Evening star., 1932-11-13
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star


Fifty years ago, as a result Of Re-
cratic .. victory
democrats race was, won in
Bonus" Problem. sIe II eiectsogs S0etS5gssiu and
that party was faced with an embar-
rassment strikingly like that which Is
now presented by the possibility OF
veterans bonus legislation The Star
of November 13, 1882, says;
THE Democrats, who are planning
a reform program that shall give them
a strong bid for the support Of the peo-
pie in 1884. are likely to be confronted
with IN obstacle in the shape OF an
other rears-of-pensions bill that II
passed will make such scoop from the
National Treasury that all talk about
the reduction of expenses by the new
Democratic Congress will be absurd.
It seems that Pension Commissioner
Dudley, in preparing the tables for his
annual report, has made the discovery
that there are 100000 ex-soldiers yet
living in the United States who nave
never applied for pensions. These men
are getting along in years and disor-
ders contracted in the service are mani
Testing themselves in pensionable dis
abilities. The prevailing idea that the
pension rolls should be decreasing at
this time Is erroneous. They are, on the
contrary, likely to increase for some
years. The annual amount OF current
payments is now about $55, 600, 900, ex-
elusive of arrears, and 1t is stated that
the greedy claim agents are making
preparations to besiege Congress with
petitions asking for the passage of an
other arrears-of-p pensions bill. Appi-
cants whose claims have been filed for
the first time within the last two years
are not entitled under existing laws to
arrears. The proposition is to have all
limits and restrictions removed, so that
a pensiOner whose claim has been estah-
lished, or who shall hereafter make a
claim and prove it. shall be entitled to
back pension from the incurrence of the
disability. The Democrats will be be-
tween two fires in acting upon this bill.
If they vote for it they will disgust the
taxpayers Of the country, who were bur-
dened with such an enormous load by
the previous outrageous arrears bill, and
If they vote against it they will risk ar
raying the soldier element Of the coup-
try against them"
kk
Some delay was had In awarding the
contract for the Potomac River i'm
River Contract thorized BY Congress
Is Awarded % question ysdio avf whether St the 20
lowest bidder could satisfactorily exc
cute the project. Finally his bid was
rejected and the next lowest bidder, P.
Sanford Ross of Jersey City, was award
ed the contract. The Star of Novem-
Der IS, 1882. says:
THE contract for dredging the Po-
tomac fats has been awarded and It IA
to be presumed the work will be under
way as soon as the necessary prepare.
tions can be made. Upon the advice
of Mai Hams the contract was award
ed to the next lowest bidder, it hav-
ing been decided after long and care.
fu inquiry that the interests Of the
Government would be subserved bv this
plan. SO far as he has proceeded MAI
Hams has demonstrated his fitness for
the work connded to him. In the mat
ter OF this contract he has proceeded
cautiously. keeping in view the in1nor-
tance Of having the work well done as
well as the proper propriety of retiin0
1t done as reasonably as possible
1.-THE proposed Improvement is ona ~
the greatest Importance 1t Is INTENDED
TO be as permanent as the National
Capital and, therefore, demands care
and skill IN It's execution. In The natIi.
raj course OF business transactions n A.
expected that the Contractors shall
make their due share Of profit. but n ia
not matter for speculation NFaJ
Hams mas an opportunity To h,Yi1d sy,
enduring monument to his ahilitv a.
an engineer in the work of reclaiyos,,~,
ana oeautifytng the flats. and can ea-i,,
win popular favor by pushing the iy,y
proVement as rapidly as possible -