Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07
The Disability Pension Act.

To the Editor of The Evening sta-.
That act has now been In operation for three
years and has taken from the treasury the
enormous sum Of $40, OOO, 900. From 1866 to
1889, including the years in which the arrears
act, the Mexican pension bill and the act
increasing widows pensions from % to sI2 per
month were passed, pension disbursements
increased at the rate of but 50 600 600 ANNUALLY.
SO the widest liberality in estimating is shown
in crediting CSC, ZOO, 900 to the expenditures
which would have been entailed upon us for the
last three wears, independently Of the act of
June 27. 1890.
Thus that act has cost the country 100000
OOO. No thoughtful man can doubt that il that
money had remained in the treasury the
workingmen would not now be suffering from
the effects OF great financial stringency Th.
pensioners under the new law are receiving an
annual average sum Of 1920 or about SO
cents per day. The diminution of work
and wages must lessen their re ceipts more than
the additional amounts they receive in pen
sions. There is q large army of veterans not
on the new roll who must bear unaided by the
government, the distress Of these stringent
times. just as must the much larger army of
workingmen who never served In the Union
army. The veterans are sadly learning that
they are much more interested in general pros
perity than in pensions
The low condition Of the treasury is almost
entirely responsible for the present phase Of bus
mess affairs. "Oh for more free poldr' was the
plant OF the last administration during the
closing quarter of its existence, and it has been
the mournful plant of the new administration
during its first quarter Of life. business is
largely based on credit. or. in other words, on
mutual and general confidence. Tho stress of
the government. its published embarrassment
its pitiful appeals for help weakened the public
confidence aud brought upon us financial dis
tress, which will grow greater before it begins
to diminish.
The expected revision of the tariff system.
consequent upon the democratic victory of last
fall. thrust an element Of uncertainty into bust
ness matters. That meant change and change.
even from very bad to very good, involved
friction and temporary loss to many Yet. in
full view OF this uncertainty, industrial stocks
held their own, until the perhaps necessary
action OF the government impaired business
conndence and led the selfish and the timid
to hoard gold. Until then, as a general thing. |
did not curtail production but
only that natural increase Of production which, !
in good times, yearly addition of million |
and half to our population calls for
Inc disability pension act has been proven to |
be unwise On either party rests the exclusive |
credit or odium Of that act. 1t is not necessary |
TO argue as TO its merits, nor to the rewards /
due to our patriotic soldiers. nor even to the
prodiSal generosity that has made many
thousands, who arc not OCCASIONALLY disabled,
lrises from the now undoubted fact that, at
he past rate OF expenditures under it, it calls
or more money than the revenues of the coun-
~ will allow Us to disburse. No one will deny
hat the continued enforcement Of That act at
Inythlng like the momentum which Gen !
taum 8 first two years gave to it will impose a
cry serious annual deficit upon the treasury.
Considering the one tact that the regular
esources OF the government cannot sustain tho
eavy pension disbursements OF the past four
ears, one OF two things is demanded-the cut
ing down by Congress of pension appropria-
ions or the paving of them bv adding to our
ublic debt. by issuing long bonds, which
ould be hoated at per cent interest II the
ct of June "a. 1890, were wise and really de-
landed by the patriotic gratitude of the nation,
rovisions to meet the enormous expense incl
ent to it should have been furnished in the {
suing OF bonds, making the next generation |
hare in the expenses OF the late war Congress ,
lied to do this. and the result is that scores of q
lousands have been thrust from lucrative en- 7
oyments, while millions of other workiuemen 9
aze upon the near future with but little hope {
illness, and that act. which its friends believed
ould benefit many veterans, has resulted in a
ringing upon them serious losses. Until Con- n
Tess shall provide some extra means for meet a
& the disbursements incident to the depend Il
It pension law it will be disturbing element b
ID an injury, not benefit, to the veterans |,
oney may be lost and regained. but it will be a
airs before the veterans share as largely in the c
lection and gratitude Of the people as they Il
d before the passage of that act Justly. or b
Justly, because of its exhausting drain they b
We been so charged with cupidity that the le
untry is in danger of undertaking the value K
their services aud sacrifices. a
A VETERAN. O