The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-18
STARTLING INEQUALITIES.

An examination of the AUDITORS re-
port discloses multiplicity of startling
inequalities. One great county Of Pied
mont Virginia, for example, gets but
$525.:3J for its pensioners, While Il county
with approximately the same white popu-
lation in q different section receives
49, 9J4. 10 Again, a great county of the
Valley gets but Sl.4i7.00. while u county
in a different section with 5000 less white
population receives S6,515.OO. The county
of Page, in which resides tie author OF
the pension act. scrutniZed its rolls of
honor with such fidelity 10 the public
interest and to the spirit Of the law. as
to list but thirteen new names, making
total for the county of but twenty
four, while another county of like size
and population listed 1893 new names, and
has to-day nearly 500 pensioners. An
other great county, with white popu-
lation of nearly 10000. added Il little
more than fifty new names to its list,
and has but 175 pensioners all told While
a county in different section, with 6G0O
less white population, added nearly 800
new names and has a total of over 6U3
pensioners. Is there any wonder that
the brave old soldier who framed the
pension act and eloquently urged its pas
sage, stands to-day amazed at its I'M
equal and harmful administration?
TRUE CAUSE OF FAILURE.
1t is suggested that not to appropriate
this $500, 10000 under the existing act is
to violate faith with the thousands of
new pensioners who have been put upon
the lists, and the remarkable contention
is set up that the State is in debt 20
these new pensioners, under the
Of the pension act to the extent of
S1G3,4So. AS a matter Of fact. under
the terms of the pension act" the State
has literally discharged its obligation as
any one may see who will trouble him
self TO read it. If there has been any
disappointment, it consists chiefly in the
failure Of the confident prediction of the
friends of the measure. that the number
of unworthy names that would be eX-
plunged from the pension rolls would SO
nearly counterbalance the number o.
new names listed, as that the $135,0O0 APP
propriated two years ago would be am
pie for the purposes of the act. How far
from the mark this prophecy came is
seen when it is stated that the old pen
soners number 1857, while 7,669 were
added, and the total number of pen
sioncrs to-day is 1926 Appropriate
$500, Oo0.00 for distribution under the
present law with the prevalent method
of administration, and who is prepared
to say that III two years more we shall
not have 10000 pensioners. getting a pit
tance each, and necessitating an appro-
priation OF 5000, oO0.G0% Then Will Vir-
ginia, already burdened with 4 debt of
SIG, 000, 600, be in the plight. OF sister
State with larger wealth and smaller in
debtedness, whose executive recently
felt compelled to warn the people that
the public treasury was in imminent
peril of being swamped In our belief.
the men who fought for the honor of
Virginia in time Of war would not desire
or complacently submit to such nextri-
cable llarasSmcnt in time OF piece.
A BETTER SYSTEM REQUIRED. i
1t is apparently sugsesten that this
State is satiated with prosperity and is
treasury plethoric to the point of actual
embarrassment. Tie State is pro perou
treasury. An ample share of this sur
plus should be used in aid of deservins
c nfedcrate soldi rs; but ass stance stoul1
be rendered under q system that wou
make the aid extended really servceabl,
and not under a system that is dsmon-
strably deficient as far as the veteran i.
concerned and clearly dangerous as far
as the State is concerned. This nigh
be done by reducing State taxation an'
charging the various counties with the |
obligation of caring for the brave men
within their borders. who are entitled TO |
the tenderest consideration. 1t might |
be done in otter ways; but however ac- !
complished it should not, we respectful |
ly submit, be undertaken, for it cannot |
effectively be done in the hurry that is
now proposed.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUFFERING FOL.
AID.
If it be true that Virginia is prosperous |
and her public treasury in a sound con-
dition. it is none the less true that the |