The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1899-09-23
INDIANA PENSIONS.
STATE GETS LOTS OF MONEY.
EIcseds All Other States Per Capita, Re
esav ng sIO.OOO.OOO Fer Year-Polit-
Nal Eject.

Indinna takes the lead as a pension
state. The annual statement of the
pension department has Just been is
sued. In round numbers the states
drawing the highest pensions are Ohio,
with Sl5O00,O00: Pennsylvania, $12,-
7OO.OOO; New York, $12,OOO,OOO; Indi-
ana, $lo.oOO,O0O, and Illinois, $9,OOO,-
OD. Indiana has 5000 pensioners,
VINO draw an average pension Of
fractloh over $50 per annum. In the
list indiana has 225 veterans of the
civil war who are drawing the limit
OF w a month. and seventy veterans
OF the civil war and one of the MeNi-
can war who are drawing $50 n
month In number of pensioners and
NUMBER of high pensioners in the aver
age Tor all in the state. Indiana leads
any other State in the Union by Il
broad margin. Indiana. with a popu-
lation 10000 less than that of Massa-
chusetts by the census of 1890, re-
ceives in pensions $1O,443,O 600 annual
", whlle Massachusetts gets but 3d.
10000. Similar comparisons will
show that Indiana is the greatest
pension state in the Union according
to her population
commissioner Evans has analysed
the pension appOrtionment by congress
sional districts, and that makes very
fair basis Of comparison. On this basis
INDIANA shows clear lead, while Kan
sas comes In good second. The In
diana pensions run $4,000 per dis
trict, Kansas $775,OOO. Among the
states nj the front are Missouri with
$448,OOO, New Jersey with $4,000
and New York with 1852, 900 per dis
trlct. Massachusetts averages SAT-, 600
per district. The average pensions in
the dve lending safes are $50 in
Ohio, SIG in Pennsylvania, SAP in
New York, $1GO in Indiana and SAG
In Illinois. Though there is a differ
ence Of S14 average between Indiana
and Illinois, there are otter 1900 more
pensioners in that stateA The differ
ence In average, however, gives Indi-
ana pensioners 100000 m0re per an
mum. Though Ohio ranks hst as q
pension stnte, still, like Illinois, on =
basis of population and pensioners, It
ranks below Indiana.
Students of the question are endeav-
0ring to find a solution for the seeming
unequal distribution of pensions, In
diana and Kansas being favored. Pri-
marily Indiana's prestige is due great
" to the part played by William w.
Dudley of Indiana, who was commits
sioner Of pensions during the Arthur
administration and who was a most
liberal being when Indiana was to be
considered. He got the reins just when
the days of pensioning were having
their greatest ascendancy, and any
thing that came from Indiana was
well looked after. This gave Indiana
great lead to build on.
Then, too, both political parties have
made Indiana their battle ground, for
national victory or defeat, repeatedly
In recent years. Indiana, too. was one
Of the states putting the largest num-
bsf of men into the field. Among the
states Of the Union 1t stood fifth, with
New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Illinois leading and Massachusetts and
Missouri following.
II put 206,O men into the field,
and In partial explanation Of the great
number Of heavy pensioners, 1t can be
said that no other state In the Union
spilled so much blood, or participated
in as many bloody engagements
The 100000 600 which finds Its way
into Indiana annually by four install
ments Of $500, 600, has n very great
influence upon the state. The pension
money coming Into Indiana this year
Is as great as the proceeds Of the 1899
wheat crop and more certain.