The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-02
LEADING EDITORIALS.


From the st. Louis Post Dispatch.
PENSION LooT--Niore interesting to
tho American people than the statement
Of the enormous sum paid out in pensions
since the war Is the statement that the
lat Of pensioners is increasing, coupled
with the prediction that It may go above q
million.
That over $4,000, 100000 should have been
paid out for pensions is astounding, but
not so astounding as the statement that
thirty-two years inter the war the PEN
sioners number almost 100000 and that
the list is increasing. Surely within this
time the limit OF legitimate pensions ought
to have been reached. Is the privilege OF
drawing pensions on account OF military
service not only to be accorded to all who
carried muskets. but to the third and
fourth generation Of their descendants? Is
it 20 be accorded freely to greedy sharks?
Generosity to patriots is good thing,
but IL ought not TO be worked to death.
The substance Of the people ought not to
be wholly devoured In the name q pa
trlotigm. Something short OF a blanket
mortgage ought to satisfy the saviors OF
the country.
Liberal pensions to deserving old SOL
diers are proper and no citizen OF tho
United States objects to them. But 1t 10
notorious fact that large percentage OF
the pensions are political pensions and that
dishonest greed Is responsible for an enor-
nous proportion OF the pension burden.
The country has been the easy victim OF
pension sharks and halt ought 10 pc
called on the kind OF patriotism when ~
the ready resort of rascals to loot the Ma
tiopal till.
From the Philadelphia Record.
| NO STOP TO FEDERAL ExTRAvA-
| CANOE. --Congress has gone right on In
creasing appropriations and creating neS
| offices In spite of hard times. The appro-
| priations covering the last session OF tna
Fifty-fourth congress and the extra ses-
sion Of tho Fifty fifth were as follows:
General appropriation acts. 1897 100 ,3St
Deficiency actS...... ......... lV,ootitlY
Miscellaneous acts ............ 999057
------------
| IOtal..... ...... s..s..'..... SiVo'V'o'ooo
Permanent annual approprla-
| tiohs... ........... lzVuio'2zl
| Grand total at both sessions. s52S, 735,O7S
An official recapitulation also shows
| that "the number OF new offices and en-
Payments specifically authorized is 4lo
at an annual compensation Of $i43,i3O,
| and the number omitted 1874, at an annual
|
crease OF 276 In number and $2So,ii2 in
amount. The number of salaries increaBed
| Is twenty at an annual cost OF SbSlA, ana
tho number reduced two. at an annual
ccst OF 500. The total amount of contracts
authorized requiring future appropriations
| by congress Is 81, 269 ,375."
| In the light of these cold facts the peo-
plo can properly estimate the platform
protestations, the newspaper whining and
| the oratorical 1amentation Of the party
responsible for the conduct of tho govern
ment, because OF business distress, low
| wages and the suffering Of the poor. They
| crack on the taxes, add to the army OF
placeholders and mortgage in advance the
future revenues of the Nation as IL gold
| were scattered everywhere In the country
In Klondike profision to be had for the
mere STOPPING TO get 1t!
| From the Chicago Record.
PRICE or BREAD IN FRANCE.--The
story OF Marle Antoinctte's asking why
the people did not eat cake II they had
no bread may not be true, but 1t typifed
tho lack of intelligence of the peoples
needs on the part OF the old regime.
Yet even today, and under republican
rule. France has bread question. While
the high price OF wheat has brought pros
and the other countries of Europe are See
ing the reverse side OF prosperity's shield.
The partial failure OF tho wheat crop
abroad. and especially In France has made
the price Of bread question OF interest
to millions Of people, Discussing the adj
vance In the price consequent upon the
rise OF wheat. the Parts Figaro says THE
political side OF the question dominates
the economic side. There arc two possible
! solutions of the questionable state to fix
a maximum price for bread or the govern.
ment TO reduce the customs dutles.''
Evidently the Figaro does not consider
that the government can or will fix the
maximum price of bread. and 1t warns
| Premier Meline that 1t Is inadmisible fol
, him to allow himself to be called the
"dear-b bread minister" To make matters,
: worse, the price of beans, potatoes, peas
: etc. has also risen. and 1t is probable
&. that Nj. Meline, who Is sometimes callel
S the French Mckinley" will be compelled
: 10 consider the ACCESSIBILITY of the free al
6 mission Of cereals. Even In England, with
4 free corn. bread has risen u penny a
4 quarter loaf In London. and is expected te
: rise | penny
a The absurdity Of the government levyins
duty on grain under the present clrcum,
4 stances In France is apparent to every one
. but the government and the small farmers
n NJ Meline Is placed in hard straits. II
give the people cheaper bread seems i'm
= peratiVe, but II VIII cost him tho supper
o OF the thick and thin protectionists. with
whom theory weighs more than facts
People may submit to be taxed more 10
/. their clothes or their Injuries to demon
= strnto an economic theory, but when n
% comics to bread theories are likely 10 &,
! 10 the wall, as they did In England dur
70 ing the corn law agitation.
: From the Pittsburg tPa.) Dispatch.
y BRITISH RULE IN INDIA-Those trou
y hies in India whether inspired by religion
or race prejudice, or by the intrigue o
Is sultan. car or ameer--all OF which causes
= euriousiy. ara assigned for them-wil b
n put down surely enough by the Brltis
,e government. whose arm is both stron
10 and relentless in crushing rebellion. Blu
= when that is sad 1t must be admitted tina
q the uprising now Is but foreshadowin
of the future day when the native Indian
must be allowed to govern themselves