The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-28
The GRAND JURY AND PENSIONS.


The grand jury is 10 be commended for
making an inquiry into what seems 70
be a discrimination against this county IN
the matter of pensions for Confederate
veterans and widows of Confederate vet
Grams. II is remarkable that Chatham
county. being second in wealth and pop
ulaiion, should receive an amount in pen
sions less than that of the county having
the smallest population. If Chatham coun-
~ had been backward in furnishing troops
in The Civil War there might be a rea-
son for the very small amount she re-
ceives but. as matter of fact, she fur
nished more than her quota. as she did
in the Spanish-American war. What then
Is the explanation of the fact that she
gets less than any other county?
The grand jury seems TO think there IS.
discrimination against Chatham county
that there is very much closer scrutiny
OF the claims sent by her veterans than
OF those from other counties. We are
not prepared to say whether the view
taken BY the grand jury is correct or not,
but we feel certain that there is some
thing wrong somewhere. Taking into
account the amount of Chatham county's
taxes it must be apparent that she pays
very large percentage of the pensions
throughout the state. All the circum-
stances considered il is not TO be wonder
ed at that the grand jury finds reason for
complaint.
We have said many times. and there
with the statement, that there is need for
thorough overhauling of the entire PEN
sion business. An investigation would.
in al probability, disclose that there are
many persons receiving pensions who are
not entitled to them.
From whom in the Legislature does OPP
position to an investigation come? Ger.
tainly not from the members from this
county. 1t is assumed It comes from coun-
ties which get a very large amount OF
pension money, but which contribute very
little towards the payment of pensions.
fair conclusion is that these counties
don't want an investigation for fear that
there would be disclosures which would
deprive them of portion of the pension
money Iney get.
Notwithstanding the very large amount
that was appropriated for pensions for
widows at the last session of the Legis-
lature, there is not enough 10 pay the
claims which have been allowed. AT least
5000 more than the appropriation is need
ed. and the Governor has undertaken to
raise it from some source.
The Governor was elected with the I'M
Outstanding that he would In some way
bring down the rate of taxation. OF
course he is not to blame for legislation
which calls for increased appropriations,
but 1t begins TO look as if he would close
| his term of office with a rate of taxation
prevailing higher than that which pre-
vailed when he was elected Governor the
first time. If he desires to bring about
a reduction of the rate let him use his
influence to have a thorough investigation
Of the pension list. If pensions were paid
only to such veterans and widows as re-
/ ceive pensions in South Carolina, it is a
safe assertion that the pension burden
4 would not be much more than half as
large at it promises TO become, and per-
haps not more than half as large as it
! is now.