Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-06
PENSION LISTS of THREE WARS.
Young Ladies who Married Pensioners
TO Become Aged widows.
Iron The Nelo Yorb Herald.


From the Nete York Herald,
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The subject
of pensions receives considerable atten-
tiOn in every Congress, and considering
that fact it is remarkable how poorly I'M
derstOod the subject is and how many
curious things reward little search. To
begin with, there are two distinct kinds
| OF pensions, and II would be possible for
the same person TO draw money under
both If the law were so interpreted. The
| first class Is for service and the second is
| for disability. The first is paid to pen
sioners of the war of 1S12-16, and the sec
Ond to pensioners OF the Mexican and civil
wars. A soldier in the Mexican cam
paIgn or the civil war must prove that he
incurred disability in the service and in
the strict line OF his duty. Fourteen
days actual service after enlistment is
quite sufficient to entitle a veteran Of the
war with England TO a service pension.
THE LADIES' PETS.
In April last there were thirteen widows
Of soldiers OF the Revolution on the roll:
but several Of these have since died. But
when we come to the war OF 1Sl2-16. there
are 2,945 surviving pensioners. and II, PIP
surviving widows, or a total Of 20, 1877.
The truth seems to be that a penslOned
veteran is an object of afiectionate solicit
tude to pretty much all the foresighted
young women in his neighborhOod. Their
attention cannot be expected to otherwise
than delight the old fellows, who, by mar
rying them, make them their residuary
logatees.
THE MEXICAN VETERANS.
Oficial records Of the Mexican war. as
shown me to-day BY First Deputy Com
missioner Mclean, indicate that up to
July last there have been on the rolls
for disability $500 surviving soldiers and
1916 widows OF that war who have In
herited pensions from deceased husbands.
or a total Of 1919. 1t is safe 70 estimate,
says MIR. Mclean, that more than one
half Of those put on the rolls for Mexican
service are not now drawing money from
the Treasury, having been dropped on ac-
count OF death OF claimant, remarriage
of widow, cessation OF disability or dis
loyalty.
"HoW many persons would probably be
entitled to a pension for Mexican service
under general law granting pensions
for service instead OF disabilitYgo was
asked.
Commissioner Black estimates the
survivors at "a. 4S8. the widows at lA,bI5.
or total Of $685." answered Mr.. Nc.
Lean.
GLANCE AT THE ROSTERS.
As you are likely 10 hear more abo ut
the men who fought in the Mexican war
az an early day, IL may be stated that tn
total strength OF the army and navy on
MAY /, 1876, when hostilities began. was
l4,T24. The enlistments were 10S. 7s5,
making a total force OF 1923, 800. or th ase
1924 did not serve In Mexico, aud there.
fore never became candidates for PEN
sions. Commissioner Black estimates the
total number actually on Mexican soil al
025S2. Now from this you can deduct for
death, from all causes, 12,57S; discharged
for disability, l8907; desertions, 6,725;
not accounted for az close Of war, 1927, or
total loss in Mexico. including Tesigna-
tons Of officers, Of 80. 1877. The age OF sur
yivOrs living In 1885 is estimated on an
average at "a years; expectation Of life,
ii I-lO years; widows living IN 1885, 50