THE PENSION QUESTION.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."] SID,—There is one circumstance connected with the present pension system of which I do not wish to make too much, but still I think it should be known and brought before the public eye. Are you aware that till early in the present century, the Custom House (I suppose the other principal department was in the same boat, but that I do not know) pensioned itself ? In 1805 (I think that was the date), Government, wanting money for the war, pounced down like a bird of prey and bore away all our accumulated savings, the growth of a long series of years. I have always understood that if they had left us alone I should have been better off than now, not to mention that under the old plan widows and orphans were relieved who are at present left out in the cold. In return for this money they had seized upon, the Government established the first pension system. Later on, constituting themselves the judges in their own cause—a proceeding which does not command active sympathy, or even general approbation—they receded from the original contract, and cut down the declared allowances to suit their own convenience. I do not say that
they did positive injustice to any single person ; but they gave no choice to the Customs—as I think they were in equity bound. to do—whether that body of men might not prefer getting their own money back with due interest, and reverting to the old ways, rather than accept the breach of engagement, and thereby establish a precedent for further arbitrary changes whenever the Government feels disposed to make them.
Taxpayers and pension-givers naturally forget these events. Pension-receivers as naturally remember them. The Govern- ment has established its precedent, and therefore, as I said before, it is useless to make a noise about such matters. Still, I think, even conceding everything, that the most rabid econo- mist can hardly say (except, of course, in an election speech) that the fund out of which my pension derives itself is really public money.—I am, Sir, &c., FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE.
Rowbarns, Leatherhead, March 31st.
Previous page
