Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-01-03

where O saving cnn bol Effected
Foremost among such items Is the
pension list Tho immense sums
now annually appropriated for
pensions are known 70 be greatly
In excess Of the demands Of graft
tude for services rendered during
the Lass war. Not only arc the
names OF unworthy persons borne
on what Mr. Cleveland says should
be a "royal honor but laws un-
der which millions have been ex-
pended have been placed on the
statute books not so much for
their ostensible beuefciaries as
for the gain Of politicians and pen
sion attorneys. Since 1866 the
number Of pensions has increased
from 1896 to S76,504, and at the
present rate OF progress the limit
will not be reached until the year
ly cost Of pensions is 800, 900.
1t is Unnecessary, however, to go
over a story hat is old, and that is
thoroughly understood by every
intelligent person in this country.
There is no question as to the ex-
istence of an evil. The only ques-
ton is as to a remedy. The whole
country, irrespective of party or
section, is willing to pay the full
debt OF gratitude to the men who
fought for the Union. The knowl-
edge that frauds are committed In
the name Of gratitude for patriotic
sacrifices, however, is general, and
the deserving as well as the unde-
serving pensioner suffers from the
evil reputation of pension frauds
and pension sharks.
1t is perfectly clear that no re-
form can be lasting that does not
take the pension roll out Of poll
tics. This, of course, will not en-
tirely prevent reckless legislation,
but administration may be reform
ed, the power of the pension at
torney may be greatly circum-
scribed, and it is he who is res
ponsible for the origination Of
the obnoxious legislation that in
recent years has found its way in
to the statute books, while he is
the active lobby agent who "push-
es' who pushes every bill the en-
actment of which will increase his
clientele and his fees, his sup
preston will indirectly at least
exert a beneficial influence ON con-
gress.
A bill has recently been intro
duced into congress providing foI
the transfer of the pension bureau
to the war department. This
measure is the result Of long aud
careful consideration. Many Of
the public men who are most ia
miliar with the wrongs and injus-
tices Of the present system have
reached the conclusion that the
pension bureau, with its ramifica-
ions and connections in every
towh>in the northern states, will
remain a powerful and corrupt
political machine 80 long as the
commissionership is a reward foI
party services. The object of this
bill is to put an end to this state
of affairs; to kin the influence Of
the attorney, whose interest lies il
increasing the number of pension
ers and the amounts paid, rather
than in discovering and rewarding
only the deserving; to make it i'm.
possible to employ pensions as
brides to voters, and to defeat OF
elect ~aspirants for congress by re.
tarding or expediting the applica.
tions Of their constituents. 1t Is
proposed that an officer Of the ar.
my shall take the place Of the pol
itician, and that his principal sub.
ordinates shall be also officers o
the army.
The saving Of money now ex
pendsdin salaries by the adoption
Of such a system will not be great
but at this juncture every dolla.
SAVED is Of importance. The gaii
in character viii be very great
The absolute divorce Of the bu
reau from party politics will b.
still moro important The arm,
will give the country an %elicien
and honest seryice, and the pen
sion attorney will lose his standing
ia court The honest pensione
win secure his deserts. and viii b.
the last 10 object TO the propose,
transfer. Whether the servicr
viii be as energeiically performe,
IS il is under civilian manage