The Holt County sentinel., 1899-11-10
Evans on Pensions.

have reached the highest notch they
ever will for pensions for service in the
civil and preceding wars. The old sold
isrs are dropping off-passing to the 9th
er world-widows are remarrying aud
minors attaining their majority, and the
consequence Is that there must necessar-
lily follow a decrease in the number Oh
the rolls
Directly following the close OF the
war with Spain there was a large num-
ber OF applications, amounting at the
time OF closing my annual report to To-
$50, and of this number 295 have been
allowed. 1t Was this way: Many of the
boys came back feeling that they were
entirely disabled, but after few weeks
or months OF home treat meut, feather
beds to sleep 10 and plenty to eat, they
found that they were only temporarily
disabled and gave up all idea Of applying
for pensions. 1t 10 my opinion that there
will not be nearly 30 many applications
fled as was at first expected. But years
from now there will be pensions to be
paid those who contracted disease while
in service IN the war with Spain. In
some cases it requires years for disease
to deyelop, and those who feel entirely
we'll now may be tioored from disease at
any time 10 the future.
From ZIG to July L, 1899, this goy-
ernment has paid in pensions to soldiers
and sailors and to their dependents the
SUN of s2,66l, ,6s2, 2,1I2.s2, and it is estm-
ated by official Communication that almost
that amount will be necessary TO con-
tinue the payments until final roii-cail
is made. What number of pensioners
the present war in the Philippines will
turn out cannot be estimated.
"The pension system OF this country,
which has grown to such enormous pro-
portions, commenced in llI6, when the
continental congress resolved that all
officers who should continue in the ser
vice until the end OF the war should re-
ceive half pay for seven years after peace
was established. In 1880 the provisions
of this law were extended to the widows
and orphans OF those who died In the
service. The half pay for seven years
was extended to half pay for life, and
subsequently committed to full pay for
five years. Pensions we're granted under
this law amounting to $50, 100 per annum,
and increased until 1871, when they
reached the then enormous sum ofsl7o,-
el3.SS.
"Between 1906 aud 1918 principle
was established by which all persons,
whether officers or prlvates, who bad
been disabled in the course OF military
services should be provided for at the
public expense. From 1871 to 1907 there
was gradual decrease until the pension
expenditures amounted to only s10,500.
Under various legislative enactments
the pension roll increased until 1916, |
when IT amounted to S2S6, 6,Oo5.72, the |
highest figures thus far reached. On |
March l, 1917, congress authorized the
issuance OF additional pensions and lr |
1878 the pension payments amounted to
s426, ,4s0. Thirty-hve years after the
close of the revolution further extern
sion occurred by which pensions were |
granted to all the Survivors Of the war |
who, for any reason, stood in need OF |
pecuniary ASSISTANCE.
"Under the provisions of this law the |
pension payments reached the million |
dollar mark for the first time 10 the his |
toy OF the government, amounting 10
1919 to s2,4l6, ,s29.O4. Ia the following
year, 1920, they rose to s3r21S, ,494 30 |
May l, 1920, congress passed what wac
known as the alarm act,' which required
all pensioners on the rolls to furnish a
schedule Of the amount OF property then
in their possession. Many OF the pen
eioners whose schedules showed they
possessed too much property were drop
ped from the rolls.
pensioners are dropped who owned
property to the amount of $50. Under
the operations of this law the payments
dropped from s3,2ls, 1910, in 1920, to
s244,77S. 81 in the following year. This
legislation proved equally unpopular, and
on March 15, 1922, congress passed law
giving pensions to the InvalIds, to the
communication pensioners, and to the
widows orphans. As result of this act
the pension payments again rose tonear,
ly s2,000,OO0. but gradually decreased
until 1928, when they amounted to only
$3.50, O,573.57.
"July Z. 1882, forty nine years after
the close OF the war, a general law was
enacted pensioning all survivors who
served not less than SIX months in the
revolutionary war. Under the opera
tion Of this act the payments reached a
new level. amounting in 1888, to si,49S,
751.44. Four years later an act was
passed granting pensions for five years
to revolutionary widows, providing they
were married to the soldier or sailor be-
fore the close Of his last service and that
ulo ocEN woo tOt ICES tidu tuUuIus
Even under this and subsequent enact
msnts. however, the pension payments
decreased until 1862, when they amount
ed to only 1852, ,179.47.
"The fret act of granting pensions to
the survivors OF the war with Mexico
was passed June %, 1887, thirty nine
years after the close of the war. No
provision was made for the survivors OF
the Black Hawk, Geek, Cherokee, and
Florida war with the Seminole Indians.
which occurred from 1882 to 1912, until
July q, 1892, fifty years after the period
included in the war
"The first general pension law was en-
acted July IA, 1862. in which it was pro-
vidsd that any officer, soldier, sailor, or
marine disabled by reason of wounds or
disease contracted in the service Of the
United States and in the line of duty
mich, bo ,,one,opa1 for cpob J;x,biE,, 5,