The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-09-07
Worthington Advance.

81. "o.4H'He7ox. Alxx. scptepsbr I :, lsss
ABOUT PENSIONS.
We are glad to hear that Secretary
Smith has been compelled to revoke his
unjust order which suspended the pay
ment OF pensionssto old soldiers whose
namee were on the pay rolls while their
eases are undergoing re-examination.
A correspondent says that the admin
istration feared u formal and strong
Iebuke Of Smiths late order, and also
. more forcible one from the grand
army veterans in session this week ut
Indianapolis. Hereafter, instead of
dropping pensioners from the roll aid
giving them sixty days to reprove their
right to draw pensions, they will be
given sixty days. notice to reinforce by
new testimony their claims. The third,
clause Of the order. which gives notice
to pensioness under the act OF June, !.
1890, who have received pensions under
previous acts, that they must make
good their claims for the latest pension,
and that they will be dropped frou the
new roll and restored to the old pend
Ing investigation, is step in the line
Of "retrenchment and REFORM" for it
10 the object of the administration TO
reduce the aggregate Of pension ex-
penditures more than anything else in
this new and unjust policy.
We are thirty years removed from
the scenes of the war, and the time
when young men and men with their
families dependent on them, were told
the nation would see to the support
Of their families if they died in the SER
vice, or suffered themselves in loss of
limbs or health. Congress aud the de-
partments are largely men who were
then baGts in their cradles, if born at
all. To many who now legislate and
administer on the claims Of pensioners
the war is known only by history, for
they have no memory of it. Men who
are interested in tariff and other reve-
nue. questions are restive under the ex-
pense Of the pension rolls, themselves
and their fathers being hostile at heart
to the government for whose preser-
walton the veteran pensioners fought.
The South, which in the House has the
majority of chairmanships of commit
tees of the House, and thereby controls
its action, would rather see pensions
allowed to those who wore the gray
than to those who wore the blue.
Hence we may expect, not indifference
merely but persistent hostility to fairly
liberal pensions. The millionnires
who wish to subject the country to the
British free traders, who were so kind
to the rebels in the war, furnished sub
scribers to Confederate bonds, and
cruisers for the rebel navy, and guns
and powder for rebel soldiers, and who
wish for reduced expenses, iu order to
make tariff legislation less necessary,
are now hostile to liberal pensions.
Pension money is not boarded. It is
not sent to Europe for knick knacks
and gewgaws. 1t is spent for actual
necessities, and is used to keep Grip.
Piled, rheumatic, helpless old men and
women from going to the poor house.
At best sums allowed are only pittan-
'ces-a mere dole Of charity. II it were
only charity, instead of being the re-
demption Of q sacred promise and a
grateful recognition of exposure and
peril endured ard wounds received
at the hands of the enemies, the pen
sions are mono too liberal now. The
plea that some pensioners get more
than the law doles out, is q very thin
one. The con Celebrates and their al.
lies do not complain Of pensions to con.
federates who we're in the Mexican
war, whose names are still on the rolls
notwithstanding their part in the re-
bellion.
Lot the loyal people stand by tht
veterans. II economy is necessary
try retrenchment some where else
There are leaks to stop in other quar-
tor, and larger ones than in the pen
sion bureau. We may need soldier'
some other day and if we do not stant
by our veterans We may not 6nd it 81
easy hereafter to get them.
It Is believed that President Cleve
land will recommend the repeal of th'
10 per cent tax on the currency ISSUED
by State banks. This remedy for th'
ills Of the time is like the little boOl
which an angel gave to one Of the an
cient prophets to cut. The prophet Salt
aftsr eating it. that 1t WAS sweet in hi
mouth but was very bitter in hi
stomach. The State banks will max
money very rapidly. and an era Of loca
speculation and high sailing operation
of all sorts, when once they begin. Blu
it will be provincial currency ant
not national. Legislatures will dis
crjminate against the circulation o
their neighbor states. The none
used In the west will be discounted il
in the east, and merchants and manu-
facturers will pay the exchange. Their
will be an era of imitation, in whicl
fortunes will be made by many, aD'
very soon depression will come in t
destroy many of those gathered fol
tunes. It will be grand time TO
conuterfeiters, who can then ply thei
trade. 1t will be q good time TO
brokers, whose Offices will be as thicl
~ saloons are in the great cities. Tn
expedient was tried in years gone b
until the nation was sick of it, and
xaa n GOOD day for tho country at larg