The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-06
More Pension Bills.

From Philadelphia, Ledger Dec. 2.
The pension bills already introduced in
Congress thus early in the session call for
yearly expenditure Of nearly $500, 000, 600, in
addition to the Sl45, 600. 900 annually devoted
to that purpose. The CullOra bill, 70 place
deserters on an equality with the patriots who
draw pensions for disabilities aud wounds
ceiFed in defence Of the nation, wosld give to
Geserters and bounty jumpers over $40, 000, 900
q year. The Lentz General Service Pension
bill would give to those who do not need aid
and should not ask il about 500, 0O0,0 900
year. The bill introduced by Representative
Hall provides pensions to the amount Of about
Sc, 900, 900 a year for teamsters who were ia
the employ ofthe Quartsrmaster' Department
during the war. These teamsters we're civilian
employees, not mustered into the United States
service at all They received good wages, and
if they are given bounties there IS no reason
why the largesse may not be extended to
clerks, railroad men, telegraph operators,
Government storekeepers, and many other
classes of persons who we're connected with
the service, intimately or remotely. Repre-.
sentative Grout fathers bill 10 give addition
al pensions TO soldiers who were in the Confed-
crate prisons; Representative Berry introduces
a bill amending the aetto pension army nurses
which calls for millions; Senator Penrose has
one bill to adjust and another to ''equalize"
the pensions of disabled pensioners that de.
mand the expenditure of apout 81, 900, 900 per
year more, while Representative Norton has
introduced per diem service pension bill for
soldiers, sailors and marines which would re-
quire untold millions annually. In addition
to these, and other measures not mentioned,
Representative Curtis has introduced bill
to remove all limitations on the payment Of
arrearages. There are on record 46, 600 cases
of deceased pensioners whose pensions we're
computed from the time their applications
were fled, which, ii may be assumed, was the
time when their need began. Under the Cur
It's bill the arrears, dating back to the war,
would have TO be paid the heirs of the deceas-
ed pensioners. Besides the arrears to the de-
ceased pensioners, the arrearages would have
to be paid on cases now pending and to the
vast army of pensioners on the rolls who could
show their title to arrears under the act 1t
has been estimated by pension official that
the Curtis bill, if it should become a law,
would entail the expenditure of $500, 900, 900,
over aud above the Sl45,0 600 now paid
annually on regular pension account, and in
addition to the vast millions demanded by the
multifarious new pension bills which are be-
ing showered upon Congress as thick as the
''leaves of Vallambrosa.
Clearly their is no end to pension grabbing.
and the schemes now atoot would bankrupt
any Treasury under any conditions. If the
preposterous character Of the proposed legis-
tation shall check the disposition to raid the
Treasury it will serve a benefceRt purpose
The spirit of plumber seems to be active, as
it has been reported from Washington that
more than $4,000 Spanish war claims for pen
sions have already been filed. This number
includes more men than smelt powder, and if
the rush for pensions continues at the present
rate nearly the whole number enlisted in the
Spanish war will soon be on the lists of APP
plicants for pension.