The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-09
AN HONEST SYSTEM NEEpED.

ton to thoroughly reform tho pension
system arc likely to prove successful.
There has been u noticeable decrease in
numbers and a gratifying lack OF en-
thusiaam among those knavish political
demagooues who handicapped this work
before and, what is still more gratifying,
a general disposition among such Grand
Army leaders MS John T. Rea to assist
and encourage this reform movement
by all possible methods. This ia made
most apparent in the discussion follow
ing the order to dlsband the Noah l..
Fnrnham post Of the G. A. II. for the
adoption Of resolutions favorlng n rigid
revision Of methods in tho pension de-
partment. This action was taken be-
cause the post had violated that rule OF
the organization which forbids posts
from acting on pension matters without
endorsement from national h%eadquar-
tiers. The trend of the wide comment
occasioned by tho d~isbandment decid-
eddy favors the sentiment which the
Farnham post seeks to With
out making a serious break in
that excellent organization, the
Grand Army of the Republic,
this view OF affairs is likely to
prevail to such m extent that Grand
Army men will be found foremost in es-
tablishing the pension department upon
an honest basis. They ought certainly
to be most interested, since continued
abuses and an enormous increase Of
fraudulent pensions combine to reflect
discredit on deserving veterans and re-
move the rewards TO which they are on
titled.
BY the encouragement Of those dem
agogues who never knew the smell of
powder, and through a combination of
agents who have robbed the govern
ment, the pension department has be-
come a seat OF national scandal. To
prove this, 1t is not necessary to consult
a mass of evidence in the secret service
department. The figures alone are
quito sufficient to tell the story of fraud.
The largest single appropriation ever
made for any government expenditure
was that of s165 100000 for pensions for
tho coming fiscal year. This becomes
Of more startling meaning, if possible,
when We glance at the conditions. After
the twenty-four years which have
elapsed since the close Of the civil war
this sum is to be divided among 1,000,-
900 pensioners, or more than the total
number of mon enlisted. A more serious
aspect, however, is found by comparing
this enormous amount with appropria-
tions for similar purposes in other years.
For the year ending July |, 1891, the ap-
preparation was s133,0oo,ooo, with a de-
ficiency of sS,Oo0,OO0 called for after
ward. In 1892 congress gave up Sl45,-
100000, and this year the sum is fur
Their increased by s%2o,000,00O. The ques-
tion at hand is whether this ratio is to
be continued, or whether Il govern
ment will take measures to cut 1t down
to it's legitimate purposes. Can the
country stand this enormous drain,
when it is known beyond all doubt that
a very great portion Of the money is a
bounty for those who are defrauding the
government? Is the department to be
a public crib for those assembled by the
blatant calls of demagogues, or is it to
be a bureau where we shall r%ighteously
reward those who have become disabled
or In need by reason Of actual service to
the country?
The present administration has de-
termined that the latter system must
prevail. President Cleveland, whose
nerve has been shown on many occa-
sions when reform in public business
demanded leadership, will find able as
sistance from Commissioner Lochren.
Rules have been prepared for the
transaction of business in this depart
ment instead Of allowing it to become u
campaign bureau for the strengthening
of political parties as it has been in the
past. The Grand Army ought to get
squarely in line by resolutions and
otherwise, until the end of the present
administration shall see a pension de-
partment in keeping with the worth
and patriotism of the only ones entitled
In it's benefts.