The Columbus journal., 1911-05-03
MORE PENSIONS THREATENED.


In q recent address at Philadelphis
Secretary McVeagh of the treasury
department attacked the civil war pen
sion. He declared that the enormous
civil war pension list is not q credit t.
US, and that it never had \ scientifiC
basis, although a worthy motive gave
it origin.
Secretary McVeagh declared that
the civil war pension has long since
lost its patriotic aspect, and has be-
come a political list, costing the gov
ernmeut about s16O, 100000 a year.
And right Oh top of this assault up
on the civil war pension, Secretary
McVeagh INDUCED in a plea for a civil
tension list, so that aged employees Of
the government may be retired from
the service upon pay and their places
filled by younger material. He insist
ed that the establishment of q civil
pension list is absolutely necessary
for the sake of the government"
Somehow when a high federal official
gets to talking about service pensions,
he forgets all about the old men and
women who have to help pay the old
men and women who have lived for
years of the government.
If the government were in the habit
of asking its employees to work for q
pittance, one might find some excuse
this continuous howl for service pen.
sions for government employees.
But as a rule the rest Of US must
bend our backs all our lives to provide
means with which to pay government
employees good salaries during the peri.
cd of their undoubted usefulness.
Th"se who work for Uncle Sam, as a
rue, get much moro literally paid
than do these who have to work out
their own salvation A. employees Ofcor-
porations aud individuals. Their
work is easy, plenty If hel p is always
provided, their hours are short and
their vacations numerous and long.
If he who works for a corporation or
a private party most of his life is ex.
pected to save enough to enable him to
help pay government employees pen
sions when they get old, it is not at all
unreasonable to expect such govern.
ment employees to be equally frugal,
and the same degree of frugality must
enable the government employees to
save more money than he who works
for some one else.
The man or woman who does not re.
ly upon political favor must, when his
or her period Of usefulness is past, have
either saved up something for a rainy
day, become an object Of charity or
along as best he or she can
under the handicap. Isn't it asking a
little too much to ask he or she then
be required to help pay a pension to
some one who has for many years en-.
joyed lighter work and better pay.
This suggestion that the world owes
4 living to the men and women who
grow old in the service Of the govern.
nent is growing so strong at Washing |
on that unless the masses speedily Or
;anize a protest against it, old men
md women who have never enjoyed
he advantage of working for Uncle
sam at easy work, during short hours
md at good pay that might provide a
for old age, are surely 20.
ne to be called upon in the pear future
o help pay them pensions.
There must be something wrong in
he mental vision of the public official
Tho can denounce the civil war pen.
ions while still contending for a servi.
e pension for government employees.
Did soldiers will perhaps find the ex.
lanatiOn in the fact that Secretary
lcVeagh is a democrat. But that
oes not explain his service pension
onsense. Nothing could be more I'm.
Democracy teaches equal
ghts for all and special privileges
n none. Ifthe day eyer comes when
len and women in all other walks Of
fe, those who have to pay the taxes
nd the salaries of government en-.
|oyes, can be retired at a certain age I,
pom comfortable pension, then there
i'll be some sense and justice in ask
e them to help pay the pensions of
lose who have always enjoyed good
~ from Uncle Sam. But other old
en- and women have to look out for !,
'emselves. When they, get old they
e shunted upon the junk heap and .
body is worried about paying them \
,nSions