The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-28
,urseons clerk hire a. pension agencies.

Wrge0ne. Cterk 0lro ~ ptnblOu bkcuCies,
and some small itema
When the bill was taken MP to-day Mr..
German called attention TO the fact that 0
bill appropristing over S166. 900. 600 was be-
ing run through the Senate with very few
Benators giving any notice 20 Ii. German
ested the report of the Commissions OF
Pensions that on June ]. last. $4,000 pension
brs were on the rolls. 1t was perfect
~ safe TO say, and the country ought TO
know the facts, that the estimates OF the
Commissioner were q nero guess as TO the
number of pensioners that would be- added
70 the list this year. and IL was beyond
question that there wonld be at the end or
the fiscal year, on the 3Oth of June next, q
deficiency of from five TO twenty million
dollars. The estimate OF the Commissioners
was that, In case the adlustmcntot pen
biOns went on rs rapidly as IL had been 60
Ing. the pension approximation for the next
year would be some Slos 1000 10 SlSO.OOO,-
boo, and that before June 20. 1884. there
woul0 be 100000 pensioners borne on the
rolls. "A 10 the reduction OF pension ex-
penditnree by q change OF law. that, Mr..
Eorrnan said. was q great question which
be did not care TO enter into now. IL might
eoUe hereafter. He suggested that there
should he q provision tor the employment
Of skilled actuAries in the Pecs.on Office.
Mr.. German said he could not fail to take
notice of the fact that there had been an
overwhelming vote In the House against
Any change in the pension laws. The fact
was, as had been stated last week by the
Senator FROM Illinois Mr.. PalmerJ. that
there had been y rivalry between the two
great political parties TO see how FAR they
could 90 in the matter of pension lepisla-
tion. What he Mr. German desired TO do
was to call the attention OF the senate and
the people to the fact that, with the pres
ent oonaition of the pension laws. Congress
would he powerless at the next session, as
Sc was ut this. TO reduce pension appropria-
tions TO any extent until the question W as
taken up by the pension committees and
until legislation was had for reduction OF
pensions.
Mr. Cullom-ID your own Judgment is it
not better that the general subject should
be taken up by the pension committees,
aud that they should report such legisla-
zion as they deem wise. rather than have
any change OF law put upon the appropria-
tion billf
Mr.. Gorman-I am decidedly of that
opinion.
Mr. Palmer spoke OF the subject of PEN
sions as one that Is interesting the country
very muoh. The amount Of pension appro-
priations were exciting surprise. There
was growing anxiety that pensions
should be paid only TO the deserving. and
he thought that the old soidiers-penslon-
ers and onpensioners-would favor any
proposition that would tend to eliminate
from the rolls those who did not deserve
pensions. There was no disposition to de-
prive the meritorious of their pensions but
there was desire to reform the pension
laws so that the annual payment might be
reduced. He trusted that the new admin
issrstion would find q man for Pension
Commissioner who would comprehend the
gravity of the subject, and who would have
the courage to do right.
After some further discussion the bill was
passed without amendment. The confer
ence report on the military academy bill
was agreed to.
Public business was then suspended in
order that fitting tributes might be paid to
the memory of the late Senator Kenna.