The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-08

I, Ossvth % she Robbsr ssias Cndsr ne
p.bllcan Soanag snent-
| The mo>t important bureau attached
20 the departments u the interior Il TIE
| pension bureau " hich expend> nearly
half the revenues Of the government
and for three years has brsn the cause
Of vexation 10 the administration ana
disercdit 10 the people. lis importance
justified the expectation that In his an
nual nport the se<rstary of the interior
would discuss its affairs with great
franknes> and thoroughnesS The re-
port disapPoints that xpectation. for
ont Of volume Of ITO pages barely
ten are devoted 10 the pension depart
mcnt 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
81 nds ont above all others, Is the state
inent that si4s 600. 900 will he required
TO pay pensions during the next fiscal
year. and that the reafter an annual ap-
preparation Of sl6).O0o. 0O0 will be re-
quired for several years, until death
shall reduce these drafts on the treas
ury. The secrctary's report Is the full
est contirm alton Of the fears expressed
by the democratic newspapers and
democratic congress smcn that the pau
per pension bill. as the republican Buff
falo Express aptlT termed Il wonld in
voive the country in an outlay Of
$3.50. Oo0. 900 for pc nsions 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 sum mary he has
caused 70 be prepared for the press this
has been omitted OF course. il cannot
b. suppressed.
The unchecked growth OF pension
appropriations can not much longer be
tolerated unless the people are pre-
pared 10 mortgage the country which
was saved 70 the pensioners Just
after the close OF the war in 1866 the
pension ap7ropri tons amounted to
$1,000. 900. In 1876. ten years later.
they amounted to $4,000 900: in 1885
they had risen to So. 600. 900: in lsss
they had mounted again 10 $50. 600 600.
aud three years from that time the de-
partmcnt estimates require double that
enormous amount The amount we
are asked to spend on pensions is 70 be
more next wear, according to Secretary
Mobiles report. than the entire cost OF
governments for an two years before
the war The appropriation asked for
j. nearly half the expense Of maintain
ing in the field during the trying year
Of lsf. all the union armies And ae-
cordlng 70 the report furthermore. the
facts contradict the hopes expressed by
the secretary. There are already over
on. 600 pensioners. = nd 500. 900 Others are
Whiting to have their claims passed
upon. while 100000 Of those who al
ready draw pensions are seeking in
crcases.
The patent truth is that. as now adj
ministered. the pen sion system is the
opportunity for claim agents to debase
patriotism Nv calling upon every man
who served in the war. II only for :
few days. To make demand on the
treasury for gratuity. The secre-
tary's estimate ought not to surprise
thu American people. President Cleve-
lands course toward pensioners. one
Of the most courageous and patriotic I
steps in his administration. was made |
the object % a successful PARTISAN at
tack By public plunderers at Washing I
ton. and they have availed themselves
OF the chance their victory gave them |
The claim agents. under Harrison's adj 4
have increasei from $50 I
600. 600 to 100000. 900 the annual ap-
preparation for pen sions. and Corporal |
Tanner has been splendidly vindi- I
Gated Albany Argus