The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-26
Measure That Provides for SendinQ
Old Soldiers TO the POOr-HOuse.
Action Taken at the Suggestion Of Cleveland
1t Is Said. That Will Deprive Pensioners
of at Least $120, ,000, 900 Year.
Secretary Fosters Exhibit of the Condi<
tiOn of Government Finances.
Bankruptcy Bill Filibustsred to Death In the
House--Jndgs McCOmas Confirmed After
Long and Spirited Debate.
SCHEME TO ROB PENSIONERS.

SCHEME TO ROB PENSIONERS.
Democrats Want to Take the Soldiers Pit .
tance Away and Reduce the Tariff
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25.-Mr. Cleveland'a
probable plan to reduce the pension liss
and to deprive many thousands of veterans
of the reward they are now receiving or
expect from the national treasury for their
loyalty is indicated by the legislation
threatened III the forthcoming pension ap-
preparation bill This bill is still in the
hands of a subcommittee of the appropri-
ations committee. and it Is understood that
the action of the subcommittee is in ac-
cordance with suggestions made by the
President-eIect Probably the announce
ment at this time of the proposed
action of this subcommittee Is put forth
at Mr. Clevelands suggestion. in order
to test public opinion upon tie subject.
The general purpose of the proposed
changes in the pension law, which, of
course. cannot be enacted during this Con-
gress, will be to strike from the pension
list all persons except three classes. COM
prlsing those who were wounded in action,
who contracted disease directly In the
service, and who are actually paupers.
This sweeping proposition would. in the
opinion of Mr.. Cleveland and his advisers.
reduce the annual expenses on account Of
pensions from nearly s1S0. .O0O. 900 to between
$4,000. .0OO and sec. 100000. a reduction OF al
least s120, 0,O0O.O 900. Such q reduction as this
would give the tariff rev isionists wide lati-
tude In their work OF cutting customs
duties In such way as TO reduce revenues.
Although such sweeping proposition as
AE.ar .hs NJ. nnA faA
with suggesting cannot become law at
once. some other propositions which the
subcommittee havs agreed upon may be
forced to enactment in order TO save the
pension appropriation bill from defeat
The committee will recommend that no
person living abroad shall receive a PEN
sion unless actually disabled; that no per-
son able to earn a living. or whose income
reaches 5000 year, shall derive any benes
ut from the dependent pension act. and
that no eoldier's widow, who was married
to the soldier after 1870. shall receive pen.
sion.
POLITICAL CAPITAL COMMISSION.
The bill will also provide for q commits
sion to spend the summer examining the
pension-roll for improperly allowed" PEN
sions. 1t is this proposed commission
which will be relied upon to create ell the
political capital possible during the sum.
mer and to take preliminary steps toward
the sweeping reductions which the incom.
ing administration will try to coerce the
Fifty-third Congress into making. The
bill, framed by the majority of the sub
committee, also does away with pension
agencies throughout the country. and pro.
vides for payment OF pensions by check di-
rectly from the Treasury Department..
abolishes examinations of applicants by
surgeons, and provides for the appointment
of $50 special examiners TO hereafter make
examinations.
Representative O'Neill, of Massach usetts.
speaking for the Democratic members and
their reasons for making the proposed
changes. said: There Is no disposition on
the part of the majority of this House to
take pension away from a man who de-
serveslt: from any man who became dis.
abled while In the Union army. The
country wants the pension list reduced,
but IL does not want a single worthy pen.
sioner stricken from the rolls 1t seems to
the committee that certain persons were
entitled to pensions. First, the wife Who
patriotically allowed her husband to leave
her behind to battle for his country; Sec
ond. tie father and mother who, dependent
on their sons support, allowed him TO 60
TO the front; third, there were m any men
between the ages OF sixteen and tw enty-hvo
who went to the front who left the girls
they were engaged to behind them. and
these women who patriotlcaily allowed
their lovers to go to the war and married
them after they came home seemed 60 the
OO0mlttee Also 10 % eDtltl6Q 10 rcu6lOQ.
But it should stop there"
Nr. Grout. of Vermont. one of the two Re-
publican mem bers of the esub-committee said:
The Repub bllcan minority IN against these
amendments and will oppose them in both
committee and In the House. The PROPOSE
tion TO do away with the examining boards
and have the work now done by them done
by examiners will be practically impos-
sible. Ii is only another way of stopping
the settlement of claims. except TIE large
numb ber that are already on the completed
files. In regard to the amenCment relating
to soldiers widows. the question at once
arises why don't they make that PROPOSE
tion applicable to the Mexican pensioners.
That amendment applies only TO the PEN
slonere of the late war, and works no re-
suriction TO the widows of Mexican veter-
ans nor to pensioners In Indian wars. With
reference to the other amendments. they are
all designed to limit and embarrass the al-
lowance of pensions TO those who did serv-
ice in the late war. and are simply an at
tack upon the pension system as applicable
to those alone who helped save the Union"
STATE OF THE REVENUES.
In connection with the attempt TO rob
pensioners so that free trade may be foisted
on the country, the statement as to the
condition of the treasury made by Secre-
tary Foster to-day becomes of immediate
interest. This statement is furnished To
Chairman Springer. of the ways and means
committee for the information of the men,
bers Of that committee who are investigst-
ing the condition of the treasury. Secre-
tary Foster states that during the first six
months of the present fiscal year the re-
ceIpts from all sources were s234. .il9.2l5,
and the expenditures $3.50. 57l .00i. leaving
an excess OF revenues over ordinary ex-
penditures of S3 s4s 209. The cash In the
treasury. including gold reserve. July l,
1892, was Sl32. l43.4!6. and on Dec. 81.
1892. S129. .0e2, 5SS. The total estimated
revenues for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1893. are Si66. ca, $50. and the total
estimated expenditures S464. ca. $50. lesv-
ing an estimated surplus of receipts over
expenditures for the current fiscal year OF
exactly s.. .0o0OO The estimated cash bal
ance available June 30, 1898. is placed ae
1920 992. .377. which includes $1,000 900 for
the gold reserve fund.
For the next fiscal year. ending June SO,
4S94, the Secretary estimates that the reve-
nu-s from all sources VIII amount to $780,
12l 365 and the estimated expenditures.
which however. do not appear 20 include
miscellaneous and extraordinary ex-
penditures. TO sI57 261 3S5 or an estimated
surplus of S32 SCI, $50. To this the Secre-
tary adds the 500 e97. s77 cash balance above
the gold reserve estimated to be available
June 3d. 1898. making an estimated avail
able balance on June 30. 1894. of So. So. .407.
from which must be deducted S5.OO0.0U0 for
REDEEM ption of past-due bonds. fractional
currency aud national bank notes. aud Sl.-