The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-02

thousand. added little more than fifty
new names TO it's list, and has but one
hundred and seventy-fye' pensioners
all told, while county in n different see
ton, with six thousand less white popu-
lation added nearly Eve hundred new
names, and has a total OF over six hun
dred pensioners. Is there any wonder
that the brave old soldier who framed
the pension act aud eloquently urged its
passage stands today amazed Mt its un-
equal and harmful administration?
1t is suggested that MOTTO appropriate
this three hundred thousand dollars un-
der 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 to these new pen
soners, under the terms OF the pension
act, 10 the extent Of one hundred and
sixty. three thousand four hundred and
eighty dollars. As o matter ofiact. under
the terms oi the pension act, the state
has literally discharged itsabligation, as
anyone may sce who will trouble himself
90 read it. Ii there has been any disap-
pointment it consists chiefly in the failure
of the confident prediction of the friends
of the measure. that the number OF un-
worthy names that would be eNpunged
from the pension rolls would so nearly
counterbalance the number ofnew names
listed IA that the one hundred and thirty
fiye thousand dollars appropriated TWO
years ago would be ample for the pur-
poses of the act How far from the mark
this prophecy came il seen when it stat
ed that the old pensioners number two
thousand. five hundred and sixty-seyen,
while seven thousand. six hundred and
sixty.nine were added, and the total
number of pensioners to-day is ten thou
sand. two hundred and thirty six. Ap-
propriate three hundred thousand dollars
for distribution under the present law
with the prevalent method OF adminstra
ton and who is prepared to say that in
two years more we shall not have twenty
thousand pensioners, getting plttance
each, and necessit ating an appropriation
OF six hundred thousand dollars? Then
will Virginia, already burdened with
debt of twenty-six million dollars, be In
the plight of sister state with larger
wealth and smaller indebtedness, 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 inextricable harassment in time OF
peace.
1t is apparently suggested that this
state is satiated with prosperity, and its
treasury plethoric to the point OF actual
embarrassment. The state eisprosperous,
and there is a good balance in the public
treasury. An ample share oithis surplus
should be used in aid OF deserving Conied-
crate soldiers: but assistance should be
rendered under system that would
make the aid extended really serviceable
and not under system that is demon
strably deficient as far as the veteran is
concerned and clearly dangerous as lar
IA the state isconcerned. This might be
done by reducing state taxation and
charging the various counties with the
obligation OF caring for the brave men
within their borders, who are entitled to
the tenderest consideration. ltmight be
done in Others ways; but however ac-
complished, it should not, we respect
fully submit, be undertaken, for it cannot
effectively be done, in the hurry that is
now proposed.
II it be true that Virginia prosperous
and her public treasury in sound con-
dition, it is none the less true that the
states obligations are not few or easily
discharged As already indicated, the
states public debt amounts to more
than twenty-six million dollars and
some OF the troublesome surplus might
be applied to sinking fund purposes. II
that ia deemed mad visable,a "A still greater
interest stands in crying need OF just II
not generous attention. The pub
lie schools Of the country districts
throughout Virginia, from border to
border. are suffering for the bare means
OF pecuniary support. Thousands OF
children are growing up inignorance, be-
cause their state affords them utterly
Inadequate facilities for acquiring use
ful elementary education. The average
length of the school session Is less than
five months, and many country children
actually forget in the long vacation OF
more than seven months what they are
indifferently taught in the brief term OF
less than five months We say "indifier-
emily taught" because it would be folly
to suppose that an efficient system can
be maintained when teachers are pitifully
compensated for less than half the year
and mustseek otheremployment in order
that they may exist during the balance
of the twelve months Virginia owes
something to herchildren, ofwhom there
are six hundred and sixty-fye thousand
of school age, with only three hundred
and fifty-eight thousand sparsely cared
for. and every household within her
bounds would bless the power that
would respond to the reasonable demand
and the urgent necessity for increased
facilities ia the public free school system