Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-01
A MILLIONAIRE w1pow's CLAIMS.

Large sums used frequently to be paid out
by the treasury in arrears Of pensions due tc
individuals. Under the law which governed
up to July 1, 1880, anybody who was judged
to have been entitled to q government annuity
from an earlier date might apply for a lump
sum equivalent to the total OF what would have
been allowed If the appeal had been made
earlier. For example, the widow Of a certain
well-known general had never asked for aid
from Uncle Sam because she was in her own
right worth nearly million Of dollars. Hap
pening to be in Washington somebody-thia
was in 1s79Dinquired why she did not draw q
pension. The suggestion struck her favorably.
She sent her papers in due form. and very
promptly she received check for several
thousand dollars. She had no use whatever
fol- the money, and so she devoted it to the
purchase OF an elaborate tombstone for the
late lamented.
The lady's claim was based on the statement
that her husband died from disease contracted
incidentally to duty during the late war. A
veteran officer who had known him intimately
winked his eye and said:
MY recollection is that the general had the
disease which killed him pretty badly before
the war began"
To illustrate his meaning he carried his hand
to his mouth with a peculiar crooking Of the
elbow. In fact. the man Of whom he spoke for
some time previous to his death had been in
the habit Of drinking two quarts of brandy
daily. This indulgence brought On softening
OF the brain, one symptom OF which was ex-
hiblted in an inclination of the patient to ex-
hibit himself on the balcony In front of his
house without a stitch Of clothing.
After July l, 1880, the law did not permit any
applicant for pension to draw money in ar
rears. This regulation governed until Corporal
Tanner found way to get around it. He es-
tabhshed n system Of reratings By which PEN
sioners secured higher annuities than had pre-
vim lv haar, tod 10 harS N1t
their allowances from the government increased
for the future, but they were permitted to col
lect the difference covering all the previous
period during which they had drawn their sti-
ponds. This peculiar method Of "readjust-
ment' is illustrated by the case of an officer
who in 1868 had obtained award Of els a
month. Twenty-six years later. in 1899, he ap-
piled for rerating at $50 month. He was
successful, and his good luck brought him a
lump sum in cash Of S4,680-this amount rep
resenting the total that would have been paid
to him during those twenty-six years If at the
beginning he had been rated at $50.
REBArINa CASE.
In another instance II man was pensio ned in
August, 1865, at 81. so a month on account of
malsrial poisoning incurred during the war. On
may 8. 1889. he was rerated at SIT, and the Diff
ference was paid to him in cash for all the time
from 1865 up to the current date. He was then
other employee of the bureau WAS allowed &c a
month in 1854 In 1889 he got reratng, Civ
ing him enough to make up 80 month for
those twenty-five years, SIS month from une
1885, SIS from June. 1872, $24 from March.
1888, and $50 from August 1886. Thus he OBJ
tanned several thousand dollars off hand, be-
sides an increase in his income.
Mr.. Cleveland has said that there shall not
be any reratings under the present administra-
ton.
The pension roll of survivors Of the war of
1912 is wonderful list. There are 165 soldiers
and sailors on it. Six Of them are one hundred
years old, five are one hundred and one wears
old. four one hundred and two wears old two
are one hundred and three years old; one. John
W. Ireland OF North Carolina. is one hundred
and four years old. and one John Downey Of
Alabama. is one hundred and five years old
or pensioned widows of men who fought in
that war there are 1851 surviving. OF course,
the reason why the number OF them is so great
Is that many Of the old soldiers married late in
lfe-often on their deathbeds In numerous
instances while with one foot in the grave, they
welded young girls Too frequently. there is
reason to believe, they we're sought as husbands
for the sake of the money allowances they re-
ceived from the government and which they
could bequeath.
Twenty widows Of soldiers who fought in the
American revolution stall draw pensions Does
it not seem wonderful? Two daughters of rev.
dictionary heroes have been pensioned by spe-
cial act of Congress.
There are 1928 survivors OF the Mexican
War still on the pension lists and 1922 widows
OF soldiers who took part in that conflict.
RENE BAcHE.