Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-01-07
THE NATIONS BURDEN.
Growth of the R0bbor Ring Under b,
publican Management.

Growth of the R0bber Ring Under Re.
publican Management.
The most important bureau attached
to the department of the interior is the
pension bureau which expends nearly
half the revenues of the government,
and for three years has been the cause
of vexation to the administration and
discredit to the people. Its Importance
justified the expectation that in his an
nual report the secretary of the interior
would discuss its affairs with great
frankness and thoroughness. The re-
port disappoints that expectation, for
out of a volume of ITO pages barely
ten are devoted to the pension depart
ment and these are so cOlorless that
conclusions from them can be extracted
only by the aid of other reports.
The one simple fact, however, that
st ands out above all others, is the state
ment that S145, DOC, 900 will be required
to pay pensions during the next fiscal
year, and that thereafter an annual APP
preparation of $3.50, 600. 600 will be re-
quired for several years, until death
shall reduce these drafts on the treas
ury. The secretary's report is the full
est confirm alton of the fears expressed
by the democratic newspapers and
democratic congressman that the pau
per pension bill, rs the republican Buff
falo Express aptly termed it. would in
volve the country in an outlay Of
$50, 600, 900 for pensions annually. The
secretary of the interior is evidently
afraid of the consequences of his own
confession, for we notice that in the
neat and convenient summary he has
caused to be prepared for the press this
most important fact in the entire report
has been omitted. OF course, it cannot
be suppressed.
The unchecked growth Of pension
appropriations cannot much longer be
tolerated unless the people are pre-
pared to mortgage the country which
was saved to the pensioners Just
after the close of the war in 1866 the
pension appropriations amounted to
SIS, 800, 600. In 1875. ten years later,
they amounted to $2s, 900. 600; in 1886
they had risen to S63, 600, 900; in 1888
they had mounted again to $50, 900. 600,
and three years from that time the de-
partment estimates require double that
enormous amount. The amount we
are asked to spend on pensions is. to be
more next year. according to Secretary
Mobiles report, than the entire cost of
y
the war. The appropriation asked for
is nearly half the expense of maintain
ing in the field during the trying year
of 1869 all the union armies. And ac-
cordlng to the report. furthermore, the
facts contradict the hopes expressed by
the secretary. There are already over
600, 600 pensioners, and 500, 600 others are
waiting to have their claims passed
upon. while 400, 900 of those who al.
ready draw pensions are seeking in.
creases.
The patent truth is that, as now ad.
ministered. the pension system is the
opportunity for claim agents to debase
patriotism by calling upon every man
who served in the war, if only for a
few days, to make demand ON the
treasury for gratuity. The secre-
tary's estimate ought not to surprise
the American people. President Cleve-
lands course toward pensioners, one
of the most courageous and patriotic
steps in his administration. was made
the object of a successful partisan at
tack by public plunderers at Washing
ton. and they have availed themselves
of the chance their victory gave them.
The claim agents, under Harrison's adj
ministration, have increased from $780,
600, 600 to S16O. zoo, 900 the annual ap-
preparation for pensions, and Corporal
Tanner has been splendidly vindi
Gated -Albany Argus.