Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-09
the PEOPLES MONEY.


have set as that which Is to be saveti In tnls
years appropriations, meaning that the
amount appropriated is to be that much
less than last years, but the more ardent
reforiners speak Of making it someSs O00,U o
greater. OF this amount sl5,000,0O is al
ready saved in the appropriation for pen
sions and $ooO, 600 in that for the District Of
Columbia. as an expectant public has al
ready been informed.
For the immediate future the subcom-
mittees declare that they will save in the
sundry civil bill y, 1000 900 and in the In
dian appropriations at least 81 900. 600 more.
On the river and har Or bill there is always
3 hot fight, and, adds a Democratic mem
per, there will be an unusual and terrific
ally hot fight this year, especially by those
who have no rivers or harbors in their dis
tricts. We are always patriotic and eco
nomical, but on this subject this year we
will come out particularly strong" How
ever, whatever amount is appropriated
must be subtracted from the general esti-
innate of saving, for there was no river and
harbor bill last year.
Struggle on Pensions.
Fortifcations come first on the calendar
and the subcommittee admits that nothing
be considerable pressure for an increase.
Next come pensions, and although there
will be a sharp struggle, OF course, for it is a
subject ON which patriots can enlarge with
eloquence, and watchdogs of the treasury
have considerable latitude, yet the discus
sion will be much less heated than one
might expect In fact, the time seems to
have come when the appropriation for pen
sions, owing to natural causes, can be
steadily and perhaps even rapidly reduced
without injustice.
The District of Columbia appropriations
come next, and the saving, as aforesaid, is
--iall The most sanguine hope to finish
all these and the sundry civil bill this
month or very early next. In the naval ap-
preparations there will certainly be no de-
crease, say the members, and possibly a
considerable increase, to which they add
that of course there will be no decrease in
the diplomatic, army and postoffice appro-
priatOns.
The Demand For More.
Al yhe close of the last calendar year
there were only 100 more pensioners on the
roll than ON the LIST of July preceding, and
the annual value of pensions had increased
not quite $4,000. In short, the deaths Of
old soldiers, marriages or deaths of widows
and the maturity of orphans now make
room for nearly as many new pensions as
the Office with its present force can grant.
The average age of Union soldiers at mus
ter out was a little less than % years. 1t is
now, therefore, little more than SO years.
The average age at which pensioners have
died is but trif1e over Sc years.
The conclusion is obvious. OF course
this does not imply that all the pensioners
are to die within the next three years, but
it does mean that decrease in their number
will henceforth continue with increasing
rapidity. 1t seems somewhat cold blooded
to calculate the deaths of the veterans, but
the people will take an interest in anything
that affects the payment of the public
money.
So much for the hopes Of the economical
members of the committee But just outside
the door awaits an eager-one might say Il
clamorous-crowd demanding more. Each
one says. of course, that economy is neces
sary, but the particular interest he repre-
sents simply must be dealt with literally.
Among the most modest are the grand
irrigators, who will try to make out for the
present with hundred millions or so to
StdTU bHC SICdO W iuCl WOIN III Vic iuOuu-
famous and arid west. They say that by a
truly national and comprehensive scheme
it will take only 81, 200, 000, 600 to redeem an
area of as many acres, and they ought to
have 500, 0O0,0 this year, but would try
to put up with $50, 900, 600 as starter.
There is also tremendous pressure for
more for the navy. The promoters Of In
dian education always want more. BY the
economical law of diminishing returns"
the fewer wild Indians there are the more
money is needed to take care of each In
dian and educate each Indian child. Many
other schemes call for a few millions each,
and there are still few of New Hampshire
Blair supporters who hope for appropria-
tions for negro schools.
Personnel of the Committee.
All these have their respective members
of the committee sized up, and each mans
character as seen by his beseeching constitu-
ents is set down in very plain English, some
thing like this: Joe Sayers, says an admir-
ing Texan, has great deal to say about the
labor ne does. Whenever you get at him he is
lust worked to death He is as ambitious
as Lucifer and so anxious to make An eco
nomical showing. He is decidedly not gen
erous at present. Alex Dockery is on the
same lay. Both represent agricultural dis
tricts, and that is dead agin' us. Dockery,
though, is national banker and free sill
yer man, and doesn't that show that there
is something queer about him? set him
down as emphatically not generous this
year"
Joe Cannon, many Of the lobbyists say,
was close when he was chairman, but now
that he is in the minority they expect him
to be very liberal. Robertson, the .Loui-
siana member, is described as "a great big
generous man, brave as lion and fond O.
brave pursuits" In his vacation he hunts
bear in the csnebrake He also wants a
stiff tariff on sugar, and all the applicants
expect him to be generous. Williams of
Illinois also represents an agricultural dis
trict and is set down as distressingly doubt
full. In general way he is very moderate,
cautious and judicial.
Henderson of Iowa is generous, especial
ly in pensions, navy and Notifications; but,
unfortunately alike for his state and the
nation, he is now enduring terrible suffer-
ing by reason of leg lost during the war
and is disabled from work. Livingstone of
Georgia is set down as generous when he
van politically afford it, but he is a big
farmer, and the third party is strong in his
district, and at present, therefore. he is
strictly economical. Messrs. Dingley and
Grout of Maine and Vermont, respectively,
4 II