Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-23

are not entitled to<pensiOns under any
law, except in Very few cases, when
their disability has been removed by an
act of Congress- Since 1890, when the
census was taken, it Is estimated that
21S,5 of the survivors then alive have
died. This estimate is based on the ac-
tual deaths of pensioners, as shown in
the report of the Pension Commits
sioner. Since the 1890 enumeration
1860 childless widows have forfeited
their pensions by remarrying, and To-
0S1 survivors and widows have forfeit
ed their pensions by failing to draw
them for three years. Deducting the
deaths, the deserters, and emergency
men and the forefeitures from the
1880 total, it will be seen that there
are 8i3,639 survivors or widows who
might be entitled to pensions. To as
sumo that these are all. entitled to a
pension, however, it is necessary to as
sumo that they were all wounded Or
that to-day they are all disabled or de-
pendent in whole or in part-an as
sumption ridiculous in itself, as any
body will admit. But let it go at that
Now take the survivors alone. In
1890 there were 1,034,G73. Deduct 1885,
Sal who have died, which includes an
estimate for six months Of the present
year, and 121 ,606 deserters and emery
eney men, 1t will be seen that there
are actual survivors to-day 1871 ,122 who
might be entitled to a pension. But
to assume this the same assumption
must be made as was made in the case
CT the survivors and widows together
The total of pensioners on account
of the war of the rebellion is, according
to the report Of the Pension Commits
sioner, 947, 542, Of which $3.50 are chill
dren and 1859 are dependent fathers,
mothers, sisters or brothers. Deduct
ing these from the total there remain
S54114 survivors and widows drawing
pensions, or 40,745 more survivors"
and widows" than there are actual
survivors and widows who under any
circumstances could legally draw pen
sions.
MORE PENSIONED SURVIVORS,
THAN THERE ARE SURVIVORS.
The pension rolls show that 1882
persons are drawing pensions from the
government as survivors of the war of
the rebellion. That is, 6,405 more sur
viVors' are drawing pensions than
taere are actual survivors; fraud on
its face. Bear in mind that every per-
son entitled to a pension must be dis
abled. To get a clear idea OF the ex-
tent Of the fraud let the reader think
up his own acquaintance among the
old soldiers who ne knows are not dis
aibled and who are not drawing pen
siOns, or who though they are disabled.
chill n AMI
thousands upon thousands Of such
soldiers whose bravery and whose SER
vice to the country were never CUES
toned, whose patriotism to-day is as
great as it was in the hour of their
country's need, and who scorn a pen
sion because they do not need it. Prob
ably there is net a reader whose eye
scans this who cannot think OF half a
dozen such men. The Sun reporter
who is writing it has within half an
hour recalled Of his personal acquaint-
ances twenty-one such.
But this IS net all. Besides the e.4O5
more survivors" drawing pensions
than there are actual survivors, 187, 500
more survivors" are clamoring at the
doors CT the treasury for their share
OF the plumber, bulldoZing Congress-
men, bullaozing Senators, bulldozing
the Pension Commissioner, bulldozing
the administration. Regardless of the
financial difficulties of the treasury, re-
CARELESS of everything save their own
oreed-tll az, -ssyt
demanding the nations bounty; 1906
more survivors" drawing or demand
ing pensions than there are actual eur
Tivors.
THE OLD CRY OF "IIGH WATER
MARK"
In 1879, James A Garfield, in the
House of Representatives in a speech
on the floor of the House pleading for
pensions for the old soldiers, said that
the high water mark had been reached
and that from then on the pension rolls
would decrease. He drew a touching
picture of the ravages Of death among
the men who had fought for their coun-
try. He knew the hardships that these
men had suffered and he pleaded tAeir
cause, baslng his argument in excuse
OF their enormous demands on their
service ard in this one fact that the
high water mark had been reached and
that their numbers would grow less
year by year. There were on the rep-
sion rolls at thai time egg, iii pension
ers. Since then 321 ,4S5 have been re-
moved from the rolls ch;cflv Nv death.
There are remaining on Ire rolls 376,-
GA, and 3S5,750 cry out for admission.
The parable Of the loavcs ana the fishes
is not more wonderful. In 1878 the ma
tons bounty to pensioners Of the war
Of the rebellion was s26. 502, 1886.
Last year it was S1Ss 949 7.225.
WIDOWS AND OTHER DEPEND
ENTS.
Now, let us take UP the widows and
other dependents on the rolls. There
are on the pension rolls 213,352 wild
ows or dependents Of soldiers drawing
pensions. In the grand army clamor-
ing at the gates Of the treasury, vail
ing their needs and bulldozing the gov
eminent like the survivors, are 104,-
93S widows" 1t must net be assumed
when this grand army at the gates is
referred to that 1t is made up wholly
OF unworthy applicants. That there
are Thousands upon thousands in this
army who are deserving and who, IN
der the laws, are entitled to pensions.
simply makes more Gisgraceful the rolls
as they stand. For every deserving
one who asks a pension now there must
Of necessity be fraud and a cheat on
the rolls, who is swindling the nation
out of whatever he may have been able
to get. He is MOI only swindling the
nation now out Of the amount OF the
kc .1..ar,