New-York tribune., 1910-12-30
THE PENSION PROBLEU.

In another column is printed a letter
criticising The Tribune for nisrepresent-
ing the cost of the proposed pension leg
islation. The writer regrets that we
should have been caught mapping by
figures prepared by the Commissioner Of
Pensions based on official records in the
Pension Bureau. lie seems to think that
we ought to accept in preference calcu-
lations of cost which be has made on
the u i,ri0Ti method. Thus he constructs
n classification of Civil War soldiers
who would he entitled to the various
rates SO be allowed at siXty-two years
siXty-five years, seventy years and sew
enty-five years. based Oh Il pure assumP-
ion as 10 the average age at which sol
dierS enlisted between 1861 and 1860,
and sets that classification up as more
trustworthy than the Commissioners
On his assumption the veterans between
sixty-two and siXty-five ought to form
the most numerous class OF survivors of
the Civil War. Yet 4 little reflection
should convince him thai the soldier en-
listing below eighteen was the eXcep-
tion. not tiie rule. and that, the war
having lasted four years and ended
forty-five and half years ago, the pro
portion of the survivors who came out
OF il below eighteen must be very
limited.
The applications for pensions under
the McCumber act bear out that the0rv.
OF those now drawing age pensions only
93 $50 are between siXty-two and sixty
five years. 1S4.577 are between siXty-tive
and seventy. 1u1,1TS between seventy
ard seventy-five. and 63.4G1 over sew
enty-five The Tribune WAS in error IN
saving that 100000 eiigibleS would lie
affected by the proposed law. 1t should
have said that about 100000 would he
affected by the chief changes of rates
contemplated creating a rating of
$50 a month after SiXty-fiVe years and
enlarging the seventy-year rating from
SIS 10 So a month. These changes aiole
would account for an increased eX-
penditure of S30o00.0Uo. The advance
for veterans over seventy-fiye would cost
l2.1S7.OO0. and the advance for our cor
RESPONDENTS most numerous clasS--that
below sixty-fiye years-would cost only
S3.36g.OGo. There are 4434 eligibles
In all four classes. and the increases
recommended 10y the Committee Oh IN
valid Pensions would involve an added
expenditure of S4J,4S9,00o, not of s.eJ,-
$4,000. as our correspondent thinks
The idea of most of the advocates Of
new pension legislation seems TO he that
the governments maximum outlay for
pensions should never decrease. As pen
siGners die off. they argue, the pension
fund should be kept undiminished by
larger pro rata disbursements. That is
the contention of those who want to
establish minimum service pension Of
81 day and put all surviving officers If
the Civil War OH the army retired list
at the present retired pay of their for
Iier grades If such legislation is per-
mitted. the annual expenditure for pen
sions NAV sool rise To S250.0O0.0o0. The
Tribune did not say that there had been
an annual decrease i'll pension pay
ments since 190S-'o9 Of S7.0Uo,0gO There
was a decrease from 190S-'09 To 1909 10
of about S2000,GUo. and for the year
l9lO-l1 of about SJ,000000 There Will
be a further slight decrease in the ap-
pr,opria ton for 19l1'12, which in the
pension bin recently passed by the
House of Representatives stands at
s1530O0GGO, as against S161 .913.ooo for
Ig0S-'o9. The country is entitled to Il
decrease in expenditure as the number
of those who deserve its recognition de-