The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-06
ONE CENT A DAY.
A Novel Form of Service Pension Which La
Expected Receive Strong support

A Novel Form of Service Pension Which La
Expected tn Receive Strong support
Washington Special.
The bill Just brought forward in the Senate
for establishing service pensions at the rate of
one cent a day for Union soldiers and sailors
furnishes a and at first rather taking rally
ing cry for old attempt. One cent day
seems a small reward for the tolls OF march and
perils of battle if such rewards are to be paid
at all The bill applies to ali officers or enlisted
men, regulars volunteers, who served In the
army, navy marine corps subsequent to
March A. 1861 and prior to July l. 1866, and this
pension is 10 be additional to any heretofore or
hereafter granted for disability. The main PEN
sion 10 as follows:
the rate per month of cent for each days service
rendered in said army, navy, or marine corps of the
United States.
The first point to note about this little rate
which may seem too modest and meagre to OPP
pose, is that it is monthly rate, not an annual.
Next, there were many soldiers who served
would therefore be $40. 80. in round mum bers,
1921 year. large number re-enlis:ed after
the three years and served long enough to have
over $12 month. Some of the regulars would
have over SIS month. 1t is evident. therefore,
that this new one-cent-a-day bill is not great
economy over the old form of service pension
measures, giving eight and one-third dollars a
month. and not making this cumulative
amount upon disability pensions
According to Colonel Phisterer. there was
pm aggregate of 2, 772, 408 men furnished to the
Union armies during the OF these more
than million were in service when the period
of Campaigning drew to a close. So large pro-
portion enlisted for three years or the war, and
so many re-enlsted in the veteran reserve
corps, or in their other regiments, that
"the aggregate of enstments reduced to a
three years standing" was 232O,2I2 In addi-
ton. there were many enlstments for less than
ninety days for which the States received
credit: and these would be included in the bill
for cent day. 1t Is true that men who
enlisted are necessarily counted twice these
reckonines. Still. the figures give some
notion of the prodigious expense to be incurred
by raying Sill month $l2l year, for the
all others. A report by former Com missioner
of Pensions estimated the number of actual in
dirdual enlistments, excluding all counts of
re-enlistments, at 2,O63. POI. These figures.
again, give still more definite idea of what
would be called from the treasury by the pend
ing measure. Another estimate of the bureau
at that time. only a few years ago. was that
there were still living 146S 022 survivors of the
war; including those who have and those who
must be rough estimates, and, in addition, al
lowance must be made for deaths that have oc-
CURED since. But, on the other hand, the bill
for one cent day takes in the sailors and the
marine corps. who are not included in these es-
Inmates.
This bill even goes to the extent of pension
ing for every day of year following the close
OF actual hostiiities quite needesslv making its
provisions extend TO July /, 1866. Besides. it is
sion the widows and other relatives OF those
who served and have died. since this is
only in accordance with precedent The pres
ent bill. in short, would be certain to take hun
dreds OF millions year out of the treasury.
der its very hoeest plea of only one cent day.