Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-12
Warming TO PARTY
Iar-a-Day Pension Bill 0p-
posed by Fitzgerald.
BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS
Chairman of Appropriations Commit
tee Chides Democrats.
VIOLATION OF THEIR PLEDGES
Declares There Can Be No Retrench-
ment of Expenses if Sher-
wood Bill Passes.
VIOLATION OF THEIR PLEDGES

Representative John ]. Fitzgerald of
New York. chairman of the House alpro-
priation committee. stirred his colleagues
today by strong speech against the
Sherwood dOllar-a-day pension bill, upon
which action will be had before adjourn
ment this afternoon. MIR. FITZGERALD in
sisted that the finances of the country
were such that it would be highly I'M
wise to pass the Sherwood pension blu
or any other measure that proposed to
increase the drain upon the public treas
ury by more than SoO,OOOGOO a year. In
plain language he warned the democratic
party that if the Sherwood bill should be
enacted all chance of the democracy
making a record for economy during the
present Congress would go gimmering
"Retrenchment and economy" he said,
will not result merely from idle
phrases. There must be earnest work
done to effect any reform. Throughout
the land there is widespread demand
for increased expenditures for many OBJ
jects. some legitimately within the prop
err province of federal activities: many
born of desire to shift burdens to
the federal treasury that properly be-
long elsewhere. 1t will take resolu-
these demands. Together with them is
the we'll known universal complaint
against the Ubiquitous taxes from which
the country suffers.
Death Knel1 to Hopes.
1t would be a pleasant task to pour
out the public funds to satisfy every
within and at the same time abolish many
OpDreSSiye taxes bIlt these things cannot
be done if the expectations of the
country are to be realized and if the
democratic party is to keep it's faith
with the people. The enactment Of this
bill Will sound the death knell of the
hope of the democratic party success
fully to reduce expenditures and to
lower substantially tariff taxes l am
not Indifferent to the influences urging
this legislation, but the obligation to do
that which is just to all of the people
compels me to withhold my support
from this bill
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he firm in his
opposition to the measure. despite the
fact that he realized his attitude was
likely TO arouse resentment in some
quarters. misrepresentation in others and
condemnation from many" With refer
ence to the probable cost of the Sher-
wood measure he said:
1.-The report submitted with this bill fix
es the increase in the amount of pensions
at $IUD.O0U. An arbitrary reduction of
- per cent is made of this sum- and il
is asserted that the results of this legs-
lation will be to increase the pension
appropriations by S2s.S5S.000 annually
Attention is also called to the state
ment of the pension bureau that with
the existing organization not to exceed
2oOO0 cases can be handled in a year
SO that there would be taken from the
Treasury the first year the law would be
in effect about $15.71S.O0D. Statements
have been made by the advocates of the
bill that not to exceed so, 600, coo in any
event would be required the first year as |
the result of this legislation
Appropriation Required.
There has been printed in the Record |
the statement of tire Secretary of the In
terror that $15.oOO,OOO would be required |
TO meet the obligations imposed by this |
Hesitation
Saturday last the commissioner of pen
sions told the appropriations committee
that such an estimate had been prepared
last April for the committee on invalid /
pensions and that he believes the est-
mate is accurate. The present force in
the pension bureau can adjust about 400
cases a day, or 110,OD a year. Without
any increase in the force ii would take
at least four years to pass upon all OF
the claims likely to be presented under
the law. 1t Will require 800 additional
clerks for one year at a cost OF S3G0uD to
this bill if it becomes a law. Since the
survivors of the civil war are dying SO
unless provision be made for
such an additional force. more than loo.-
600 of the proposed beneficiaries will pass
away before their claims are allowed and
the benefits obtained.
Scoring those advocates Of the bill who
dwelt on the fact that the annual outlay
would not be as great as estimated. owing
to the constantly increasing ratio of
deaths among Grand Army veterans, Mr..
said:
IF this bill becomes a law. ! shall take |
1t as a direction from the Congress that
the beneficiaries obtain the benefits
and l propose to exert every eff
fort to provide such forge In the pension
bureau as will enable the beneficiaries TO
obtain the advantages of the law without ]
reliance upon the favor or caprice of
those who administer IL.
INDUCES in Criticism.
frtfic ic