The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-05

THE @. A. R. AND THE PENSION
LIST.

The subject of the pension list and its
severe revision will undoubtedly be dis
cussed at the national encampmsnt Of the
order. now in session At Indianapolis. IL
Is subject worthy OF discreet discussion.
and we trust IL may get il az the hands OF
the strong men Of the order. It may not
be denied that President Cleveland made
q serious mistake when he appointed
Southern man and an ex-confederate to
the position Of secretary of the interior.
not only because Of the natural prejudice
that such man would hold on the SUBJ
iact OF pensioning Union soldiers, but also
because of his lack of familiarity with the
public land questions. A Southern man
is naturally disposed to DO prejndiccd
against liberal pensions for Union soldiers.
because he knows that the ex-Confederate
soldiers are obliged to be content with
small assistance from their states, while
the South Ii taxed for tho payment of
comparatively liberal pensions to Union
soldiers.
The total number of pensioners and IN
mates of homes for Confederate soldiers in
tho states of Alabama. Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana. Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina. Tennessee. Texas and
Virginia is about 21,055 and the amount
paid annually In pensions and the support
OF these homes IL about 81, I'D. 1856 There
are also Confederate homes In Maryland
and Missouri, with ZIG inmates, main
tanned at annual cost of about s2f, 600.
al. - -.
having paid last year $4so.ooo to !. 400 PEN
sioners. OF this sum sis5. 900 was paid to
800 veterans and $3.50. 900 to 4, 200 widows.
The state has soldiers home. situated on
a tract of 10 acres OF land. which was
built by private subscription at cost Of
s42,0oo; but il remains closed for lack
OF funds. Alabama comes next TO
Georgia. with Ass pensioners, who
received last year sis3.i2432 II
has no soldiers home. North Caro-
lima has 4.7s7 pensioners, who received
si0s.0o0. Il has a soldiers home with
fifty inmates, and the cost Of its mainten-
ance this year has been so far $4,000.
Virginia has $3.50 pensioners and pays
So, 2oo: and Isl inmates of soldiers
homes are supported at an expenditure of
SIS. 10 South Carolina has 2, go pension
ers, who receive $t0,oo0, but has no sol
diers' home. Mississippi has 1900 PEN
sioners. who receive So. 100. and has no
soldiers home. Arkansas has 7s7 pen
sioners. receiving ssi,37s, and maintains
twenty inmates of home. costing $40. 800,
at yearly expenditure of $500. Florida
has 3Ti pensioners, who received $751;
sal. Ii has q home which cost
$1,000. and on which $500 was ex-
pended last year, but IL Is not now
opened. Louisiana has no pensioners,
but il has 50 inmates of home upon
which last year 81. 900 we're expended. Ten.
nessee has $40 pensioners. receiving stii, s75,
and los inmates of home costing So, 000
were maintained last year a. an expense of
$3.50. Texas has no pensioners. but II
maintains los inmates Of home at cost
of ss7.2ss. The Maryland home has a
inmates and the Missouri home -. Each
home cost the state concerned $1,000 last
year. The first cost of the Maryland home
Is not given; that of the Missouri home Is
ssn.epn. Georgia pensions rich and poor
alike. but in the other states emily INDECENT
persons are entitled TO pensions or shelter
In soldiers homes. The Confederate pen
sions are small in Georgia. Pensions are
allowed on the following basis. Loss of
both feet or legs. or both hands or arms.
or one hand or foot and leg or arm, $3.50
year loss Of sight of one eye. or loss of
hearing, SO; loss Of foot or leg. or loss of
hand or arm. sio0s injuries whereby leg
or arm is rendered essentially useless, So.
Virginia pays soldiers totally disabled 500
a year.
These figures are sufficient to indicate
the general rate of Confederate pensions.
To Southern man the contrast between
the pensions raid 10 Confederate aud
Union soldiers Is sure 10 produce The effect
OF bitter prejudice against the Union vet
eran. The Union pension roll contains
s9ssosSs names, while the appropriation for
tsSs was sis6. - $50 There are seven n.-
tionsl soldiers homes with t4,ias inmates
and twenty stase soldiers homes with
ASS inmates. There are ee,SSs Confeaer.
ate pensioners. receiving altogether 81 or
10. and 7as were in soldiers homes \ hose
maintenance last year cost ST.. % The
average amount paid each Confederate
psnsloner il about sss,s 10 annually. while
the average amount paid each Union pen.
slausr IS about slsa
The Southern man further points on,
that tire South has paid since the war in
taxes SSsa0a.ooo toward she Un.on nen.
sion tali Now. granting that all Ties.
statements. which are the estimates Of
southern gnsn, are correct. they furnish
20 reason Ger aar unjust reduction Of The
taton pension roli. The Federal govern
ment Is able 70 pay its soldiers for defend.
Ing the 'lag os the tfaiaa mere literally
than the ex~Ceafedsrats STATES are able TO
ray their veterans faf shslg services in sry.
ing to upset thaf Gag. and il is ore Of the
penalties II unsuccessful rebellion that
the defeated Selsess mast hesn ray fAe ea.s
81 shs waE they compelled the government
10 wage saf preservation. Nevertheless
a. southern NAN the iaSis reS.tesi wouta