The times., 1898-01-03
BILL TO PRUNE PENSIONS.

Congress is to be asked to pass a bill
which will, in the future, prevent en-
ployes of the Government from draw
ing O pension while they are on the
Governments salaried list. This pro-
posed legislation has been brought
about by the notorious abuse of the
pension laws, under which a pension
list of nearly one million persons has
been created, and which is still grow
ing at an astounding rate.
Friends of the proposed legislation
insist that the time has arrived when
some check must be placed on the pen
sion office. They believe that all de-
serving persons entitled to receive a
pension should have it, but they do not
think that such deserving persons are
the ones that the Government is pay
ing large salaries for little work. There
is a large list of such pensioners, men
like General Henderson, of Iowa, and
General GrosVenor, Of Ohio. who each
receive $4,000 a year as members of the
House OF Representatives, and at the
same time draw large pensions
1t is claimed by the friends of the bill
that II was never the intention of the
Government to pay pensions to those
who do not need them, but only to per-
sons who received injuries during the
war which permanently affect them
and render them physically unable to
perform CERTAIN work.
As an example OF the abuse of the
pension law, there is a watchman at
the Pension Office who was shot in the
face. This man receives q pension of
$50 a month and salary OF $40
month, and his case is by no means
an isolated one, for there are hundreds
of such in this city.
But the object of the bill is not so
much to reach men of this character
as il is TO hold in check the wealthy
pensioners like GIosvenor and Hender-
son and hundreds of others. 1t is not
professed that these gentlemen are not
legally entitled to a pension, but it is
asserted that when the Government
pays them large salaries they do not
need the pension, and, therefore, should
not receive il.
The bill in question provides that
when a pensioner becomes Govern
ment employe his pension shall cease
to run, but as soon as the employe
loses his position and salary the pen
sion shall begin again.
The enormous amount of the pension
appropriation has created general de-
nnnciation and from every section of
the country the demand for retrench-
ment is being made, but it is exceed
ingly doubtful if Congress needs the
cry and enacts legislation that viii
have the effect OF keeping down the
pension appropriation.
Among the men prominently con-
nected with the pension service who do
not want TO see the proposed bill be-
come a law is Commissioner Evans.
He said last night that he was in favor
of any measure that would do away
with the fraudulent practices in the
Pension Department, but he does not
favor a bill which Will prevent pen,
sioner from drawing his pension, SIM
ply because he is an employe OF the
Government. Mr.. Eavns was under the
impression that such legislation as is
contemplated cannot be obtained. He
readily admitted that it was, in his
opinion, wrong for rich men, or those
enjoying large incomes, To receive 4
pension, but he could not understand
how the proposed change in the law
could get rid of this evil without injur-
ing a poorer but equally deserving
class of pensioners, and he does not
believe that the many poor men should
suffer because OF the few rich ones who
draw pensions.