Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-16
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
HISTORY OF PENSIONS.
An Interesting Essay Recently Read b,
General o. o. Howard.


q o. Howard, at the last meeting of the
! Military Service Institution, at its rooms
| on Governors Island.
He gave historical sketch Of pension
legislation since 1875, making a marked
distinction between invalid pensions,
including pensions to widows, and chill
| dren under 16, of deceased soldiers, and
a war or their widows.
After the war of the revolution, in.
valid pensions of So a month for total
disability were paid to enlisted men,
with half pay to officers disabled to the
same extent.
Thirty-five years after the close of the
war service pension was granted to
the INDECENT of $50 per month to officers
and 50 to enlisted men. The INDECENT
pensions failed to reach many of the
most deserving, and door was opened
to numerous abuses and impositions.
Ten years later, or forty-five after the
war, full-pay pension was granted to
all survivors who had served to the end
of the war-the highest pay not to ex-
coed that of a captain.
Four years later, or forty-nine years
after the war, this pension was extended
to all survivors.
The amount of money paid on account
of Revolutionary pensions has been
about S3s, 500, 600.
The invalids and widows received the
same pensions after the war of 1912 as
in the Revolutionary war until 1916,
when the pensions of subaltern officers
were increased-the highest not to ex-
coed Strand enlisted men to IS per
month for total disability. These rates
to be divided for lesser injuries.
The first service pension of the war of
1912 was granted in 1871, fifty-seven
years after the war. This was IS per
month to all officers and enlisted men
who had served sixty days and to wild
ows who had married before it. Proof
of loyalty was required.
In 1878 the conditions of loyalty and
marriage previous to the war were re-
moved and the time reduced to fourteen
days or battle. The widows pensions
were increased in 1885 to S12 per month.
The service pensions alone for this war
have cost $50, $40, 256.O4.
The Mexican war pensions have been
the invalid pensions, and since 1887,
thirty-nine years after the war, service
pensions. The invalid pensions were at
the IS rate for enlisted men, and half
pay for officers, not exceeding $50 per
month. The cost of the service pensions
for this year will be S13, 900, 900.
The regular army pensions have been
the same as for volunteers with invalid
pensions alone in time of peace.
Now there are 122 grades of pensions
between 81 and S72 per month. The
largest number of benefciaries are at 81
per month, 69,21O; the next largest, g.
142, at So.
In the war of the rebellion the volun-
teers were secured by law at the time of
enlistment the same pensions enjoyed
by the regular army, So per month for
enlisted men for total disability, and
not to exceed thirty for officers, and less
rates for smaller hurts.
On account of the abundant legisla-
ton and the prevailing desire to meet
cases of great hardship, the old system
of rating the disability of men disabled
in the war of the rebellion has of late
years been departed from. The gradual
lifting up of the amounts allowed for
the various specific disabilities has at
last virtually overturned all the regu-
lar arrangement.
An instance from a table gives loss of
both hands in 1864, raised from SIS flor
total disability to SIS, in 1872 to S31.25,
in 1874 to $50, in 1878 to S72 and in 1889
to 500 per month.
Our laws now make rate of So for to-
tai disability, with intermediate rates
of SIS and S24 and $50 for total disability
to perform any manual labor. They
give $50 for disabled condition requir-
Ing the regular aid of another person,
and if this amount was asked for before
June 16, 1880, it has been increased to
S72; but those who have filed their
claims since receive but $50 a month.
There are 1870 special acts granting
pensions to persons not entitled to PEN
sions under the general law. 1t is evil
dent that great inequalities and conse-
quent injustice have grown out of at
tempts to remedy existing specific evils
and individual misfortunes. Pensions
from the rebellion have already cost up
ward of 81, 900, 900, 600.
The Pension Bureau and it's agencies
aggregate over 1000 employees under
and the expenses for
1888 were So, 1862, 524.67.
Pensions paid that year amounted to
$50, O3s, 1869, 81 per cent of the entire
of the government.
The classes entitled to pensions are:
|. Invalid pensioners. 2. Widows. |
!. Dependents. 4. Service pensioners
If war of 1912 and Mexican war.
1t has been the intention, without re-
yard to party division, to deal as liberal
y as practicable with the nations de- |
lenders.
Some of the causes of Irregularities |
md injustices have been given. A COM
mission of seven members or more of |
he wisest and best men of great legal |
md judicial experience is suggested to |
evise and codify all pension legislation
md regulations and to draw such apprO-
'riate bills as would embody the evident
Intention of the nation to be submitted
or re-review by Congress and the Ex-
cutive.
A general service pension is not yet
dvised. The requisite sum would Gre
tie public discomfort.
Fifty years from the close of the war,
915, is suggested as year that the
alton could we'll celebrate jubilee and
estow on every survivor of the army
which redeemed it a reasonable and
honorable pension.
Attempts at frauds are of course made.