The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-17
THE STATE PENSION BURDEN.

THE STATE PENSION BURDEN.
On wednesday the Pension Committee
of the House reported adversely the bin
to pension all Confederate veterans of the
state. The committee did what was right
in the matter. But how long win 1t be
before the proposition win come up again?
It Is about certain that a similar bill VIII
make it's appearance in the next Legisla-
ture and 1t is not improbable that efforts
will be made in this Legislature to pass the
bill which the committee has reported un-
favorably. As we have pointed out, a few
counties bear the burden Of supporting
the state government-the great majority
Of the counties getting more out of the
state treasury than they pay into 1t. IL
Is apparent therefore why the pension bur
den is increasing so rapidly. The counties
which get in school and pension money
great deal more from the state than
they contribute TO the states revenues
have a majority in the Legislature, and
therefore they do not care how heavy the
pension burden becomes. The heavier the
burden IS the more they will get out
of the state treasury.
But the few counties which support the
state government-about fifteen Of the one
hundred and thirty-seven-cannot stand
the heavy taxation which it Is proposed
to impose upon them. Even now they
are struggling under about as heavy
burden of taxation as they can carry, and
it is proposed to still further increase 1t
in the pending tax bill.
We have already gone beyond all rea-
son in this pension business. We have
complained of Congress for inhicting the
country with a pension charge which
pretty nearly reaches $150,OOOOO0 a year,
but even the federal government has NOT
done, in the way Of pensioning Union VET
Grams, what 1t is proposed to do here in
Georgia for Confederate veterans. The
Georgia pension charge now amounts to
nearly $500, 600 a year, and there are many
claims pending. 1t is safe to say that the
amount that will be required for pensions
within the next two years viii be more
than s. 600 600 year Where is this money
to come from? From the fifteen counties
which now support the state government
That seems to be the idea of the gentle
men who are urging the passage of bill
to pension all Confederate veterans of the
state.
It is stated to be a fact that a very
considerable proportion of those who are
now drawing pensions are better able to
take care of themselves-have larger in
comes in fact-than the great majority OF
those who are taxed for pension purposes.
Is 1t just that persons drawing salaries
! from the state for services or persons
who have comfortable incomes either from
investments, or businesses, or professions
or occupations should have their incomes
increased from the slender revenues OF
the state-revenues that are wrung from
the people and which are needed for the
purposes of education? It does not seem
to be.
All Confederate veterans and all widows
of Confederate veterans who are in INDECENT
circumstances should have a pension. All
agree to that. But there is a growing pro-
test against the giving of pensions to those
who are not actually in need of assistance
| from the state. The sentiment for pen
sioning everybody for whom the slightes,
claim can be made is now at the hooo
however, and if the state Is not bankrupt
ed before it begins to ebb the taxpayers
will have cause to rejoice.
They manage this pension business bet
ter in South Carolina, There only those
| Confederate veterans who are In actual
need of the assistance can get pensions,
and the greatest care is exercised in in
specting applications. This state, if we
ore correctly informed, pays more in pen
! H.
widows of veterans than all of the other
states combined Is there any reason
why 1t should?