The National tribune., 1910-01-27
A PLAIN TALK WITH THE COM
RADES.

At the time that Inc National IT'D
une bill was proposed there was some
| basis for hope that it, or atsleast some
portions Of it, might be accepted and
passed by this session OF Congress. The
needs of the veterans and their widows
were so great; the appeals that came 10
US from all parts of the country were
so well founded and urgent that we
could not refuse to make the attempt
for a further liberalization of the pen
sion laws, which would bring relief
Every mail brought to us mournful
stories which we knew were only too
true of good comrades and their wild
ows who were suffering for the actual
necessaries OF life in their age and de-
crepitude. At that time it was conf
IDENTIFY expected that the return of pros
duce such d cheerful spirit in our peo-
pie as to arouse their generous thought
fulness for the men to whom the coun-
try owed all Of its present greatness
and prosperity. 1t was sanguinely ex'
pected that the operations of the new
>
Golfers and permit this feeling of the
people to have its proper expression.
We will admit that in spite of all the en-
couragement we could find that we had
| little hopes that this session would pass
the bill in its entirety, but experience
had taught us that we could not begin
| the agitation too soon, and that what
ever we might do, tho not resulting in
immediate benefit, would bear fruit in
the near future. From our intercourse
with Congressman and officials we were
| led TO hope that this session of Con-
the more advanced ages and remove
the unjust and immoral restrictions
upon the marriage of widows. We
would not make the mistake OF asking
too little, but would request Of Con-
gress that which we expected, and still
the future.
The overwhelming Endorsement OF
The National Tribune bill from all parts
of the country shows how well we, had
gauged the feeling among the veterans
and their friends everywhere. Since
that time. and especially since Con-
gressmen have returned from their holi-
day vacation, our hopes Of further pen
| sion legislation by this session have
steadily faded. Despite the general re-
| turn of prosperity and the rapid rise
| in business activity in all parts of the
oo,n+,,r tI,o rrraaSury bac NOT yat Ln-
gun to feel the benefits of the new tariff
law. On Jan. 4, 1910, the working bal
| ance in the Treasury Office had fallen
! TO the low figure of S29, 0,527.01. This
! is much lower than anyone could have
anticipated. while the deficit has grown
| in proportion, until it is now figured as
| high as s51,000,000. In company with
this have been demands for improve
ments so insisted upon by great sec
tions that the President and Congress
have felt compelled to yield to them
There has been a demand which il
seemed impossible to deny for $50, ,000,-
900 for the Reclamation Service ana
an unknown number of millions for the
improvement of the Mississippi and its
| tributary waterways. Other powerful
interests are demanding with equa
frmness and determination appropria'
ltions for their needs which are claimed
to be vital to the progress and pros
iperity OF the country. Because ol
these and other reasons there has SCI
in stern demand for the most rigid
economy in the Government expendi.
lures and a retrenchment in every di'
rection that retrenchment is possible.
AS good citizens, always foremost il
insisting upon whatever makes for the
highest interests of the country, We viii
give our strong support to this policy Of
ECONOMY.