The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-02-25
Pension Reform.
rrnm lhe paltimore sun.

Prom the Baltimore sun
The pension appropriation bill as it finally
passed the House of Representatives after
weeks protracted and stormy debate was
II orn of its Reform provisions and made
merely the vehicle for carrying nearly one
hundred and seventy million dollars OF the
neople's taxes to the more than one million
pensioners now upon the rolls. 1t was
brave and honest effort made by part OF the
Democratic members of the committee of
appropriatious to throw around the distribG-
tion Of this vast sum a few reasonable and
necessary safeguards, and TO make some be-
SHINING in that reform which all right-thinklng
men must desire in our pension system. But
thew encountered not only the solid and bitter
opposition Of the Republicans, but also a
large and equally bitter opposition IN the
Democratic membership Of the House. The
various amendments proposed by the COM
mittee or reported in their bull were uneere-
moniously kicked out of House nearly three.
fourths Democratic, which deliberately voted
against any change in the present extravagant
laws or the present wasteful, if not corrupt,
system of bureau administration. Its need
less to catalogue the Democrats who, by
speech or vote, resisted every reform, but ii
is sadly significant that among them were the
chairman Of the invalid pension committee.
and the chairman of the great appropriations
committee. Mr.. Holman has SO long courted
the reputation of being rigid economist,
scanning with keenest suspicion every petty
appropriation and cutting down with keenest
relish every petty salary. that We may be par
doned for pointing out his conspicuous apos
tacy and his utter aud ignominious deserton
of the interests OF the taxpayers to court the
favor of a few hundred or even few score
undeserving and fraudulent pensioners IN his
district. for there was nothing in the proposed
amendments that threatened the pension Of
any deserving applicant or any real soldier
An annual pension-reli-oi over million,
increasing at the rate OF fifteen TO twenty
thousand per month, and soon To call Tor a
yearly appropriation Of two hundred million
dollars, is n porientOus national scandal.
This sum is much larger than the pay rolls
of the great standing armies Of Germany and
France combined. 1t is more than the pay
roll of the Onion army during any year of
the war. Ii has been carried TO this huge
sum in no small measure by the concerted
efforts of a ring OF pension agents and pen
sion sharks at Washington stimulating the
various Grand Army posts and soldier organ
izaiions in the country TO constant pressure
upon their representatives in both houses
for new and profiigaie legislation. We have
not only professional soldiers in the country,
but professional soldier friends in Congress.
While the recent debate was IN progress the
COMMUNICATIVE chief fthe Grand Army OF the
Republic, in the guise of public letter OF re-
monstrance TO Representative y Neil, issued
his naughty proclamation iorbidding any re-
form in our pension system and throwing the
shield of his organization over the fraudulent
and unworthy no less than over the brave and
deserving ex-soldiers. Indeed, the idea has
l. hnl af AZ
who wore the uniform for few weeks,
whether in the field or IN the safety depart
msnts of the service, is entitled to be sup
ported by the taxpayers of the country for
the remainder of his natural lite. An
amendment seeking to limit the pensions
under what is known as the dependent pen
sion law, which has no reference to wounds
or disabilities incurred in the line of duty. 10
those who are in receipt of incomes OF less
than one thousand dollars year, was voted
down on yea and nay vote although the
average income of the laboring people of the
country who are taxed to furnish the pension
money is less than FIVE hundred dollars per
year.
The incoming administration has thus
another great and difficult duty TO perform.
1t must arrest the momentum of the system
aud seek TO introduce into II some protection
for the deserving and some protection
against the undeserviug- The country Will
look with almost as much interest to Mr..
Cleveland's commissioner Of pensions as 10
anv member Of his cabinet Ills believed by
| those who know best that the pension bureau
has been u political machine in all its his
| tory, but never so openly and VIGOROUSLY
as during the present administration. hen
| eral Rau.n has been enveloped in scandals,
I and his predecessor was uuequaled tor open
/ and reckless extravaganza. The country
needs first rigidly honest and business like
administration of the bureau and then such
I legislative reforms as will con6ne the eoun-
| trv's bounty to those who deserve 1t by rea
| SON of soldierly service and the disabilities
| incurred in such service, and exclude ironl
| that bounty the scores of thousands who saw
no real service and incurred no disabilities IN
eamp or on the battle field Mr.. hoke
I Smith, the new Secretary of the Interior. WAS
1 RICH, if he said, as reported, that pension re
/ form opened a field OF distinction and useiui-
ness not inferior 10 tariff REFORM he vii
enter upon that duty under many ditheuities
/ and disbursements, but he Will know WHERE
I 10 find few courageous and patriotic help
ens. While 50 many were oowardly and faith
/ les three Northern Democrats stood on
with conspicuous fdelity-ME. O'Neili, o
/ Massachusetts. Mr. Tarsney, of Missouri, Mr.
Nutehler. of Pennsylvania Mr.. Tarsney, :
/ veteran Union soldier, with many honorable
scars upon his body, declared ihas he wa
actnated by no higher patriotism or sympa
I thy for his brave comrades when he stooc
With them at Fredericksburg. ChaneellOrS
I vile or Geitysburg, or suffered with them a
/ AndersonyilIe. than in his effort 10 rest0r'
/ the pension roll 10 its true AMI honorahi'
purpose. Bnt the highest need OF praise i
ane To Mr.. Muiehler, who had control Of tE'
hill on the door. vas It's chief Trainer aud Dor,
The brunt OF the successful assaults upon 1t
His efforts were doomed to failure, but th'
( ability. patience and honest purpose he man
{ Tested stamp hin. as one of the Sturdiesi rep
resen,afiyes of his Commonwsalth, and a H'al
worthy of the respect OF all who admire eaar
/ age and conscience in the public service