The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-01-12
4 Pension veto yindicated.

On the 18th of january, 1887, the chairman
Of the committee on invalid pensions moved
to suspend the rules and pass what was known
as s.the dependent pension bill. and the
motion was carried by vote of $50 yeas TO
g nays. Ten days later the Senate passed
the same bill without division. On the 18th
Of February, 1887, President Cleveland re-
turned the bill to the House with his veto,
which was sustained on the 9th of that month
by a vote of lis yeas to 125 nays-less than
the necessary two-thirds IN the affirmative.
Early in the Harrison administration a simi-
lar measure was brought forward pushed
through Congress, and approved by the Pres
ident on the 9th of June. 1890. The law has
now had a four years trial, and it is interest
ing to contrast its practical operation with the
theories of its advocates.
Only half an hour was allowed for debate
of the original bill in the House. and not much
more time was given in the Senate. As 10
the crucial question of cost, the chairman of
the committee reporting it explained that it
was intended simply to reach the cases OF
those former soldiers who were in distress
Ito take from the poorhouSes of the country
the soldiers who have honoraby served their
country" As to the number of such soldiers
the commissioner of pensions had made IN
quiries Of the authorities in every county in
the United States, and on the basis of returns
from half of them, he estimated that there
were 1854 persons dependent upon organ
lied charities in the several states and terri
tories who would become pensioners under
this bill. These inquiries the committee had
supplemented by an investigation of their own
as TO those who were the recipients of private
relief from persons who were not legally bound
for their support, which led them to fix the
number at Il, sos. They also added $3.50 rs
representing those then drawing smaller pen
si0ns who might get larger ones under the
new system. $50 that the grand total, said
Mr. Matson, ''of those who are to be benefited
By the passage of this bill is estimated by the
committee, from the best available sources, to
be 80. 105 persons, at an annual expense of
SI44 each. or a total aggregate of 4,767, l20
per aunum. This was for the soldiers Of the
Union army in the civil war The bill also
embraced those who were engaged in the Semi
mole and Black Hawk Indian wars and the
Mexican war 4 liberal estimate tor these
latter classes was thought to he - per cent.
Of the benefeiaries from the Union army.
This would carry the total number of pension
ers under the bill up to about $4,000, and lit
would still require less than S6,0o0.000 per
annum to pay the expenses Of all the pensions
provided for in the bill Mr., Matson con
Guided
This then Mr. Speaker is not only broad and
philanthropic measure. but Il Is reasonable and
conservative proposition lis not Wild and Is not
exuavagant"
The advocates Of the bill ii the Senate
talked in the same strain. at Is simply de
signed to empty the almshouses, said Mr..
Blair Of New Hampshire; 1T does not pur-
pose to reach anybody else. NJ Platt of
Connecticut said that he would vote for the
bin because he was gong to take the least
driblet of relief which IS filtered across from
the other end of the capitol, but that be
would much prefer to go further
President Cleveland in his veto pointed out
that. instead Of being restricted to those who
were dependent upon public aud private rehei-
the bin was practically service pension bail,
since almost any former soldier who claimed
to be in need of pension could secure It
under the loose provisions Of the measure.
BE declared that .'there can be no doubt that
the race after the pensions offered BY this bill
would not only stimulate weakness and pre-
tended ineapacity for labor. but put further
premium on dishonesty and mendacity. Tie
showed from our early history thai this bad
happened in the case of similar legislation oB
account Of the Revolutionary war. WheR
service pension was voted IN 1915, the n8in-
Der OF Revolutionary soldiers who eoHld draw
il WAS estimated a. only SI4, aud the cost at
but so. 600. while the number actually allowed
was 70. ass. and the cost for the first year ST.
S47, 900. After stating these arguments and
figures. be proceeded:
s.ffnone should he peusloned under this bill eN-
cept these utterly unable 70 work am - ticd that
the cost stated IN the estimate Of the chairman 81
the House committee would b. many times multi.
piled. and with y constant INCREASE from year e
year; ami Il those partially unable - earn their
support should he admitted o. the privileges Of fhs
hin, the probable lncrcasc ~ expense would te
almost appalling
Never was a vote that was afterwards over
ridden more completely indicated. The act
Of Isme p. 1890, which WAS practically The
same as the one which Mr. Cleveland bad
temporarily blocked three years before,
.'broaght an avalanche Of Claims saws the
commissioner of pensions IN his last report.
the number Of applications jumping FROM i05,-
GA IA the preceding year to 363, 10 ia the
next twelve months. 'sfhc output 81 eeFtli
cafes. he adds, was for time phenomenal.
Within four years pensions had been granted
under this act to as, 344 persons. instead II
the IS 600 estimated. and the end IS not vet.
The increase in expenditure was not hess
startling. The disbursements of the Pension
Bureau, which had been $50. l3i Dos for the
wear preceding the passage Of the law, jumped
within four years to SIS. la5.942. Fer years
10 come the country viii be called upon 10 pay
more than SEQ, 000,0O0 annually on account Of
this reasonable and conservative PROPOSE I
lion. which was 60 .'reqnire less than 81,
000.s00 per annHm.
Nor IS the almost appalling increase Of ex
pense which Mr.. Cleveland predicted the
worst feature Of the legislation Il has also
stimulated weakness and pretended incapacity
for labor. pui a premium on dishonesty aud
done more than anything else to make the
pension roll no longer what It should be-. roll
Of honor.