Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-08
What Can Be Done About Pensions7

What Can Be Done About Pensions7
-HE pension idea reminds one OF
the extraordinary seed or germ
product Of what was known as
-california Beer during the
civil war. II you placed a teaspoonful
or less Of the seed in vessel OF sweet
ened water the germs proceeded 20 null
tiply and expand until the growth not
only nlled the vessel, but overlooked all
around and about The pension germ
seems to be equally prolihc-is equally
perpIexfnx and equally intractable- Our
Georgia legislature Is face 20 face with
a pension growth that threatens TO sWal-
low I'D ali the taxes Of the state as the
whale swallowed Jonah
And 4 IS the same condition OF Affairs
when the pension idea obtains for other
public service besides the military, as 1
vin Try 10 explain in a few words.
civil service reform. with appointees
chosen By competitive examination with
out reference 70 politics. and with me
tenure OF the Offices during good be-
havior looked towards remedy for the
spells system in politics But civil service
reform has added = new tail 10 the PEN
sion kite By agitating pensions in old
age for life long government clerks.
There are men IN Washington city VINO
have hung on 70 their positions until they
have not only grown gray in the service.
but Ike old horses and old vehicles. they
have outiivcd their usefulness yet they
hold on and are not willing to let so
unless there IS a pension allowed them.
These men some times hold a whip over
their congreSsmen 20 make them agree
able 10 this pension idea. as the last cleo
ton demonstrated
one OF the best informed men in the
present congress on postofficeS and post
roads was Representative Loud from
California He opposed the idea OF in
creasing salaries OF government employees
IN postofice department He endeavored
70 stand IN front Of Uncle Sans cash
box and ward on the raiders. and as
chairman OF the committee he had great
influence in shaping legislation
The clerks organized in q solid way
and proceeded TO antagonize the con-
gresham. and incidentally 70 terrorize
al other congressman who might essay
70 do a similar work In front OF Uncle
sans strong box They combined, elect
ed a president and paid his expenses 70
California % defeat Representative Loud.
and they c0mQassed his defeat
President Roosevelt was informed. and
he ordered the clerks head man 20 go
home. but the campaign went on and
Mr. Loud was retired from his seat in
Washington
1nis civil service business was. there
fore. a sham-a fake-a fraud. as I have
for I long time considered IT. President
Roosevelt was himself a former civil ser
vice commissioner Of highest rank and IL
he as president was impOtent 10 stop
the meddling business. then all smaller
men might as well retire from future ef-
forts
vill not say that our state legislators
viii Be retired II they antagonize state
pensions. or attempt TO bring these mat
ters under wholesome review and Top
OF the present deformities OF our pension
system. but what appears in the green
tree IS more than likely TO crop out in
the dr.
We have a pension system that is al
ready hurdensome 10 the state. also a
national pension system which dismisses
any man who attempts 20 curb or control
its abuses. for the dismissal OF Pension
Commissioner Henry Clay Evans is a re-
cent case in point. and there is already
organized in Washington departments
combination Of clerks which is able to
dismiss such men as Representative Loud.
3 most Efficient chairman of a great COM
mittee IN congress as here explained
Perhaps this Is not the time and place
20 talk about ingratitude. after pension
legislation becomes effective. but there
Is an old fable that represents the situa-
ton OF the taxpayers Of this country as
] see IT,
kfnd-hearted dog. seeing another of
It's sort out In the storm hungry and
wretched. invited the wayfarer TO come
in and be warmed In its kennel. He d.
y'ided the scraps and bones good natured-
".
II was not a great while until the new
conner increased her family and after
awhile there was no room for the first
dos and the kennel was fun and over
flowing. and the obliging canine went
hungry and shelterless.
The state Of Georgia owes a debt to its
civil war pensioners that all our people
recognize as a duty 70 the deserving ones.
But there are a great many old soldiers
who went through the war who do not
receive pension and there are numbers
81 such men who are willing to be taxed
20 help along q comrade who was I'M
lucky or diseased or disabled by reason
OF his service. yet who are not willing
TO be taxed 70 keep imposters in a good
living. while they themselves are so self
sacrificing and over-taxed-
do not think there Is a person in the
state OF Georgia who is worthy OF re-
spect who would not be glad 10 divide
with a disabled old Confederate soldier,
who Is unable 20 work or with such a
soldiers widow who is incapacitated from
earning a support: but there is general
anu NA4H-RAcau ols@dlASAacllon az the. way
the pension roll is packed and the pension
fund r. depleted BY those who are able
70 earn their own living. There should
be a thorough revision Of our pension
laws Especially should there be a COM
plcte roster made and published at least
once year IN public gazette where the
pensiOner lives. that the people shall
know and understand their claims on
public support more clearly. But says
one. They do not want such publicity"
Exactly 50, but the pensioners Of every
county should be well known IN the COM
munities where they reside and the court
house should hold a faithful record OF
their service and their disabilities.