Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-09
The Pension Agency.

Through the courtesy Of Gen SrKrnM Tuos.
AS, the popular and efficient Pension Agent for
this district, we are enabled 10 present our
readers with the following facts in relation 70
pensions and pensioners hereabouts.
This district consists Of Windhsm, Windsor
Orange, Caledonia, Washington, Orleans and
Essex Counties, and has a considerably larger
roll ofpensioners than the district which is com
posed Of the remainder Of the State
The annual disbursements for this district
amount TO about 500, 600
Ofrevolutionary pensioners there are new on
the rolls Of the Office, eleven widows. The
number three years ago was twenty-five, just
one half having died during this short period.
There are M surviving pensioners OF this war.
In order to be entitled 10 pension, the soldier
must have served six months, and have been
honorably discharged
The act of February, "A, 1871, provides that
every soldier who served sixty days in the war
of 1879, their widows, provided they were
married prior 10 February II, 1916, or chill
dren, shall DO entitled to a pension. Under
this provision two hundred and three surviving
pensioners have been enrolled, Of which num-
Der thirty-two haze since died There have
been fifty widowed pensioners Of this class, Of
whom eleven have died during the past two
years.
/ or the soldiers Of the Mexican War, only
those who were wounded, or the heirs Of those
who we're killed or wounded or incapaciated
while in the service, can draw pension. OF
this class there are only three surviving pen
sioners and only two Of the eight widows who
drew pensions three years ago, are now living.
! 1t is impossible to give the exact number Of
pensioners Of the late war who are paid through
this Office, but the number will not vary much
from . 600, and the decrease in the number o.
this class Of pensioners per year is, Of course
much less marked than in that Of the Older
classes During the past six months 81 name,
have been dropped from the roll for the reason
Of recovery, marriage or death, and as many
more have not drawn their pensions, and are
probably not entitled to them, although not 81
officially reported at the Office. The number o
new pensioners is very small 10 comparison
with the number dropped.
The smallest pension paid is 81 90 pc
month, and there are but two Of this grad
paid here The largest pension is 1911 25 pc
month.
The last Congress, by the law Of March 3
1878, made some changes and increase Of pen
sions in certain cases. The old rate Of pen
siJns for soldiers totally disabled was S. pc
month, Under the new law, if the pensione
has lost both hands or both feet or both eyes
or is otherwise permanently totally disabled
40 as 20 require regular personal aid, he is en-
titled to $3l 2j per month If he has lost on
hand and one foot, or is otherwise equally dis
abled, he receives SEA per month if he ha
lost hand or foot, or Is equally otherwis
disabled, his pension IS hxedat s ls per month
Under the new law the rate Of Sls per mont
may be proportionately paid to any Of thos
who formerly received So per month, in cas-
their injury, 10 the opinion Of the examinin
surgeon, is sufficient to warrant such increase
Soldiers who have permanently lost their heal
ing from causes contracted wbis in the servic,
are entitled 70 $l3 per month. The wor
" total' disability is not construed to mea
absolute entire helplessness, and the grade {
pension is largely in the hands Of the ezminin
surgeon