Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1913-05-21
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Memorial day there is outpouring OF those
VINO pay homage to the soldier dead Every
"here liz evidenced the thoroughness and eff
cheney or the nations attempt TO take care OF its
dead and assure the perpetuation Of the name
and the credit OF the martial hero
Twelve freight trains OF 25 car1 each would
oe required TO haul the money In 20dollar gold
pieces that this nation has paid out IN pensions
10 the veterans OF the Civil war. Ten freight
cars would be required to haul the money in gold
That the nation pays to Its veterans I'm a einpIe
year These amounts promise to be greatly aug.
mented by legislation now pending before con-
gress.
The pension Office in Washington is tn. mi.
mary monument in honor OF the old soldier II
was built with the particular idea in mind OF
furnishing Clearing house for the gratuities
which the government extends to him. & is the
iarBes' building ever erected by the federal gov.
eminent The maintenance OF the pension servIce
alone IN it's handling of the sums that go to the
pensioners cost the government S265O 600 last
year. The net sums paid out in pensions hi.
during the last few years amounted around
$loOOOO.OO0 annually.
This appropriation would moan , co,n,o -,
dollars to every man. woman and child IN tho
hauoh indirectly every man. woman and child
contributes couple Of dollars to It.
The government has expended in pensions 10
date for all the wars OF the past a little over
aOOO,000000. or this So 900 900 600 was received
by civil war veterans. Four billion dollars "a an
enormous amount OF money There is at present
In the United States including all the eo,d siIvor
and paper money in all the treasures. banks
wallets and old socks. but $S,556 600 600 This
is to say. there is not enough money IN tba
ohlteo states today to pay, at a single time tho
pensions that the Civil war veterans have ra
celVed So. In the course OF drawing their
supends IL is evident that the pensions have n,
one time or another had all the money there IL
There Is but $1.750.0 900 in gold coin IN tho
united States There is not half enough gold coin
III existence 10 have paid these pensions had the
call come all at The government has Maid
out altogether $50 carloads Of gold coin in peD.
sions. All its gold might have been usad +uo
ana ohe-half times over in the process II this
Twelve tran1oads OF gold were loaded at onca {,
would require but nine additional trainloads r.
haul the balance OF the gold coin OF the world
These pensions are paid quite cbeerfuI, 1baG
10 hardy dissenting voice in congress when =
proposal to Increase pensions Is introduced Tho
people approve OF the action. They worship AT
the shrine OF the martial hero and are willing ~
al unes 10 be taxed that he may be given
further pttances
me pension appropriation Is the largest IndL
r'u"- Uem when. each year. congress makes ND
the list or governmental expenditures Yet
scarcely voice is raised in disclaimer Admin.
'SIrauons may lay heavy stress upon the nrr
gram OF economy. bat suggestion is ever made
that the pension roll be cut When measures
OF pension increases are brought before congress
."O even the Democrats vote against them When
investigating committees go roaming tbroug,
government departments In search ~ An,,oi,,
leaks the pension Office Is clear-lIsted and no
questions are asked The veteran and his non
sion are held sacred
When the question is raised az 10 who sb,u
secure position under Uncle Sam the veteran is
again given the advantage. In the civil service
IN the first place. the age limit is removed from,
the oIo soldier Re his age what II may the
POSITIONS are all open to him. Tn the examina
lions that must be taken under civil service r,Ics
the veteran need secure an average OF but 6,
"hil' the civilian must rate at least 20.