The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-02-14
Civil Pensions.

vorably on the bill before the Gen.
cral Assembly to pension needy
mothers. There is no question on
earth that needy mothers should have
all the help they need, but it is a
duty incumbent upon each locality to
take care of its own, not only moth
crs but all dependents. This paper
some time ago registered objection
to civil pensions The subject of
greatest Importance in every land un-
der the sun is one in which our
mothers are concerned, and those
people who neglect their mothers
will suffer a penalty which God him
self has imposed, therefore we say
that those localities which arc seek
ing to shift this responsibility to
State or national government are in
large way guilty of neglect.
Every county and every munich
pality should not only have but as
sumo the responsibility of taking
CdlC VI I'D
There is one city in this country,
Notwithstanding the fact it is q
northern city, which probably de-
serves more credit thany any other
city in the United States for taking
care of its needy and dependent peo-
pie. That city is Philadelphia, and
as we understand it, most of it's
homes are sustained by municipality
and fraternal organizations. There
are homes all over the city for the
aged and infrm, the afflicted, or
phans, the blind, and every person
who is not able to take care of him
self or herself is provided with COM
Portable quarters and wholesome
food and good clothing. There is no
neglect there, and it should be so in
every city in the country.
Now, the question of looking after
the comfort and care of needy moth
ers is indeed one of the highest pur-
pose. But it is not one to take to
the State or national governments.
Civil pensions begun by legislation
make a never-ending political sys-
tenn that will sooner or later destroy
the institutions of free government.
This government has already paid
out in military pensions since the
Civil War billions of dollars to per-
sons, and large percentage of that
has been paid to men and the widows
of men who have never seen a days
army service in their lives. This is
hard to believe, but those who are
familiar with the proceedings of
Congress can vouch for it. If not SO
then why are we paying to-day two
hundred millions annually to pen
sioners of the Civil War.
Two years ago the Legislature was
asked to authorize large bond issues
for the University of Tennessee and
the State Normals. This year the
Legislature is going to be asked for
fifty millions in road bonds and for
other bonding issues. The taxes are
climbing. The Governor is trying to
make ends meet Will a system of
civil pensions be either advisable or
appropriate just now?
Our Congress is appropriating
hundreds of millions and billions for
this, that and tho other. Notwith-
standing the war is practically over,
there seems to be no inclination on
the part of Congress to practice
economy We are having now to-
pay direct taxes to the Government.
Years ago we did not feel this. 1t
was paid when we bought some
clothing or provisions, and nobody
gave it any concern. Now it will not
only be paid on everything we eat
and wear, but on every luxury and
every business trs nsaction and then
in a levy of direct taxes, and with
Congress dealing in its various
branches of work in terms of hun
dreds of millions the prospects of re-
turning to the old basis of tariff
adequate to meet public expenditures
is not within the present generation
at least. Suppose the Government
adds to this a system of civil pen
sions, which it threatens to do, isn't
it getting time to demand q change.
Those persons who are taking a
personal interest in the needy moth
ers are conscientiously doing a noble
act, but we do not agree with them
that it should come from the State.
The defeat of the equal suffrage
&c ciY nj oui6 Of