Pensions And Pensioners

The aunuul report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that the total amount paid in peDSons and the oost of disbursing the same for the last 30 years has been $2,034,817,769. This lacks only a little over $346,712,500 of being equal to the high water mark of the interest bearing public debt. The present nurnber of pensioners, whioh is 970,768, is greater by 4,666 thau in 1893 when the máximum annual oost was reached, and greater than ever before. This ie dne to tha death of veterans and the oontinued payment of alluwances to their heirs while the amountpaid is deereased through the death of pensioners leaviug no dependeuts. It is asserted the pension polioy has been to make the pension list a roll of honor rather tban money to the government. The effort has been to defeat the designs of imposters, while recognizing the claims of the needy and deserving. General public sentiment, however, is that the obligations of the Rovernraent are coufiued to those who fooght for its maintenance and those dependent upon them.