The times., 1899-08-15

Commissioner Evans, in speaking yester-
day of his forthcoming annual report, said:
Il am satisfied that pension payments
have reached the highest notch they ever
will for pensions for service in the Civil
and preceding wars. The old soldiers are
dropping off-passing TO the other world
widows are remarrying, and minors attain
ing their majority, and the consequence is
that there must necessarily follow de-
crease in the number on the rolls.
Directly following the close of the war
with Spain there were large number Of
applications amounting at the time of clos
ing my annual report, TO 1886 and of this
number 295 have been allowed. 1t was this
way: Many of the boys came back feel
ing that they were entirely disabled, but
after few weeks or months of home treat
ment, feather beds TO sleep in. and plenty
TO eat, they found that they were only tenn
porarily disabled and gave up all idea OF
applying for pensions II is my opinion
that there will not be nearly many
applications filed as was at first expected.
But years from now there will be pensions
to be paid those VINO contracted disease
while in service in the war with Spain.
In some cases it requires years for disease
TO develop, and those who feel entirely well
now may be fioored from disease at any
time in the future.
Nearly Three Billion Paid.
From 1875 to July 1, 1899, this Govern
ment has paid in pensions to soldiers and
sailors. and TO their dependents, the sum
of 50, ,661, $50, 1882. and 1t is estimated by
official Communication that almost that
amount will be necessary to continue the
payments until final rollcall 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 1T76, when the
Continental Congress resolved that all Of
hcers who should continue in the service
until the end of the war should receive
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 extend
ed to half pay for life. and subsequently
commuted to full pay for five years. Pen
sicns were granted under this law
amounting to s50,100 per annum, and in
creased until 1871, when they reached the
then enormous sum of S175, ,813.SS.
Between 1866 and 1913 principle vas
established by which all persons, whether
officers or privates, who had been disabled
in the course of military service, should
be provided for at the public expense.
From 1871 to 1907 there was gradual
decrease until the pension expenditures
amounted to only s7o.500. Under various
legislative enactments, the pension roll
Increased until 1916, when it amounted to
s2Ss. .055. y. the highest figure thus far
reached. On March l. 1877, Congress au-
thorized the issuance Of additional PEN
sions. and in 1913 the pension payments
amounted to S426, ,4S0. Thirty-fiye years
after the close of the Revolution further
extension occurred by which pensions
were granted TO all the survivors OF the
war. who for any reason, stood N need
of pecuniary assistance.
e'Under the provisions of this law the
pension payments reached the million dol
lar mark for the first time in the history
of the Government, amounting. In 1873, TO
SO 41e- sos. o. In the following year, 1920.
they rose 10 S3.21S, 1910. May /. 1870,
Congress passed what was known as the
alarm act" which required all pension
ers on the rolls to furnish schedule OF
the amount of property then IN their
possession. Many of the pensioners whose
property, were dropped from the rolls.
Property-0wners Dropped.
Pensioners were dropped who owned
property to the amount of $780, Under the
operations of this law the payments drop
ped from $3.21S. 1870. in 1920. to $244,-
1887 in the following year. This legisla-
ton proved equally unpopular. and on
March Is, 1922, Congress passed law
giving pensions to the invalids. to the
Communication pensioners, and to the wild
ows and orphans. AS result OF this act
the pension payments again rose to nearly
s., COG. 600. but gradually decreased until
1928. when they amounted to only $780,
573.57. aw
July Z. 1882, forty-nine years after the
close of the war. a general law was enact
ed pensioning all survivors who served not
less than six months in the Revolutionary
War Under the operations Of this act the
payments reached a new level, amounting
in 1888. to 81, 49S 751.44 Four years later
an act was passed granting pensions for
five years to Revolutionary widows, pro-
yiding they were married to the soldier
or sailor before the close of his last SER
vice and that his service was not less than
six months Even under this and subse-
quent enaetments, however, the pension
I
amounted TO only sS52.17947.
The first act 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, Creek Cherokee. and Florida war
with the Seminole Indians. which occurred
from 1892 10 1892, until July 81, 1882, fifty
years after the period included in the war
THE first general pension law was enact
| ed July II, 1862. in which il was provided
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, might be
penssoned for such disability during its
continuance. 1t was also provided that in
case of his death from causes originating
as above set forth. his widow or children
might receive pensions. Subsequent laws
enacted down TO and including $780, fur
ther extended the system so as 10 include
all soldiers and sailors. who had been hon
orably discharged. who were suffering from
wounds received or disease contracted as a
result OF their service and made provisions
for their widows and orphans
From 1871 to 1876, period of eighty-six
years, the total pension payments amount
ed to only s39. $40 536.29, less than one
third the amount paid out last year"
4 Long Bicycle Ride.