Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-23
Tha Pension Frauds.

The New YORK, sun 10 not an ideal
reform nswepRpnN, by any meanR; hut
in MoadRy's issue ii gave attention
10 the enormous pension frauda in
liicted uron this country, in tho most
elIHctive manner. Eight columns we're
devoted to striking Incidents showing
the nature and extent of the imposition
Tho total Of pensions on account Of
tho late war tbs Sun shows in an
editorial summary, according TO the
report of the Pension Cnnmiesoner,
is VA. ji2. of which 65, $50 are children
and 81, 559 arc dependent fathers,
mothers, sisters or brnthers. Deduct-
| ing these from the total there remain
Sol, III survivors and widows drawing
| pensions, or 80, T46 more survivors"
aud "widows''' than there arc actunl
| survivors and widows who uuder any
circumstances could legally draw pen
sions.
Tho pension rolls show that 1873, 517
persons are drawing pensions from tho
government as survivors of the War OF
! the Rebellion. That ia. 6, 400 more
"eurvivors" are drawing pensions than
there are actual survivors; fraud on
its face. N
Besides the G, 405 mora "surviyors"
drawing pensions than there are actual
survivors. 1871, SOC more survivors"
are clamoring at the doors OF the
Treasury for their share OF the plum.
der. In 1873 tho nations bounty to
pensioners Of the War OF the Rebellion
was s2G, 5O2, 52S. 96. Last year it was
$3.50, 9i9, III 3d.
The Sun then proceeds to compile a
table from the pension rolls which can,
it suys, be studied with profit" 1t
is as follows: Actual survivors Of the
war, 72I, 1872; survivors" drawing
pensions, 1873, 527; survivors demanding
pensions, 1877. 500: widows drawing pen
aiona, 2l3, l12; widows demanding pen
sions, l0i, 03G; pensioners demanding
increase, 255, s49 total Rebellion pen
sioners IN rolls, 0i7, 525; total survivors
or widows getting or demanding pen.
aioug, 1889, SIT. 1t is also shown, by
comparison Of figures, that our annual
pension expenditures are in excess OF
the sums annually paid for the maiute-
nance of any standing army in Europe,
that Of Russia alone excepted. The
figures are: Great Britain, SS7. 4Oa, GA
Germany, Sll0, 1877, 020; France, Slla,
29l. $50; Italy, sol, 77s, 040; Russia,
Sl7G, 9i2, GOO; Austria, SGT, 1876 2J5; pen
5ons 10 tho United Statet, Sl4l, 2G3,
$50.
And yet it is known that many men
who served faithfully in tho war arc
not drawing pensions at all. An Incl
dent that occurred in Wilmington few
years age proves this Five men, tive
OF them residents OF this city anu the
! other three travellers, met one casually
day, and in the COURSE of their con.
versation it Developed that all five had
served through the war-one OF them
was with Shefman during his "mBroi
to Tho sea''--that all had beer
! wounded, but that not ono was draw
ing a pension. And they were unani
| nous in declaring that they nave,
would accept dollar in pension al
i long as thny were able to make q livinI
s without it. This was but Il single Incl
dent. There is no doubt that 1t find
many countorparta throughout th
country.
The subject Of pension reform ha
j, frequently been discussed, but il i
, now coming to the front more yigor
o ously imam ever. Many papers tina
y formerly conGonei ths frauds now in
sist upnn reform. 1t is truly said tina
the pension roll at present il roll O
dishonor. " 1t should be made ''roI
=, of honor" but this can only be don
: by dropping tho frauds and boats an
~ allowing none hut worthy and dosery
- Ing benetiriarieH to remain.