Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-27
STEADY INCREASE IN PENSIONS,
Rolls Lensthenins Out ms the Years
Go BY.
p.Aall., I,,-1~

Brooklyn Eagle.
1t is not probable that a thorough idea of
the cost to the government in dollars and
cents growing out of the recent war with
Spain and the present struggle in the Philip
pines Will hasten itself upon the people OF
the country for some time to come. When the
United States was drawing upon its every
resource more than a year ago, getting ready
for the anticipated struggle with Spain, the
expense OF war was discussed, but there were
few who viewed the subject in all it's phases.
Little or no attention was paid to the after
math. The question of pensioning the men
who in the ordinary course of war would be
disabled either by sickness or wounded, or
the widows of soldiers who would be killed
in battle or die as the result of disease con-
tracted while in the service, was scarcely
touched upon. Yet in the years to come this
particular phase Of the short but sharp
contest will present itself with force to the
statesmen whose duty it will be to provide
for the current expenses of the government.
Inc experience of the Pension bureau has
taught that the great majority Of men who
have served in the various wars of the coun-
try since the foundation Of the government
have not filed their claims for pensions until
years after the war in which they were en-
gagged had been brought to a close.
This delay has been almost wholly due to
the fact that claims were not filed until the
claimant was well advanced In years and
was beginning to feel the effects Of the hard
ships suffered by him during his period OF
1t is not as a general thing until
fifteen or twenty years have passed that the
veterans begin to find themselves becoming
lncapacitated for gaining a livelihood. This
Is especially true in the case Of the civil
I'm m 1870 fbn mount ~ ~, au ,oil
out by the government in the shape of pen
sions was far less than that paid during the
fiscal year of 1898. In 1880 the amount was
sos, 22S, while in 1898 1t was $144, 651, $40.
As a result OF the war with Spain there
have been about II, 1000 applications for PEN
either from the men who were inca
in the service or by the widows
of men who died while with their |
N camp or in the field. Seventy-fve PEN
;lons have been allowed, the greater number
Of them being to widows, who are granted
s12 a month.
ALREADY the amount paid out in pensions
as a result OF the Spanish war amount, to
more than $l1 900 a year, and when favora-
Die action Is taken on the claims now pend |
this amount will without 'oubt be in
into the millions. There can be no
ioubt that claims will continue to be re-
NA'NN - '"N bultais lHuttu, III !
,ast experience counts for anything, they
nave scarcely commenced. The number of
men killed in battle during the war with
spain was 279, while 1,465 were wounded.
These numbers represent but a very small
PORTION of the ones who are entitled to PEN
ions. The vast amount of sickness in the
Iarious military camps in different parts
Il the country has made many inval.ids for
who have a just claim for support by
he government. There are thousands OF
theirs who contracted diseases in the serv-
ce which, while they do not have the i'm
Mediate effect of disabling the victim, will
n a few years result in permanent disability
nd afford good grounds for application for
pension. There 10 no way OF determining
he exact number OF these cases. but II "a
bought that they will number many thou
ands.
The war in the Philippines promises to add
OF names to the list of those elIgi-