The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-19
VOL. 80
STRAY SHOTS
Iopics Of interest, Here, There, and
Everywhere.

about extravaganza IN granting pen
sons, we clip the following from the
Philadelphia Times.
Our pensions paid since the close
of the war in 1865 to the close of the
fiscal year, 1907, aggregate $a,oo4,-
I7a,S4I.
The entire cost of maintaining the
army and navy during the four years
of our civil war was only $3,oa7,793,-
zoI. or about one-third more than
has been paid in pensions since the
war closed. 1t is reasonable to assume
that on our present pension basis the
country will pay more for pensions
than it paid for the entire cost of four
years of war.
A generation after the war closed,
tie number of pensioners on the pay
roll of the government is nearly $780,
ooc larger than the number Of soldiers
and sailors actually engaged in the
war at any one time from its begin
ming to Its close.
If these pensions were entirely
honest there would be less discomfort
among those who pay the cost OF
them. but it is well-known fact that
very large portion of them are dis.
honest, and tens Of millions are paid
annually to those who rendered nc
special service to the government and
have no just claim upon its bounty
for pensions. The one important
duty the soldiers of the country have
not performed to themselves is that o
purging the pension list of bummer'
and pretenders.
1t is claimed now that the new
rules were not adopted by the Demo
cratic county convention last week
The rules can be changed only by
o-thirds vote of the convention
The ballots used at the delegate elec
ton contained at the bottom plac
for the voter to express his choice G
the manner Of nominating, either b
the delegate system or by the highes
vote, but there was not full vote o
the question, many of the voters fal
ing to express choice. There ar
many other changes IN the new rule
on which there was no expression I
choice, and no place on the balle
where choice could be indicated
This expression Of choice by tn
voters was not binding on the col
vention, but merely to indicate tt
wish of the people, and the delegate
were free to vote as they pleased.
appears from the proceedings that
vote was taken by the convention
the change of rules. A motion w
made and seconded that the ne
rules be adopted. Some discusslt
followed, and then without putting Il
question to vote, chairman Kshlnl
announced that as the vote at Il
polls was overwhelmingly in favor o1
change, the new rules were adopte
The rule in force at the time of Il
action is as follows:
"These rules or any one or more
them may be altered, amended,
rescinded at any regular convent
by 7Ote of tzo0 Miras Of the aoH
number Of delegates to tie eon1'enh0'
AS there was no vote at all by t
delegates, it may become a seric
question whether the rules have be
changed, and whether the nominate
next year of President Judge, Senat
Congressman, and Representatlv
are to be made under the old or
new rules.
1t is in no spirit of quibbling MOI
opposition to the new rules that tn
remarks are made, but because
believe it would be dangerous pre-
dent to establish that the long exist
rules of the party can be changed
some other way thar that present.
by the rules themselves.
A communication on this subJet
printed on another page.
(lentralia's Room.