The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-10
Pensions.

PENSIONS are receiving more dIteutiou
from the press and the public than any
other national subject, and there is sub
stantial unanimity that the expenditures
for pensions absorb far too large share OF
the public revenue The ex-soldiers, most
" those who saw but little service, have
presumed toe far upon the gratitude and
patriotism of the people and have made the
total for pensions exceed the cost of the
largest standing army of Europe, made
high taxation necessary, forced the gov
eminent to pass the payment of bonds that
were due, and produced deficit in the
treasury
If only the deserving were drawing pen
sions founded upon justice, fifty millions
would be ample to meet every demand.
But the list not only contains thousands of
names of persons who need no government
tai assistance, but the pensions paid 10
others are far in excess of their deserts.
The object of paying pensions was to assist
the disabled in obtaining livelihood-nOt
to support them in idleness. If many of
those on the roll had never been in the
army or navy, they could not earn as much
as the government pays them in pensions.
There are many professional men now draw
ing pensions who are in no wise disabled
from fully prosecuting their professions.
There are ex-soldiers drawing from six hun
bred dollars to i,c thousand Il year in public
office and in addition from thirty to seventy
two dollarsa month pension. There are hun
dreds of women who were not born when
the war began, who have since married
soldiers and are now on the pension rolls as
soldiers widows. There are widows of
officers drawing pensions whose incomes
from their private fortunes amount to
thousands year There are hundreds of
widows of civil and military officers
drawing pensions whose husbands were
paid large salaries during their life
time. and by reason of the certainty of
having their families cared for by the gov
eminent at their death, lived in luxury to
the full amount of their incomes.
When the war closed the Southern sol
diers were left in 4 far worse condition to
battle for livelihood than the Federal
soldiers. With them it was work or suffer,
and they went TO work. The fact that they
succeeded in maintaining themselves was
ample demonstration that pensions are not
necessary Ex-soldiers, as a rule, are bet
ter off without pensions than with them.
More have been demoralized and ruined by
them than have been benefited. Able
bodied men are living in idleness at sol
diers homes, and drawing large pensions
in addition
1t is doubtful however, whether Con-
gress will undertake thorough revision of
the pension laws, purge the list of the I'M
deserving and adjust pensions upon the
basis of justice and equity. Congressman,
generally, are more interested in maintain
ing themselves in public life than in fear
lessly discharging their duty. In many
congressional districts the soldier vote holds
the balance of power, and the representa-
tives are afraid of alternating this vote,
Congressman err. however, if they believe
that all soldiers sanction the large expen-
ditures for pensions. Thousands of them
would like to see the lists purged of the
names of the undeservine, and the roll made
roll of honor They will join in any
movement looking to proper revision OF
the pension laws and purging Of the lists.
From this date forward no more pen
sions should be granted to civilians, and
there is no need of pensions to those in the
regular army and navy. Funerals at the pub
lie expense should cease also, and the Sc
verest economy should be practiced in all
branches of the government If this be
done two hundred and fifty millions would
suffice where now half billion is re-
quired annually to meet the expenditures
of the government.