The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-09
GEN. WARNER ENDORSED BY
COM, DUDLEY.


While the Mexican Pension Bill was
pending in the House, Gen. Warner
was Chairman on the PAYMENT of PEN
sions Bounty and back pay, asked The
Commissioner OF Pensions to furnish an
estimate OF the cost of applying the prin-
ciple of that bill to Union Soldiers. The
following is from the reply furnished by
the Commissioner:
WASHINGTON. D. G.. March Sth, 1884.
Hon. A. j. Warner, House of Representa-
tlves. r LIS
Dear Sir:
Ihave the honor TO submit herewith for
your information, certain calculations based
proportions are substantially as follows:
Isl, How many soldiers OF the late war now
survive who served period ofnot less than
sixty days.
I'd, What would It cost to pension snch
Survivors, the pension TO be at the raie Of
eight dollars per month. . ~" -
There are, properly. three classes First,
piled for pension. Second, those who aie
now In receipt OF pension at q less rate
than eight dollars per month. and would be
entitled, under the terms You propose. prac-
tcally. 10 the difference between their pres
ent rate and that OF eight dollars per month;
and Third. Those who now survive anu
have applications for pension pending: OF
which would entitle them 10 q less rate OF
pension than eight dollars, and those who
failed 10 secure favorable action on their
claim would come properly within the scope
OF your inquiry.
1t may be Stated as approximately correct.
that 800 thousand soldiers now survive,
who have never applied for pension, and
whose term OF service was for period Of not
less than sixty days.
Now take the number OF pensioners who
receive less rate OF pension than eight dol
lars per month, the estimated number from
those pending who would receive q less rate
than eight dollars, the number Of pending
claims rejected and an estimate OF those
hereafter Re jected and the average would be,
on basis OF eight dollars per month, Ito
0J0 survivors.
This would give 100000 survivors within
the scope OF Jour proposition. Experience
/ will Justify the statement that fifteen per
| cent, OF that number would not apply for a
| pension, therefore we have o basis for The
calculation of 90l 900 survivors who would be
| emitted under yonr proposition at the raj Q
/ of eight dollars per month and their average
| wou Il now be AZ years.
| EXAMPLE.
| 9O1 90 survivors at sos per annum would
| cost for enc year SS6, ,A960 The average az
years, making the total cost s. O75.sO4 .0OO
rte .tt.pet,a.,Dn of ,lfett basis on Il which
/
'.Cariisle Tables"
am sir, very respectfully.
| Commissioner OF Pensions.
CALCULATIONS.
The above, however, are based on the
principle o. the Townshend bill OF sixty
days service and does not include wild
ows. With the perioi of service reduced
to fourteen days, and the provisions
granting Pensions to ell widows, no mat
ter when the soldier married, extended
to all Union Soldiers, and the total cost
would be increased by not less than
$500, 100000 Now the highest point
the interest bearing debt reached at the
end OF the war was 1881 .000, 900. To
carry out this principle therefore
would involve the country again in a
debt greater than that which was incurr-
ed in the whole war.
Again there was paid altogether to the
Union Soldier, from the firing on Fort
Sumpter to the disbandment OF the
Army after the surrender of Lee, 81 ,070,-
600, 900. This IA day principle of the
Mexican bill if extended to Union SOL
diers, would cost therefore more than
twice as much as was paid to the Union
soldier from the beginning to the end oi
the war.
The chairman fthe Senate Committee
on Pensions admitted in the debate in
J the Senate that this principle extend
ed to Union Soldiers would add from
100 000,0 900 dollars to 125 900, 900 dollars
year to cost of pensions. This year Sc
,, 100000 dollars were appropriated, Think
!. of adding l25, 600. 600 dollars more, which
would run up the cost to near half ol
the cost of all the standing armies o
!, Europe. To do this taxes must be increas
ed, not diminished.