The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-01-01
The Pensions. 8.

The Pensions.
The deficit under the Dingley bill is
not only worrying the Republican lead
ers more than they like to admit, but
the fact is staring them in the face that
a deficit is likelv 10 continue indefinitely
unless the whole protection theory is
abandoned. American manufacturers
are mere and more every year supplying
the wants OF the American people with
out reference to the tariff and even COM
petinR with the foreigners on the lat
ter's own soil. The GRAPHIC pointed
this out before Mckinley was elected
and predicted at that time q fiat failure
Of any purely protective tariff bill as a
revenue raiser. The imports are falling
constantly aud the exports increasing.
The dilemma has set the Republican
leaders to work OH new line for them
economy in public expenditures, and
they are now looking for some way Of
cutting down tho four hundred odd
millions for persions-a sum greater
than all the other expenditures Of the
government combined. Commissioner
Evans wants the government to publish
the pension list for one thing. He
claims OH the one hand that such q list
would reveal the fallary OF the charge SO
generally made that the pension Gusi-
ness is filled with fraud and on the
other that published list OF every pen
siOner, the amount drawn and the disa-
bilitY, would unparth the frauds that do
exist. The latter ls his real reason for
wanting the list made public. 1t would
cost something like $203.0O0 to publish
the pension list, but the commissioner
thinks the government would save that
sum many times over in unearthlng the
frauds.
The GRAPHIC has always held that the
pension money was about all that the
people got back for the tremendous indl-
rect taxation paid and on that account
has never been overmuch troubled about
the amount Of the pensions. 1t has been
of the opinion, that the money might
better be expended that way than in
constructing costly navy that would
be comparatively useless possibly when
needed and in other forms Of public ex-
travagance. The fact remains, however,
tnat the pension list has grown to
alarming proportions, even to the warm
est friends OF the old soldiers, and in
stead Of decreasing thirty-three years
after the close of the rebellion, is actu-
ally increasing. We have hot the exac}
figures at hand, but in round numbers
those on the pension roll outnum-
bers the actual survivors by over
5000. But this isn't the worst of it
half a million more are trying to get
on the list. The pension list extends into
every hook and corner OF the laud and
directly benefits financially nearly a
million persons and indirectly many
times that number. When 10 this is
added strong public sentiment grow
ing out OF a desire that the old soldier
suffering from any disability incurred
n thu defense OF his country. and those
dependent upon him, should receive
substantially OF the public largess, it is
no wonder that the pension system has 2
firm hold OIL tho peOple--so firm in fact
that the party that seriously monkeys
with it takes is life in its hands. It is
fitting, nevertheless. that any reform in
the pensions should be introduced by the
party that has for pure political reasons
abetted and encouraged the tx.ending
Of the pension list beyond all reason
able bounds. Those who SOW the wind
shall reap the wiirlwind, and it would
be but righteous justice ii in their
forced economy the Republicans should
SO interfere with the pension list as to
bring down upon their heads the re-
yenge of those they have sou ,ht Wy pen
sion bribery to hold as their allies.
Conservatism in ths matter Of pen
sions has SO far l,een smothered under
al, avalanche of abaso aud lLose who
have sought TO protect the treasury
against the encroachment of fraui ha, Q
been accused by the Republican press
right and left of ingratituLe, and, often
downright emnlty, to the veterans, and
their honest motions lmpnugsd FIR
political effect. Now that those VINO
have the credit always Of being first and
foremosr In advancing the interests OF
the old soldiers and their dependants are
trying to stem the tide which threate 8
to exhaust t:ls treasury. the censurous
press.may well give ITSELF pause.
Nevertheless, no patriotic american
wants to sec the pension list interferel
with TO an extent that will deprive n
single deserving veteran of com or in
his declining years. Better III, usani
times that some frauds should exist and
mercenary schemes go nnrebuked.
Real Estate Transfers.
fGompiied for the GRAPHIC byJ. d. Farrell
absiracter. Chamberlain
Brown & Richards 10 Andrew
Riegel SW4 lS-l0l-60. ....... $ 55C
|C II Jordan to W II Male 5A Il
1I-l02-1O. Observation-Disclosures. sec
E Otto TO y A Otto NW4 1l-102-
Observation-Disclosures. 1ocC
C A Mp,calt 10 j A Tayicr Nj i
2l-l03G7 valuable considers-
ton.
j NJ Greene 10 n Pantsch SW4
10 1O3 10. 1OQ
B G jacobsen to A Shultx SW4
! l3and NV11aa N-l03-7l ....... 250t
A Knchne 10 X Panlscl SEl "a
lO3-7l valuable cnnsI0elatOn.
NJ L Burgess to S A Barton lot 4
blk III Chamberlain. ........ 75(
r r SDpor to Iac0H Murray lot 2
t,lk Pu1w1La. 1La............... %:
R NJ LaFuliette to u Fayill
undivided Is Of 1862 acres in
section 34-l0-1l-lOl-71. 45Ct
Farm and Colonization Co 10 S
| 20 Brainard SW1l4 3 1910. ....S 80
f A Rising to 9 S Bodgett NE]d
17.lO2 ~.
I, j l. Moore to L A Bartholomew