The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-12-13
MISSISSIPPI PENSIO NERS
nhe Roll Steadily Climbing
over 1000 New Applicants
During the Year.
..a,tor stone 20 Recommend the Abol'
ishnent of the system.

Jackson, Miss, Dec. S.-A COM 6
nilation OF the pension applica- {
lions for this year shows the total
20 have increased 1893. With
95o0 now on the rolls. this makes
grand total of 1888. OF this
number notification has been re-
ceiyed that during the last year
four of the old pensioners have
tbsd and that Of the 1898 new ap-
nlications the grand juries have so
far rejected sixty, leaving the total
a, 3434. When the auditor and
grand juries pass on the new ap-
9nlications good many of them
viii be rejected, but it is safe to
sav that the grand total will be
considerably upward OF 5000, and
mat the pro :rata each pensioner
will! receive this year will amount
10 little il any more than $40
niece. This is much lower than
ine pro rata has ever been before
SINCE the fund approached the
crescent dimensions. The increase
tor the past year has been greater
han ever before in any one year,
and at the rate there is no telling
where the same will stop. Al this
end of the line it appears as II a
large proportion OF those who
served are trying to get on the
rolls whether they deserve the
fand on account of indigency or
not. The pension was never IN
tended for any out the INDECENT
and if the law was properly OBJ
served that class could only sue
ceed in passing. The fund is no
service pension as many seem e
think.
Owing 10 the fearful abuses o
The fund auditor Stone will rec
ommend it's adjustment and TN
building Of a soldiers home TO tax
it's place. where the really lndl
gent and deserving soldiers an
their widows can Oe cared tor. Il
his report he will say: The maj
Ter of pensions deserves the mos
serious attention OF the Leg:slatur
Under the law the Auditor is PEI
son Commissioner and is clothe
with almost arbitrary power /
granting pensions to applicant
All the safe guards possible hay
heretofore been thrown around ii
fund to prevent unworthy persoI
heco,ning beneficiaries. Notw't
standing this there are, | am sur
great nlany obtaining pension
who are unworthy; and net strict
within the scope Of legal confer
pation, but the greed Of man
and the want Of pride OF the o
liberal exe&se Of netghbor
sympathy and family infnen'
have led to raiding this fund
the unwecthy to the injury OF
strictly deserving.
"When the fund was raised
s64, 200 it was rightly, as thir
judged that that sum would ant
$50 per annum to each pension
but the hat has so greatly increa'
that for 1894, with 2942 beneh'
RES, each only received s2o
and in 1899, with an approprlat
of S6S, 800, the amount to each
t2S. with $500 beneticiarles.
In view of the unholy tresp
upon the pension fund by the
worthy and fairly well-to-do 7
pie. which, 80 far as can oonct
w;,hou, more thorough and
pensive examination oi applica
than at present Is allowed. ]
10 sugs-s' that it will be chea
and more nearly accomplish g
erous charity by ab"l'shing
pension system and estahlismh
soldiers home, where the re'
INDECENT and meritovlous so,d'
and widows can be provided
Examples elsewhere have dem
ttrated the feasibility and ben
cence of the Soldiers Home.
Our experience d'
0nstrateg that OUT