The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-06
NIGHTMARE
OF THE NATION.
The Fearful Burden of the
Pension Roll.

The Fearful Burden Of the
Pension Roll.
From 1776 tc July i, 1899, the
commencement of the present fiscal
year, the Uaited Ststes~ government
has paid in pensions to soldiers and
sailers Of past wars and to their de-
pendents the enormous sum of ST.
523, ,42S, ,212 81.
And yet the obligations of the
government are but little more than
half fulfilled According to official
computation $2.0ll,964.746 "a is
ye. to be paid to the survivors of
past wars and their dependents, foot
ing up grand total of $4,545,000
geo, or more than twice the amount
Of money in existence in the entire
country.
This does not ipclude the pension
payments that will result from the
Spanish American war of last year
Il would seem from the above
showing that the proverbial Saying
that Republics are ungrateful" can
have no application to this republic,
especia!ly in relation to its pension
system. More money is paid annu-
ally by the United States government
10 pensions than by any other half
dozen governments in the world.
This is the more strange when you
stop to consider tina: under a mon
archicsl form Of government rewards
may be conferred by the crown.
Emperor William, of Germany, can
promote q subaItern to regiment for
slight service Queen Victoria can
present crown jewel to a successful
conrtier ; Nicholas II, Gear of all the
Rusaias, can give province to a
fayorite captain ; but in the republic
of the United States Uncle Sam has
no such prerogasiyes. Indeed, his
authority is SO restricted and limited
that he cannot confer single dollar
Of the peoples money upon an indi-
vaduai, no matter how meritorious his
claim may be. without authority from
congress.
Such is the difference between a
monarchical and republican form of
government, aud yet the United
States is more liberal in the distribu
tioa of It's bounties to its defenders
than any nation in the world.
In strange contrast is the pension
system of the United States with
those Of the leading European ma
tons. When you stop aud consider
the enormous standing armies of
Great Britain. Germany, France snd
Russia, and compare their annual
pension payments with those of the
United States, the situation becomes
the more remarkable
The average peace strength of the
imperial army Of Germany is 479. .229
men, exclusive of volunteer officers,
surgeons, paymasters and other non
combatants- Last year the pension
payments of Germany, which are the
largest of sry European couptry,
were as follows Prussia. A. 900, 900
marks Saxony. $4,000 marks /;
Wurtenberg, 2,368,000 marks Ba
varis, 6,462,o0o marks, making a
total of 81 .0s3 900 marks, or $l5.-
500, ,34s 20.
Germany's appropriation for nava!
pensions last year was only 1852
marks, or So. 159.
The pension system of Fraacesis
very different from that in vogue in
this country All employees of the
government receive pensions, which
are paid from fund derived from
deductions made from the annual
salaries of the employees The same
principles apply to the army. where
per cent deduction is made from
the salary of the army officers for the
benefit of the retired list.
Direct appropriations are made by
the British government for the pay
ment of pensions for its soldiers and
sailors, bu: the amount is so insignifi
cant that no comparison can be made
with the pension appropriations O:
this country. The estimated pay
ments for the fiscal year 1899 are as
follows Retired half pay officers,
etc., sl,567. 800 pensions for off
GERS who have received wounds etc j,
81, 1886. 900 for the superannuated,
etc s177,300; making total Of
g3 ,080, 100; or, 10 round numbers,
$15.403, 500.
The estimated appropriations for