New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-15
PENSIONS AND THE WAR.
THE PROBLEM MAY BECOME MORE
SERIOUS THAN EVER
MANY DEATHS EXPECTED FROM DISEASE AND
EXPOSURE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribunal

fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuNl
Washington. July lift the war with Spain con"
unues many months longer the pension problem
will become a more important and serious one than
ever. remarked an Army surgeon In conversation
with TRIBUNE correspondent to-day. He CON.
tinued In the Civil War deaths on account Of dis
ease and exposure mad high proportion. COM
pared with the number OF men killed In battle or
who died from wounds. have not the figures but
/ venture TO estimate that not more than one-nfth
OF :he amount paid to pensioners to-day is on ac-
count Of men killed In action VINO died or were
disabled by wounds or course. It is not to be ex-
pected that such great armies and numbers OF men
VIII BE- placed In the field In the Civil War. but
the number is already large. and will have to b
doubled II the lasts six months longer. The
probability is that the losses from disease and on
account OF disabilities DUE to dsea'e and exposure
will be comparatively greater than in the Civil
War. despite all efforts to counteract the influences
likely 10 cause result. The climate both
In the Spanish West Indies and In the Philippines
is against us and despite the hest sanitary precau-
tons that can he taken and tic best medical ser
vice that be given. the mortality among our
soldiers. especially in the West Indies. is likely to
be great. have observed that some OF the sick
who have already been transferred from Cuba to
tho United States FOR hospital treatment are SUI
ferng from serious disorders incident to the climate
and army life in the field. There dlsquietng
reports too. about the existence OF yellow fever
among the troops Santiago. II these reports
turn out to be true soldiers will be confronted
By an enemy more dangerous and destructive than
any they encountered during the Civil War
But in any event II the shall be prolonged
beyond autumn the pension problem. as remarked
before, will become more important and serious
one than ever"
THE PRESENT PENSION LIST.
In this relation It is not impairment to give some
figures showing the present magnitude OF the PEN
sion problem. which the Army surgeon referred.
They are taken from the excellent and exhaustive
speech OF Mr.. Ray Of New-York, chairman OF the
Committee on Invalid Pensions. which deliv-
cred in the House OF Representatives on July l.
He sad:
on March 81. 1895. We had the pension rolls the
Under general law: Army invalid Csoldiers, 2s7s7:
Navy invalid tse4men. etc. 4s51 total 1884 ,,.
- Under act OF June p. 1870; Army invalid. Ss+'o2;
Total soldiers, sailors and marines 1885.
Under general law: Army widows and dependent
tiyes. 232o; total $3.50
Under act Of June q. 1890: Army widows and de-
pendent relatives 1855; Navy widows and depend
ent relatives 5,aO1: total. 1863.
2my T Sa 1 81 MaS Of tn.
Rebellion a63 $50.
oners s naas @
team War; pensioners. IS s3. Total pensioners March
In truth, about one person out Of every seventy
Of our population draws pension from the General
80 M PAID to a S Of :
49, a. paid expenses OF Pension Bureau. 2fl543 So:
total expense year ending July J. 1884, 1888 800 AZ.
During the fiscal year ending July !. 1895. we have
paid in round numbers Sis.oDc00 10 our pensioners.
From the best sources ootalnable Il is estimated
that 2.2S+all different individual soldiers. seamen
and marines served in the Union Army and Navy
during the War OF tho Rebellion. The total mum:
Der enlisted In the Army was 2.6723il. The total
number enlisted In the Navy l05s6 Total.
?0S;o' Deducting re-enlistments Qargely esti-
mated. aB3s3. leaves the toal as above stated.
2234sll
Or these l05.963 were sea men and marines Ex.
Guiding deserters appears that l27.3J3 liv.
Ing at the termination Of service. and hence at least
61.55S persisted during tho From the best
ohtanahle sources n Is estimated. with substantial
accuracy. that there were lo6i52i surviving soldiers
and sailors OF the late war January l. 1895 There
are AT least j0000o widows and dependent relatives
who have. or at least claim. pensionsble status
under existing law.