Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09
Our Heavy Pension List.

from the 81. Paul Chlnn.) t1oneer-PresS.
When Americans-however patriotic and
however willing to indulge the sentiment OF
gratitude toward the men who periled life,
health, and the welfare of their families in
the nations defeEse-contemplate the Still
swelling aggregate Of our pension rolls, now
mounting toward $15O000,OOO annually, they
may be pardoned If they seem inclined to
assume questioning attitude as to wheth-
er all the legislation under which that i'm
mense outlay Is being made has been suf-
ficiently well considered. This attitude has
become more and more pronounced since 1t
is seen that thousands of young widows are
being added to the rolls, to take the place
of the veterans who are dropping off, and
whose pensions. which are for life, seem
likely to prolong for another full genera
ton large part of the national burden
hitherto so patiently borne. The bold stand
taken by the present commissioner of pen
sions in Directing to this class of benefici-
aries is looked upon with general commend.
alton. While the people are willing-nay
eager-to save from want the women who
sent their husbands into the field in the
critical days Of the Sixties" they cannot
easily discern what claim the woman who
has married an ex-soldier long after the
war ended can have upon the nation. Mar
rying a veteran for the sake of getting q
pension-a practice which has now become
common-cannot be classed among the acts
of patriotism for which pensions are usually
bestowed.
While in this critical mood, people are
also inclined to push the question little
further. and to ask on what ground the
government should continue the payment
of pensions to people who plainly do not
need them. Especially, why should prosper
Gus and well-to-do men, in business and in
the professors, draw an annual stipend
from the government while other veterans
who served their country equally well,
or better. but who now find 1t hard work
to make living. receive nothing whatever
because no rebel bullet happened to hit
them, or because their health remained SO
good that they were able to serve their
country to the end of the war without con.
tracing disabling or even a constructive.
ly disabling disease?
If the pension rolls were cleared, first OF
the names OF all individuals who are in
no need of aid from the government to
enable them to live In comfort. and Sec
ordiy of all widows who have married vet
Grams since the war, the enormous burden
OF pensions which the American people are
now bearing would be vastly reduced-so
much reduced THAT the nation could per.
hapS then spare something with which 10
sweeten the last days and perhaps save
from the almshouse some splendid soldiers
who did grand service. but were not lucky
enough to "get hit" while doing IT.
There Is no doubt that the larger portion
OF the men now receiving pensions were
good soldiers. We are glad to admit thai
all OF them have deserved well Of the gov
that pensions should be bestowed. not to
match deserts. but to relieve necessities
Where no necessity for relief exists the
claims OF the man who was hit by q bullet
or injured by disease in the service are nd
greater than that of his comrade who
fought equally well and perhaps longer, but
who went through the war without getting
hit and with his health unimpaired And
It Is matter of common notoriety that "A
almost every neishborhood there are men
who were inefficient soldiers, but who are
now rich, who are receiving pensions from
the government. while men who were good
soldiers. but who are now poor, receive
nothing. AL well-to-do ex-soldiers ought
now to be willing to consent to q readjust-
L1ent. Let some honorary medals be struck
Their pensions.