Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-01
PENSIONS,
Rapid Growth and Enormous Annual Total Of
Expenditures Wealthy Senators Who Get
Large Sums on Rerailng as Back Pay

From the New York Times, Jan. %.
Within the last few days attention
has been drawn TO the rapid growth
and enormous annual total Of our peu-
sion expenditures by projected legisla-
tion and the estimates Of the Commis-
siOner. The pension payments in the
fiscal year 1872 were In round numbers
StB4.5OUOOO The bill recently report
ed by which deficiencies u the Hppr0prl-
ntions for the current fiscal year tend
ing June 30 nexD are to be filled carries
Si3OOO.UUO for pensions. aud this nn-
dtiou will swell the appropriation Tor
the year to "a sum bon the uciRhborhupd
Of SlGOODO.uW Indeed the cOmnis-
iOuer reported q few weeks ago mat
for some time the expenses OF lhe bu-
rcuu had been ut the rate Of SlbS,WNl-
OOO per unuum. On the 1lth inst the
increased his estimate Ol the rxpondi-
lures in the next fiscal year from Sud-
100000 to Si72.OOOmO. and IL is quite
probable that $l5,OOOOOO or S20OO0OOO
more viii he required i'm that year.
The next congress will have much
Important work 10 do, aud part of
this work should be wcll-cOusidorcd
legislation providing for "a thorough in-
ypstigutiun Of the pension rolls. Tie
annual expenditures ran br largely rec
duCCd 10y measures that will bc support
cl 10y great minority of the people
Public opinion lnyyrs the payment uf
pensions ON account of disability caused
Us injuries received I'm thr service. But
it is opposed to the payment Of pensions
to persons who have obtained them by
fraudulent representations, To- mllion-
aires. or to men who are able to earn
large Incomes in private business or
comfortable salaries u the service Of
the government Is any one surprised
al uur reference 90 milliuuliIost iu the
d
millionaire then % candidate for com
Errss had drawn O. pension of so per
month for years. and ho defended his
action in his public addresses. We pre-
sumo that hc Us not the only millionaire
whose name is on the rolls Has 10
been forgotten that during the disgrace
| iul reign of Tanner, the pension of q
wealthy senator Of the United States
who had for many years held publ,
| Office, wnH increased, Hnd that the re-
| rating carried with 10 nearly 5000 In
| bnclt puyf Is ID not we'll known that
men holding public office, tho duties of
| which cannot be- performed 10y disabled
| persons, on engaged Zoo professions whicl
| require constant application aud labor
| are drawing large pensions for "tota
! disability
! a The pension expenditures are 80 cnor
! NOUS that the payment Of pensions {,
/ uil VINO do not deserve 90 receive them
| or do not need thcm. should be- EtOppc,
! without delay. some years ago o re
! publican commissioner expressed th,
| opinion That lu per cent, Of The pen
SION. men pail h9d bccu procured fraud
| utulN' since his day the annual eA
prG"ilure has been multiplied BY hy
and for some years past the affairs %
| tho bureau have been managed los uu
worthy urn. lf his ostimutr was
uu~tW"rlhy one. j. " not probable TIM
thr percentage oi fraudulent eases hu
lh,FGaScd
NIlrr tine bureau shan have bee
placed iu good hands whether m th