The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-06
penslons and Pensioners.

IN your ISSUE OIL november zolu
there is am article headed "a Needed
Protest" "One person in every seven
ty of the people of this great, glorious
and benevolent country draws a PEN
sion from the government" And
again in your issue of November Goth
an article under the heading Some
Solemn Figures"
There are always two sides to a
question, Every now and then there
are similar articles in your paper to the
ones above; and it seems about time
for the other side of the question to be
presented. zone in seventy" Have
you forgotten that one in eight from
the North went forth to war, to save
this great, glorious and benevolent
country" And did save it.
On August 9Th, 1861, took my din
ner pail in hand and went to my work.
I found my shopmate packing up his
tools. I asked him what was UP. He
said that he was discharged. Just then
1.-The boss" came in. / asked him why
he discharged Mr.. Ackley. He an
swered, Because I have not work
for BOTH" and that he had not
hired him for any length of time
and had promised me work for a
year. 'Ts that all the reason, and are
you satisfied with him; and will you
accept him in my placer" He asked me
What are you going to do?" Il will
enlist" which I did do on my way
home. That very day the government
increased the soldiers pay from eleven
to thirteen dollars per month. The RAJ
ton of the government was nine dol
lars and the allowance for clothing was
$3.50 per month, making total Of $2450
per month, which I got instead of SAG
per month"; and which my shopmate re-
ceived After three years and eight
months I returned to my home. Mean
while my allowance for clothing had
been increased near the close of my
service to $3.50 per month, making my
wages so. My shopmate was receiv-
ing SIS per month, and his wages had
been increased regularly. Forty-six
and seventy-eight are 124, one-half be-
ing $62 per month average My aver
age was $25, So, 25 81 per month, which
I had sacrificed, or, in other words,
had loaned to the government $444 per
year, and for three years this amounts
to the snug little sum of $3.50. We
will throw off $50, leaving $780, Now
at a little over per cent, which is less
than the bondholders received, it in
eleven years amounts to $4,000; in
twenty-five years to $1,000; in thirty
three years to $4,000.
The total enlistments were 1850 1872,
reduced to a three years standard
makes 2,320,272, multiplied by $4,000
equals $23,202, 720, 600. Some solemn
figures" which the government owes
the soldiers, besides the three years
service.
The interest on the above at four per
cent. amounts to 1929, 108, 800, and 6K
times the yearly pensions The sum
| total Of pensions since 1861 is 50, 100, 900,
| 900, which leaves the government $21,-
| O42, 900 in debt to the old soldiers
1t Is about time to change this great
| glorious and benevolent country" and
substitute therefor This great, glori
| GUS and benevolent Grand Army of the
Republic" I mean by that not only
| the members of the G. A. r., but al
| soldiers and sailors
| Tn addition to the above had to pay
| $3.50 for the privilege Of going into the
| army That was the extra premium or
my life insurance, and that would
amount at the present time to $500
| And all of those whose life was in.
| sured had to pay for the extra risks
What would the insurance of those wht
stayed at home been worth but for u.s.
the saviours of the country.
The bondholders loaned to the gov
eminent $2,400,00O,0O0 Gust about thu
same amount that the soldiers 1oaned)
and have received in principal and in
terest Tin gold) $5,S27, 993,S34. Deduc
ST. 160, 100000 (the amount for pensions
leaves $3,167,99 1874 more than has beef
paid out for pensions to crippled vete
rams, their widows and dependent ones
Now what becomes of the vas
amount of pensions paid? Does it no
go into circulation in this great coun
try? At the breaking out of the wa
this country was worth $500 per capita
and now 1t is worth $1,000 per capita.
What have the soldiers done since tn
war? I will mention one or two items
First, They built the Union Pacifi
railroad to California. They have don
more than any other class of persons t
develop our great West. And at tn
great Chicago strike they offered the1
services, and the strike came to an en-
Immediately. Several of them fav
been made presidents. And now W
give you warning that we propose
foreclose on this government ere Ions
In your issue of November 26th 70
speak of the women who have marie
old soldiers and insinuate some thing
] in regard to them, which should hare
ly think you would do, since you had
mother, and / hope wife and daugl
J ter God bless the women, for they di
more to encourage us when at the fror
than any one else Who can blame
woman for placing her hand, heal
and affections under the care Of or
| whose heart is full of patriotism an
love for his country, and who did s
much to preserve that country?
I have mentioned above that tt
bondholders were paid in gold. A,
cording to law we should have bee
paid in gold and were a few time
But the remainder Of the time we wei
paid in currency worth about fit