The Tucson citizen., 1902-05-29
The PENSION SYSTEM.

A few days ago Congressman Loud,
cf California. a Republican. veteran
of the civil war. and member OF the
Grand Army of the Republic, felt con-
strained in his place in Congress TO
call a halt on the indiscriminate pass
age of special pension bills in the in
terest of people whom even our too
liberal pension laws can not reach
Mr. Loud is now being attacked by the
pension sharks and the claim agents
throughout the country. but We have
his attitude.
Even a casual review of our pension
roll ought to be sufficient to convince
any serious person that the interests
OF the taxpayers are almost entirely
neglected in the endeavor to court
popularity with special class. From
the last annual report issued by PEN
sion Commissioner Evans 1t appears
the annual pension payment in round
numbers in Grants first term was $29,-
100000; in his second, $28.000, 600:
Hayes term. $4,000 900, when Garfield
but In Garfield's term it rose to $59,-
100000, and in Cleveland's first term
was $76 900 000 when Cleveland made
a determined stand against further in
crease. but was met by powerful re-
action which carried the appropriation
Up to $129, 600 600 per year during Har-
rison's term. and sl39,00O,0 900 during
CIeveland's second term; during Nc
Kinley's first term it was $40 900 600
Comparing this payment with the
cost of maintaining their standing ar
mics by the military nations, 1t ex-
ceeds some of them. and approaches
the highest. The annual cost of the
Austrian army is 1923 900 600; of the
French $127 900, 600; the German $780,
coo, 900; the British $197 100000; Rus
sian, $166, 100000; and of our own
$134, 900. 600. The cost of the British
navy is $145,000 900: the French $780,
100000; the German, $36 900, 600: the
Russian $42 1000 600; the United States
$50, 900, 900.
Putting pensions and cost of army
and navy into the military budget, we
are paying annually for military pur-
poses the sum OF $3.50. 727, ,S7S. or more
than any of the military nations pay
for their combined army and navy
except Great Britain. and she leads II:
by only $l3.00O.000 For non
military folk, we seem to be indulginl
martial expense rather freely.
Commissioner Evans reported to hi
successor in charge of the pension
bureau 997. 1877 pensioners on the roll
an increase OF 4,206 in a year although
during the same time there were SO. Is;
deaths. 1t is interesting to note thai
two of the deaths were pensioners o
the Revolutionary war, which closed
] Is years ago, We may expect therefore
that under existing laws, for wars now
past pensioners will be on the roll
in the year 2019. OF pensioners of the
war of 1912 there died during the past
year 2l5. and the war ended eighty-six
years ago. The Spanish war has al
ready added nearly 5000 pensioners to
the roll, not including the claimants
from the Philippines. who are believed
to number many thousands, whose
claims will occupy the attention OF the
bureau for years to come. with the re-
suit OF increasing the appropriations
by several millions, and making the
pension roll more than one million of
persons During the past year IL. .334
widows of the civil war went upon the
rolls.
Perhaps 1t will never be done but If a
commission of Independent men could
be appointed to review and revise our
whole pension system. pensions might
be limited to actual disability. and the
amount saved be added to the pensions
OF deserving widows and those whose
capacity was really and permanently
impaired In their countrys service.
But We will probably never have sub
stantial reform until the pension sys-
tenn is taken out of politics. The pen
sion bureau should be transferred from |
the Interior to the War Department, |
and regular army officer In active
service detailed to act as pension COM
missioner. Then we could hope for
some honesty In the service, and the
OF the baneful influence of
politicians
----O-~---
The Arizona Star still insists that