The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-07-10
SOUTH KENTUGKIAN.
ADVERTISING n RATE.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

AshiN"ioN, IL. W, July 4, S1
The Commissioner of Pensions in
his last report presents mass of in
teresting statistics, and he also indul-
ges in some curious estimates. After
presenting several tabular. statements
he adds: GAS near as / can ascer-
tain there are about $1,000 represent
tatives of deceased soldiers, who have
not applied for pension" And
again: "The general proposition,
however, is presented, with the best
available information at hand, and
there is surviving soldier popula-
tion ofa little over 100000, out of
which claims for pension in the fnt-
ure may be made by those who in
Cured pensionable disabilities"
1t is evident that the restless spirit
of Mr.. Dudley will never be at ease
until he shall have granted a pension
to every surviving soldier oflthe civil
war, and to the. relatives ofth0se who
are dead. Alexander wept for more
Kingdoms to conquer, and Mr.. Dud-
ley weeps for more pensions to be-
stow. Unfortunately as the law now
stands there is no authority for the
commissioner to grant a pension un-
til an application is made. The vol
ume Of business of the office could be
greatly increased by making 1t oblig-
atory upon persons to receive pen
sions.
The present system Of drumming
up business, after the manner of COM
mercial houses, by means of several
hundred special examiners is work
ing admirably, but the scheme is de-
ficient in several particulars and
hardly comprehensive enough in its
scope. Some claims, through the un-
sympathetic natures of special exam
liners, and unavoidably rejected, and
it occasionally transpires that no in
dividuals can be found to answer the
names of claimants and witnesses, in
which case the pension lapses and the
money remains unexpended.
On the whole it is an undisputed
fact that there is vast amount of
money in the treasury that cannot,
| under the present laws be circulated
among the pensioners, or disbursed
in the expenses of the Pension Office.
Though there are still over 100000
persons who may be induced by
proDer canvass of the country to
file claims for pension, yet the cash in
the treasury is constantly accumula-
ting and more than supplies the de-
mand. Here is grand opportunity
for timely legislation. A bill to ia
ciitate the granting of pensions to
those who will not apply for them,
ought to receive the earnest support
of every true patriot in the present
Congress. ''There's millions in it."
Pensioners are proverbially long
lived class, but the report of the
Commissioner of Pensions shows q
dea)h rate among them so low that
it hardly seems credible. 1t appears
that,on june 30, 1882, there were on
the rolls l75,499 invalid pensioners,
and during the year ending on that
date the names of 1895 invalid PEN
sioners were dropped by reason of
death. This shows an annual DEATH
rate of ii per thousand. In ordina-
ry healthy communities the annual
death rate is about % per thousand,
or in other words" -"impartial Fate" is
about twice as apt to knock at some
other persons gate than at the gate
of an invalid pensioner. ih q .
Among the pensioners of the war
, of 1912, we find that, with fetal of
; 3l,765 pensioners, There were during
: tile year 1,l50 deaths, an annual
death rate of 45 per thousand OIL
about twice as great death rate as
. among the entire population. Yet
the former class of Pensioners, If lc.
gally such, are afflicted with wounds,
) injuries or diseases, and the latter
class must be well advanced in years
for the war in which their services
| were rendered closed sixty eight
! years ago. Our war-scarred veter'
: ans are evidently destined to stay
: with us and enjoy the bounty of gov
|, ernment many years to come. f
j .5.i.t.r'l.f. PuoNo.