The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-05

ELOHIDAIS tlNANNiAh NONDi i've
Notwithstanding the damage which Flor
ida has suffered from cold weather within
the last i've or six years her financial al
fairs are in admirable condition. Evil
IDENTIFY her legislature has been careful
in making appropriations and her finances
have been wisely and economically man
aged. The message of Gov. Bloxham, sent
to the legislature yesterday, shows that
there is scarcely any state debt, and that
unless there are extraordinary appropria-
tons the present rate Of taxation will yield
sufficient revenue to meet all demands on
the treasury.
There is only one thing that may cause
trouble, and that Is the liberal pension
law Evidently the pension charge Is 60
ing to be much heavier than was supposed
by the legislature which enacted the law
The Governor does not hesitate to tell the
legislature that il the present high credit
Of the state is to be maintained the pen
sion act will have to be modified. If the
truth were known it would be found prob
ably that many persons are drawing or
demanding pensions who are much better
able to do without them than a majority
of the taxpayers are TO pay taxes.
In this state the pension burden is be-
coming a very serious one. In fact, II is
serious now. The present legislature, at
its last session, gave it very thoughtful
consideration, but it lacked the courage
to deal with 1t vigorously. 1t was APP
parent from what was said during the dis
cussion of the matter that a great many
persons were drawing money from the
treasury who were in the enjoyment of
very comfortable incomes. 1t is clearly
not the intention of the people to pension
those who are well able to take care of
themselves. They are willing, and even
anxious to assist those Confederate vet
Grams who are in INDECENT circumstances,
and also the widows of Confederate vet
Grams who are really in need of help, but
there is no sentiment that favors giving
pensions to those who have incomes, either
from their own exertions or from invest
ments, which are sufficient for their rea-
sonable needs.
The legislature of Florida will make a
great mistake if 1t shows the same indie
cision and weakness in dealing with this
pension matter as has been shown by the
legislature of this state. The Governor
points out that the claims already on file
call for an appropriation of at least 100000
a year, and says that additional claims
are being filed all the time. There is no
telling what the amount of them will be
when they are all in. 1t is safe to say
that It will be large enough to make a very
great increase in the tax rate necessary.
When the pension act of this state was
passed it was thought that it wouldn't re-
qulre more than 100000 year to pay all
of the claims that would be allowed. More
than 100000 is required to pay those which
have been passed upon favorably. and
many new claims are being fled 1t
would not be surprising If the pension bur-
den should reach 81 600 600 a year
1t was the same way in respect to fed
eral pensions. Less than twenty years
! ago leading Republicans said, on the floor
| of the House, when there was a great out
cry against the growing appropriation for
pensions, that the annual amount for that
purpose would never exceed S3O0OO,O 900 a
year II is now about s145, 100000 year
and is steadily increasing. 1t is much
easier for Florida to put limits to the pen.
sion burden now than 1t will be later on
Every pensioner who Vdoesn't really de.
serve pension, who gets on the pensicr
roll, will increase the difficulty in the way
|
undeserving pensioners have more politi
cal influence than those who are desarv
ing.