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


From Philadelphia, Ledger Dec r.
The pension bills already introduced in
Congress thus early in the session call for a
yearly expenditure of nearly 5000, 900, 900, in
addition to the Sl45, 900. 900 annually devoted
to that purpose. The Culom bill, to place
deserters on an equality with the patriots who
draw pensions for disabilities and wounds re-
ceiged in defence of the nation, would give to
deserters and bounty Jumpers over SIC, 600, 600
a year. The Lentz General Service Pension
bill would give to those who do not need aid
and should not ask it about 500, 000, 900 a
year. The bill introduced by Representative
Hall provides pensions to the amount of about
Sc, 900, 900 year for teamsters who were in
the employ ofthe Quartermaster's Department
during the war. These teamsters were 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 were connected with
the service, intimately or remotely. Repre-
sentative Grout fathers a bill to give addition
al pensions to soldiers who were in the Confed-
crate prisons; Representative Berry introduces
a bill amending the act 10 pension army nurses
which calls for millions; Senator Penrose has
one bill to adjust and another TO s'equalize"
the pensions of disabled pensioners that de.
mand the expenditure of acout 81 ,000, 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 u bill
to remove all limitations ON the payment of
arrearages There are on record 46, 900 cases
of deceased pensioners whose pensions were
computed from the time their applications
were filed, which, ii may be assumed, was the
time when their need began. Under the Cur
tbs bill the arrears, dating back to the war,
would have to be paid the heirs of the deceas-
ed pensioners Besides the arrears 10 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. II
has been estimated by pension official that
the Curtis bill, if it should become law,
would entail the expenditure of $500, 00o, 600,
over and above the S145, 000, 900 now paid
annually on regular pension account, and in
addition to the vast millions demanded by the
multifarious new pension bills winch 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 afoot would bankrup
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 bene6cent purpose
The spirit of plumber seems to be active, a
it has been reported from Washington tina
more than 81, 900 Spanish war claims for pen
sions have already been filed. This humble
includes more men than smelt powder, and
the rush for pensions continues at the presen
rate nearly the whole number enlisted in tn
Spanish war will soon be on the lists of ap
plicants for a pension.