The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-28
THE HISTORY OF PENSIONS.
The Number sf Pensioners Cared For
by the United States.
Over Six Hundred and Fifty Millions of
Dollars Paid Out Since the Found
Ing of the Government.

Since the foundation of the government
its policy in relation to pensions and pen
sioneers has undergone a radical change, and
that change has been for the worse. 1t may
be that when the thirteen colonies emerged
from the terrible struggle with the mother
country they were too poor and too greatly
burdened with debt to pursue the course
that is followed to-day, when the country
has reached a period of such miraculous
development and unexampled prosperity
In 1776 the Continental Congress provided
by series of resolutions that all soldiers and
seamen who were wounded or disabled while
in the service of their country in the revolu-
tionary war, so as to be unable thereafter
"of getting a livelihood should receive
during life, or such disability, one-half of
his monthly pay after such pay as
soldier or sailor should cease. Proof
to entitle each applicant to a pen
sion had to be produced, and the State
Legislatures were authorized to appoint per-
sons to receive and examine claimants GER
tihcates In 177S and in April, 1882, resou-
tons were adopted extending the provisions
of 1776. Upon these resolutions adopted by
the Colonial Congress rest the present pen
sion system of the United States. Under
these acts each colony paid its pensioners,
and made quarterly reports to the Board of
War. In 1889 the United States assumed
the payment of pensions for one year. By
acts of 1890 and 1871 the United States as
sumed the payment of pensions for two
years, and in 1892, by act of Congress, the
pensions were confirmed for life and their
payments assumed by the United States.
Numerous laws have been passed modifying
the act OF 1892, and on April 10, 1906, all for
mer laws were repealed and provision was
made for the payment of the pensioners of
the Revolutionary War. This law still prac-
tically controls the payment OF pensions to
Revolutionary pensioners. The law OF
March 49, 1918, pensioned all persons who
participated in the Revolutionary War,
and changed the pensions from invalid
to gratuitous. This law has never been
repealed, but has been modified by
several subsequent acts This act was the
first one passed by the United States grant
ing gratuitous pensions From it may be
traced the widening of that policy which has
broadened into the present system in which
pension is no longer a lawful debt the gov
eminent owes the honest claimant, and which
he might claim with honor; but a subsidy
bordering on fraud which is eagerly claimed
by unmanly men to the justice and wrong
wrought to worthy widows and orphaned
children of dead heroes.
A brief mention of all the laws passed
latlng to pensions would make book. The
laws, decisions and practices of the pension
office make a volume of over 100 pages. This
brief history has been sketched to give the
reader some idea of the origin of pensions in
the United States.
THE COST OF PENSIONS
From the foundation of the government
until 1861 the United States paid in pensions
the sum of $89, $50, 1885. Since that time
the enormous sum of 1862, TAI, ITO. 81 has been
paid out. The following table shows the
amount thet has been expended each year