N
dollars is outright plumber and deliberate
fraud. To scrntinizc and reGxamine every
individual case among the 100000 names
nov on the rolls, and the 100000 claimants
now Whiting to be put on the rolls. would
be a physical impossibiiity within the life
time Of any Congress. But the same result
can be attained by sample and by aver
age. linking half dozen fairly represent
stivn counties or cities In different parts
81 tho country. it would he entirely
within tho power of n special committee of
Congress. or OF n special commission creuted
by law and appointed by tho Executive, to
investigate every caso within these spcci.
men localities. and thus to determine tho
number OF cases where tho pcneioner is
properly and legitimatcly n charge upon
rho Government bounty. and the number
OF cases where tho grant Of n pension Is an
Outrage and fraud upon the people. Such
. committee or commission should be made
mp OF men from both parties. and IL should
include veterans OF the war We believe
that thorough and impartial investiga-
hon Of this sort would he welcomed and as
Sisted by the Grand Army OF the Republic.
al organization which has no interests in
common with tho swiIdling pension agents
ana the fake invalids now supported
at the expense Of Tho nation And the re-
suit OF thorough and impartial cAamina-
ton In fow cities or counties would In
dictate very closely tho proportion IN tho
whole country Of lghtfuliy awarded pen
eions TO those which have been granted
without sufficient reason under the amazing
Ioily ana extravaganza Of tho recent pen
sion nets of Congress. The invest gation
would separate tho pensions now paid into
these several groups:
]. Pensions to suldlcrs disabled and in
capaci:hted In actual service, or 20 widows
oil soldiers killed in tho service and without
ot!er sufficient means of support. This
class would include the legitimate pension.
ers. and 1t would form Numerically a very
small part of the list.
2. Tensions paid 10 men actually wounded
In the service and thus technically entitled
70 Government aid. hut who are ellher well.
to'do In the world. or ut least able to earn
their own living. Pensioners of this
class lavo no moral claim upon the Treas
ury. The nuinber Of those who are not
10 receive month after month
nnd year after year. charity extracted by
law from the pockets Of their fellow tnx-
puyers. and which they do not need. will
ce.d all belief.
.. Pensions paid to the worthy unfortu-
nate; soldiers not really incapucitated by