Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-01-07
THE NATIONS BURDEN.

terror 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 annual report
the Secretary Of the Interior would
discuss It's affairs with great frank
ness and thoroughness. The report
disappoints that expectation, for out
of Il volume OF ITO pages barely ten
are devoted to the pension depart
ment and these are so colorless that
conclusions from them can be ex-
tructed only by the aid of other re.
ports
The one simple fact, however. that
stands out above all others, ia the
statement that Sl45, 100000 will be re-
quired to pay pensions dnrIng the
mex fiscal year, and that thereafter
an annual appropriation of SlGO,ODO,-
600 will be required for several years,
until death shall reduce these drafts
on the treasury. The Secretary's re-
port is the fullest confirmation of the
fears expressed by the Democratic
newspapers and Democratic Congress.
men that the pauper pension bill, as
the Repnb lican Buffalo Erpress aptly
termed it, would involve the country
in an outlay OF Sl5O,OOO,OOO for pen.
sions annually. The Secretary OF the
Interior is evidently afraid of the
consequences Of his own confession,
for we notice that IL 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 can.
not be suppressed.
The unchecked growth Of pension
appropriations oaunot much longer
be tolerated unless the people are
prepared to mortgage the country
which was saved to the pensioners
just after the close of the war in 1866
tho pension appropriations amounted
to sl5,60O,OOO. In 1876, ten yenrs
later, they amounted to s28, OOO,OOO; in
1886 they had risen to s63,OOOOOO; in
1888 they had mounted again to $780,
100000, and three years from that
time the department estimates re.
quire double that enormous amount.
The amount We are asked to spend on
pensions is to be more next year, nc.
cording to Secretary Mobiles report,
than the entire cost OF government for
any two years before the war The
appropriation asked for is nearly half
t1e expense OF maintaining in the
fell during the trying "ear of 1862
all the union armies. And according
to the report, furtherm ore, the facts
contradict the hopes expressed by the
Secretary. There are already over
6OO,OOO pensioners, and 50O,OOO others
are waiting to have their claims
passed upon, while 100000 of those
who already draw pensions are seek
ing increases,
The patent truth is that, as now adj
minstered, the pension system is the
opportunity for claim agents to de
base patriotism by calling upon every
man who served in the war, if only
for few days, to make demand on
the treasury for gratuity. The
Secretary's estimate ought not to sur
prise the American people. President
Cleveland's course toward pensioners,
one OF the most courageous and pa
triotic stops in his Illustration. WINS
made the object Of n successful par-
san attack by public plunderers at
Washington, and they have ayailed
themselves OF the chance their yicto v
gGve them. The claim agents, under
Harrison's administration, have in
creased FROM SSO,OOO,OOO to SlGo, OOO.-
600 the anuual appropriation for
pensions, and Corporal Tanner has
been splendidly vindicated. -lAlhanv