The morning call., 1892-03-13

In the struggle and set survive, The volun-
teers who fought the war TO its end did not
do II for the money there was in it. The
pay and bountIes were not large enough TO
tempt cupdity, much less to weigh in the
scale against life itself. We must accord to
them the most exalted motive Of patriotic
duty. Ii is not likely that one in bundled
of them had a thought when he enlisted
upon the matter of pension. He only
knew that his country was in Imminent
peril and that his services were needed to
strike down those who had assailed her
flag. 1t is not justice TO regard as a gTatuty
the pensions THAI are being paid to the widow
and the fatherless and to those who were
disabled in battle or by disease. We as
people have no more sacred duty than 10
care for those who sacrificed so much.
The number OF pensioners now on the
rolls is 53S,t0o. OF these. in round numbers,
39S, 0O0 are ''inyalds" and lO7. GOO are widows.
orphans and dependent relatives resulting
from the War OF the Rebellion; 400 are sur
vivOrs and $500 widows OF the War of 1872;
1900 are survivors and 6J00 widows of the
Mexican War. Under the operation of the
law enacted by the last Congress, the num-
Der OF pensioners will be increased by prob
ably 100000 as soon as the claims can be
sdjudcated. At the time this bill was
passed there were pending. under the laws
then in force. about 500. 600 claims. A large
per cent OF these will be duplicates of appli-
cations under the recent act. so that the
plumber of new claims will not be as large
as the figures would indicate.
1t is not possible to form definite opinion
when the maximum OF tho pcnSi0n-roll will
be reached, or how large ii will then he,
either in The number Of pensioners or of the
amount paid, as these are wholly contin-
gent upon legislation by Congress. Should
a general service pension be granted. plac-
ing all survivors upon the roll, the highest
point would at once be attained. From that
moment the decline would begin and Ii
would be rapid.
A careful examination Of the subject leads
10 the conclusion that more than third of
the men who were discharged from the
army at the close of the war were subject by
reason OF wounds and other causes of disabil
ity, TO q considerably higher rate of mortal
ity than ordinary citizens who had not been
exposed 10 the bardships and casualties Of
war. That this is true is clearly shown bv
the tact that the death rate OF those upon
the pension-roll has been greatly in excess
Of the estimates upon which the accepted
tables of life insurance companies are based
Not less than 100000 men discharged from
the army were subject TO this increased rate
of mortality. With this large body of men
the expectation OF life was shortened by
about twelve years, total Of 1900 600 wears
OF individual existence. This fact illustrates
not less than the statistics of death OH the
bsttleirlds aud in hospitals, the awful
ravages OF war.
To test the correctness of this conclusion
an examination was made OF Ii. 900 cases OF
men upon the rolls who had died. Taking
the age at enlistment and the age at death,
IL was found that the average shortening Of
lie had been such rs TO fully Justify the
estimate already given. IL may also be
fairly said that this condition, in less
degree, applies TO nearly 10000 others who
survived the war, whose lives have been or
will be shortened By FIVE or SIX years. Few
men went through months aud wears of
service in the field without more or less I'M
palrment Of health, not taking into account
the dangers OF battle. In by far the majority
of cases the effects of hardship, privation
and exposure were beyond the power of
time to wholly repair. No one who looks
upon a gathering of old soldiers can fail to
be impressed with the truth that they are
prematursly old.
A careful estimate places the number of
survivors OF the Union army July I, 1865, at
100000. 1t will be understood that this
includes large number who had enlisted
under the later calls Tor men, and had seen
little actual service. Thousands in the
camps OF rendezvous had not been sent 10
the 'front.' at all. As nearly as can be
ascertained. 457. 600 OF the survivors died
between July 1. 1865, and July /, 1890, leav-
ing the number at the latter date 1,245, 900.
This is being reduced by death at tile rate
OF $4,000 year. During the next fifteen or
twenty years the mortality will increase as
the soldiers grow old. Thirty years hence
the ranks Will be thin indeed, in forty years
are now of the age Of 62 or upward. Others
who live will reach that age at the rate, upon
an average, OF $4,000 per year. Those who are
now arriving at 62 were above 81 when the
war closed. There will be from 1900 TO
1900 year for the next half dozen years.
From about 1897 the number reaching the
age OF 62 will increase rapidly, owing to the
fact that by far the greater portion of the
soldiers OF tho Union army were under 80
The average age OF enlistment was about 49,
IL Is estimated that the largest number to
reach the age OF 62 In any one year will be
in 1905, when there will be 60 600. Such
persons were about % when discharged from
the army. In 1906 there will be about "a, goo.
In 1907 1000. In 1908 300 and in 1909 only
535. These last are the rear guard of the
great patriotic procession. They shouldered
mnskets at 10 and marched away To tho field.
The rate OF mortality among the soldiers
indicates that OF the present survivors
about 5S0,000 will live to reach the age of
81. But If a service pension should be made
operative at that age not more than two
thirds oil this number would be upon the
roll at any one time. the greater part OF
those who have already reached that age.
or will reach it during the next half-dozeri
years, will have passed away before the
point shall have been reached by the young
est.
The aggregate amount paid for pensions
since 1861 exceeds S1,10o0 00,090, about a
third OF what the war cost the Govern
ment during its continuance. The amount
stated includes, however, the sums paid
to the pensioners OF the War of 1872,
the Mexican War and Indian wars. Allows
so per cent was paid to pensioners of the
| War OF the Rebellion. AS the laws stand to-
day the amount required for some time to
| come will be about $40, 900, 600 year. II
Is not likely In any event, unless there be
| further legislation. to greatly exceed that
sum. as the future yearly additions to the
| roll Will be nearly Offset by those dropped
| by reason OF death and other causes. The
time Is not remote when, in the course of
nature, the survivors of the late war will be
| SO reduced in number that the pension roll
will ceaee to be a burden upon the people,
| even If it can now be considered such.
/ The records Of the Pension Oifica show