St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-16
CHAMPIONS OF ExTRAvAGANCE.

The Republican party would not be
true to its own record if it did not use
the power which it now possesses in
the lower house Of congress: to further
additional extravaganza in the conduct
of this government. 1t is to the action
of that party in the Fifty-second con-
gress that we owe the deficit in the
treasury, and the permanent enlarge
ment of federal appropriations to the
figure which won for it the title of
"the billion-dollar congress-" That
spirit is dominant in its councils today.
The debate going on over the pension
appropriation bill brings this out in
the strongest light The Republicans
who are doing the speech-making there
are all engaged in the old, familiar
game Of playing for the soldiers vote.
1t is amazing to find the representa-
tives of people who are already taxed
more than they ought to bear, and who
have already exhibited toward the sur
vivors Of the War of the Rebellion a
generosity unparalleled in the annals
of history, urging that there be added
to our already extraordinary expendi-
lures for pensions new provisions that
will not only increase the sum total,
but that will prevent any reasonable
reduction of it for the best part of a
century to come.
We say this advisedly The record of
Snnc ORC nj cd 70 n of
diers in the American revolution shows
that this particular form of pension
stretches out indefinitely 1t makes
evident the fact that the soldiers wild
ow, when that soldier is entitled to a
pension, is a person Of financial fore
sight and most extraordinary longev-
ity. One question before the house is
whether a soldiers widow should be
entitled to continue to draw a pension
when she is possessed of sufficient
means to insure her an independent
support. 1t is amazing that such a
question should be raised. 1t could not
have existed but for the administration
of the dependent pension act of 1890, by
which the aid Of the government has
not only been extended to soldiers
without adequate means Of support.
but has been given recklesaIy and in
discriminatory to those drawing big
salaries or possessed of fortunes of
their own.
1t is now proposed that the same
rule be extended to soldiers widows.
BY this, every pensioner who, in his
old age, finds any young woman will
ing to accept his name will thereby fix
upon the treasury the burden Of an
annual gratuity to her as long as she
may live, although she may have a
fortune in Der own right, or marry.
otter his death, g. man worth thou-
sands or millions. This Is q squander-
ing OF the peoples money for which
there is no reason or excuse. Side by
Side with 1T goes the proposition to
take from the proper officers the power
to scrutinize effectively the pen
sion list, with a view Of elm
mating fraud. If this policy were
TO be adopted, nothing but a
suit brought and carried successfully
Through tho courts could drop from
the rolls fraudulent claimant upon
the peoples bounty.
We think that the Republican party
now, as once before, Ia making too
4arge a draft upon the charity and
forgiveness Of the voters Of this coun-
try. There was a time when man.
alfaetured reports Of Southern out
RACES could be relied upon to "fre
the popular heart" We remember
when one candidate believed that
''thsre was ono more president in the
bloody shirt" Fhe time has not yet
passed when there are those who be-
aisye that there is enc more president
lin tbs f1ohibitery protective tariff,
Evidently there are representatives in
congress wias think that there Is ene
more president ia a demand for threw
Ing wide open the doors Of the Treas
HFY ts everybody wha THINKS that hs
would iiEs to draw a pension: But the
opinion Of the peeRie has had tina is
EefR "a eaal Judgment On this issts.
RAd tbs size Of euR annual psasiaf as