The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-16
DRAIN OF THE PENSIONS.
EFFORTS TO BE MADE TO GUT OFF
UNWORTHY BENEFICIARIES.


Widows Of Veterans who Married
soon After the War May Be Cut on,
A Proposition to stop Payments to
Mer " no Are in the Soldiers Homes,
Raums Estimates.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE members OF
the pensions subcommittee of the House
committee on appropriations, who have
been examining Commissioner Rsum and
Assistant Secretary Bussey, are convinced
that they will need to appropriate close up
70 the limit OF their estimates. The question
from a political standpoint is whether To
appropriate every dollar that is likely to be
needed to meet the deficiency this year and
the payments next year, or to leave de-
ilciency to be provided fer by the next con-
gress. The ma jority are inclined to appro-
pirate the full amount at this session, and
II is runs the total appropriations os
congress above a reasonable figure to rely
upon the obvious fact that the increase 10
due TO the pension laws OF the last congress.
Commissioner Raum mas revised both hts
deficiency estimates and his estimate for
next year and has increased them both.
The deficiency estimate is for SIS, 200 900,
but Gen. Raum estimates tina. S5 O0O, 600 of
will not be actually paid out before June 80.
THE COMMITTEES OPINION.
The committee believe that most OF it
will be paid out and that ia any case the
obligation will be incurred and the money
ought Co be appropriated. They have noR
yet fixed the amount OF the appropriation.
but will probably make a compromise at
SIS, 200, 900 or $4,000, 900 between the entire
| estimate and the amount which Gen. Raum
hf..t.. ..ks, ILL h.. huf -
mate for next year is Sl7S, 900, 900, but Gen.
Raum figures that $6,000,000 of this will re-
main unexpended, aud that 1t will be safe
% appropriate $l12,O00, 900. The COMMITTEES
are not entirely satisfied with this manner
of figuring, but will probably fix the APP
preparation at about $l75O00.0O0.
TO STOP THE DRAIN.
The possibility OF stopping the pension
drain by amending the law is being ser-
iously considered by several members of the
appropriations committee. It is not strictly
within their province. but the easiest way
OF securing amendments is by provisions ia
the appropriation bill and several will be
| urged upon the committee. Representative
Fornsy Of Alabama will probably renew
his proposition that pensions paid to in-
mates OF soldiers homes shall be discon-
tinusd unless tue money goes 10 dependents
| relatives. Dependent relatives would prob
ably come TO the front az plentifully as the
| wives OF a dead millionaire under this pro-
vision, but the committee argue that the
money would at least be distributed in
stead of going into the pocket of men who
were being 50 well cared for that they did
not need 1t.
PAYMENTS TO WIDOWS.
| Two other amendments which are being
| talked OF refer TO the widows of veterans
and the veterans who are earning their
4 Itxyan
widows is TO put stop DO further PEN
sion payments TO widows whose marriages
| took place after 1870, or some other date after
| the close of the war. This would put stop
TO the practice which still prevails with the
widows of revolutionary veterans, OF
marrying young girls to octogenarisn
veterans on their deaLhbe for the purpose
Of keeping the pension in the family.
Women who were widowed during the war
or by the death OF their husbands from
wounds soon after It's close are regarded as
proper benefciaries OF the gratitude of the
| government, but women who married
veterans while engaged in private business
long after the war and who had no share In
the anxiety and sacrifice OF the war time are
not considered equally deserving.
OTHERS WHO MAY BE CUT OFF.
Several bills have already been intro-
duced to cut otf pensions TO veterans hold<
ing good paying offices under the govern
ment, and it is thought that the principle
might be extended to all who are earning .
good living and are not suffering from
serious wounds received ia the service. IL
| payments to these classes were stopped, 40
/ might be done after notice for six months
or year, the pension roll would be ooncid-
erably cut down. and the enormous appro-
prtations which are eating up the entire
revenue from the customs might be re-
| duoed.
| - .....