The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-12
WRDNEsDAY.JAN. u. 1898.
q Great Public Question.

q is no. declared and repeated. that
me $lA1 ,0eO. 600 votsd BY the super
servicelble republican house for pen
sicns for another peay, will not do. bu'
sbas reilly $3.50 o.00o viii be re-
quired. Leading northern newspapers
so contend. The Messenger some two
or three weeks ago. stated that it would
s-aau!rs net less than $l48. 00o. 900.
Bss i seems that 30 great sum as that
81 far tco little. and that 1000. 900
sddisional will be required-in all
$l9. 900. 900 more than the very obli-
ging house voted away
As.to any possible reduction Of the
disgrsesfal pension burden. It is the
ether uay How can you cut down
expenditures when shere are anxious
denagogues ready to place any sort Of
sf tax npeu the honest people to swell
ths sums granted and to enlarge the
Iii 81 psnsion saokersl 10 less than
nina months nearly Il. 600 new names
sera addad 10 the roll Of pension draw
Nov there are nearly or quite
600 900 applicants. and that. too. In
1928 nearly thirty three years since
tke great war ended.
Bas not only Is the great snm :ndi-
estsd % be demanded, but reputable
snorshsrn papers say the expenditures
must iseresse, aud continue to iDoresse
&c yeafs to come. Astounding aud
noss rsscally If true, and ne doubt it
not Il IS believed thas tens Of thous-
|snasof the 600. 600 applicants Will end
their Hay b coD1iyance Of corrupt
nsmbers of congress into the roll and
sshns into the pockets of the people.
Tho 2 Philadelpbis Times says that ..uD-
Iess there shall be prompt and vigorous
measures 20 revise on peDsion liss and
nake i Z roll Of honor. as !: should be.
lie cost Of pensions must increase for
some pears to come. as there are huns
dreds Of sbousanda Of applications nov
pending for new pensions =
Some Of the republican organs are
nask moved ii she talk about pensions
aud the ides Of publishing to the coun.
Elry Tue names of all the pension draw.
ers This shonld be done, and no hon.
.ess newspaper or citizen or pensioDer
Ill obisot. The rascals may squirm
'and abuse the congress. The present
soa Is loaded With frauds. The whole
iiss should be revised thoroughly from
6eginni1g 20 end. Not ecoundrel or
fsauanl.nt blood od-sucker should be left
snpoa il TO degrade the whole business
and disgust the country at large We
quote ag ain from The Times
This revision mast come, and it is
idle 70 discass it unless it be to propose
sonesneshod for . thorough revision TO
:eiininale tie frandulers and unworthy
pensioners of the country.
How IS psDsion reform to come ?
Is unst come IN some way. OF if our
pspsion laws shau not be revised in the
inseress of iaseeri'y,aud the hoacr of
oar pensioners. there is danger of
sseeping sevulsion against our whole
pension system that wonld ssrikesfar be-
yoDd the lines of justice
Its certainly full tine that pension
srsnds and robberies should stop.
sHnncreds of millions have been drawn
from the psople under this system Of
iafamons frauds. There are great
naDy northern ofioe holders. With
good pay. who are drawing peosicns
Is shas the design Of the pension eys-
rem Are rich men aud officials With
good salaries 10 be amoog the heart
lees v.mpircss The Times is fair
enough TO admit that this practice is
vroog. and. it ssys that ''soldiers are
preferred BY Law 10 all the northern
states and by the uation in obtaining
and holding Official positions, and suoh
compensation should certainly be ac-
cepsed in lieu Of pension when a col
dier receives Office or employment"
Il also calls attention to those who
live at the soldiers home. but who