The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-26

posed to lie bill, but 1 cannot refrain
| from feeling that they are mistaken in
their views. The question of economy
does not, in my judgment. enter Into the
consideration of legislation Of this kind
No man will deny that the Government
can well afford to pay any reasonable
amount in the way of pensions for de-
serving veterans Of the civil: war. No
matter what conditions exist every ma
| ton can we'll afford to pay Its debts.
We are not bankrupt, neither are our
resources even approaching the strain
1 ing point Everything in the way Of
National resources and individual
wealth is under obligation to pay some
thing toward the relief Of those who
made this Government possible. Some
thing has been said that under exist
| ing circumstances it would be wrong
| to add the burden of large appropria-
tion such as this bill carries to our ex-
| listing Governmental expenses. 1t is
burden that we can well afford to carry
The same argument was made when
the first age pension bill was passed
some few years ago, and yet by reason
of the rapid disintegration of the ranks
of the old soldiers there was only a
Temporary increase in the appropra-
tons for pensions, and one that was
barely noticeable, and then only for a
short time. We are running ahead of
our expenses. We have right to be-
lltNG lIiut tIllS N'sI ana
il is more than enough to absorb this
entire appropriation should it be placed
against the Government revenues in
one lump sum, but such condition
will not exist. These pensions will not
be allowed all at one time, but II will
take long time to cover into the PEN
sion rolls soldiers eligible under this
bill, and l quite agree with the Chair
man of the committee, Mr.. Sulloway,
when he says that at the outside he
does not expect to see more than
$40, 100000 added 10 the pension roll in
the next year and as our surplus is
$40, 100000 ahead of our expenses in
six months. we have a right to believe
that il will reach twice that sum in 81
year and this VIII more than absorb
any appropriation necessary under this
law. If we intend to pay this debt VIC
must act at once.
The soldiers of the civil war are dying
at rate that is appalling. When you
realize that each day that passes over
our heads 100 of them have gone to
their reward-3,000 OF them die in a !
month; $4,000 of them every year-you
will see that the small remnant of the
great armies of the Republic will soon
mert away, and il Their are to receive
this benefit, as / said before, we must
act now.
Complaint is made that the law Is !
of such n general nature that il will in |
clude men who may have acquire |
enough of the worlds goods to not need
a pension. This is undoubtedly true. II
know of quite number of cases in my
own district where men are abundantly |
able to support themselves, but the mis- |
take in making this suggestion on the |
part of those who call it 10 the atten- |
ton of the House lies in the fact that
they seem to think this is a pauper
pension. 1t is not. 1t is the payment
of a debt of gratitude, a reward for |
faithful and meritorious services: and |
if few men do not actually need this |
pension, can point to a thousand cases |
to every one of that kind where it will |
be a goGsend and a blessing In their |
declining years. All laws must be gen |
eral, and there is no reason why. a
wealthy veteran of the civil war should |
not receive the gratitude and thanks |
of the Nation as well as one who is not |
so fortunate. This bill is simply an yex- |
preston Of gratitude on the part of the |
Nation to the men that brought II thru |
its greatest crisis and preserved ius a |
united people. It's enactrient into law |
is not an act OF charity, but a simple |
act of justice 1t is not an. expression |
of sympathy, but an expression of the |
thanks of grateful people We owe !
This debt. and it cannot be measured in |
mere dollars and cents. Every blessing |
that we enjoy to-day was attained rhru
their unselfshs response to their coun- !
try's cali. I do not fear the failure Of
this bill. The American people do not
forget their obligations so soon. This
is not an attempt to wipe out and |
finally settle a debt, because we can !
never pay in money what we owe these /
men. 1t is, as / said before. simple |
act of justice, long step in the right |
direction. Those who complain of the |
tremendous cost attendant upon the EN-
actment of this bill into law seem to
have forgotten the tremendous cost at |
which these men made the sacrifice As |
years ago. They gave up everything
homes, business. chance for an educa-
ton. their health, and many of them
their lives. and they saved our coun-
try. In the face of this we can i'll |
afford to coldly consider the cost in
money which viii bring to them com
fort in their old age and pleasure in
the fact that the people of this coun-
try appreciate their heroic services
have always believed in liberal pen
sions. We are a rich country, many
times more wealthy than when the
civil war broke out. Something of that
wealth can well be expended In such
just and equitable cause.