The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-01-17
SADDLE BURDEN .
|. OF REPUBLICANS
Body Blow 10 Retrepchment Plans
in Next Congress
Opening Of. Books viii show That
Democrats Are Loaded Down With
$40, 100000 on Wrong Side of
Ledger After Waiting 20
Years for Economy.


ing nearly 20 years for an opportun-
ity to demonstrate how to work econ
omies in appropriations, the demo-
Gratis of the 62d congress must start
of their retrenchment program with
~ additional burden Of $4,000, 900,
which the house republicans have
just voted shall be added to the gov
ernment's pension rolls.
If the senate passes the house bill
the democratic economists-and all
democrats have cried for economy
for some years past-will open the
books next December with a s45,-
100000 item on the wrong side Of
the ledger. and no wonder some of
them are sore today, notwithstand-
L ing their love for the old soldier.
The increased pension bill passed
the house under the spell of patriotic
oratory. Uncle joe Cannon him
self left the chair, and, upon the floor
of the house, waved the tattered
flags OF the civil war. He pictured
the needs Of the lame, the halt, and
the blind: the prosperity Of great
nation and its ability to care for its
sayiors; he quoted Lincoln and his
plea for the man who had fought the
battle and his widow and orphans.
Vote Was Overwhelming.
The debate lasted perhaps an hour.
Then a vote was taken, and 212
members of the house vote to sus-
pend the rules and pass the bill,
while an Intellectual vote Of So was
trecorded against the measure. Only
the southern democrats and a few
New England republicans opposed.
i The democrats caught their
breath, especially the democrats from
the south, who have no union sol
\ diers in their districts, and who do
not have to appease constituency
composed largely of war veterans.
In less than year, reasoned the fab
bergasted democrats, their party
would come into power In the house.
THE country expects economy, for the
democrats have flooded the country
with literature denunciatory of gov
ernmental extravaganza.
i The republican house will not re-
eeiYe the credit or discredit, accord
I ing TO the viewpoint, Of indiscrimi-
nately adding millions to the pension
rolls. II will take months to ad.
judicate the claims, and the real task
of delving into the treasury will fall
10 the democrats, although the re-
publican house placed the law upor
the statute books, and Il must be
followed.
Applies Co All Alike.
There was no opposition, even
lamong the democrats, to a slight in
crease OF the pension rolls. but dur
!, ling the debate II was claimed tha
the law as passed will apply 10 th'
needy veteran and TO the rich vete
] ran alike. Any man who served OF
the union side in the civil war, an'
, who shall have reached the age Of 81
years. is entitled TO become a bene
) fieiary. There are now approximate
~ 45O. .000 OF these veterans remain
I ing. and their pensions will rang
under the new scale. from Sl5 20 81
per month.
The committee on invalid pension
estimated that II the law were TO be
! come Immediately operative il woul
add about ss5.000.000. Thi
amount, OF course. will be decrease
e yearly, as the old soldiers answer tn
last roll call.
: Aside from the sentiment Of IN
: plan. however. certain democrats ar
somewhat perturbed today. An al
: preparation ~ this amount IL boun
J 10 prove a body blow to a retrencf
: ment program--but there's nothin
for the democrats TO do but to fac
. the music. or else defeat the legisli
! tion In the senate.
Verify. the troubles OF those VII
: will control the house Of the 81
I congress seem TO be multiplyiu
daily.
Il Il