Gilpin observer., 1899-09-21
INDIANA PENSIONS.
STATE GETS LOTS OF MONEY.
Exceeds All Other States Per Capita, Re
ceiv ng S1O,OOo,OOO Per Year-Polit-
lcal Effect.

Indiana takes the lead as 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 $15,O00.O00: Pennsylvania, $12,-
100000; New York, $4,000. 900; Indi-
ana, S1G.OO0.0GO, and Illinois, S9OOO,-
600. Indiana has 65,00O pensioners,
who draw an average pension Of a
fraction over S1G0 per annum. In the
list indiana has 225 veterans of the
civil war who are drawing the limit
of ST. n month, and seventy veterans
of the civil war and one of the Mexi-
can war who are drawing $50
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 n
broad margin. Indiana. with n popu-
lntion 10000 less than that of Massa-
chusetts by the census of 1890, re-
ceives in pensions $10,443. eco annual
ly. While Massachusetts gets but So.
100000. Similar comparisons will
show that Indiana is the greatest
pension state in the Union according
to her population.
Commissioner Evans has analyzed
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 SS03,OOO per dis
trict, Kansas S7T5,OOO. Among the
states at the front are Missouri. with
S44S,O0O, New Jersey with $4,000
and New York with 1850. 900 per dis
trict. Massachusetts averages SAT- 900
per district. The average pensions in
the five leading states are $50 in
Ohio S126 in Pennsylvania, S142 in
New York, S160 in Indiana and STAG
in Illinois. Though there is differ
ence of $14 average between Indiana
and Illinois. there are over 5000 more
pensioners in that state. The differ
ence in average, however, gives Indi-
ana pensioners 100000 more per an
mum. Though Ohio ranks first as
pension state. still, like Illinois, on
basis of population and pensioners, 1t
ranks below Indiana.
Students of the question are endeav-
oring 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
ly to the part played by William W.
Dudley Of Indiana, who was commits
sioner of pensions during the Arthur
administration and who was most
liberal being when Indiana was to be
considered. He got the reins just when
the days of pensioning We're 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-
ber Of men into the field. Among the
states of the Union it stood fifth. with
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Illinois leading and Massachusetts and
Missouri following.
1t put 100000 men into the field,
and in partial explanation of the great
number of heavy pensioners, it can be
said that no other state in the Union
spilled so much blood. or participated
in as many bloody engagements.
The $1O,OOO,0OO which finds its way
into Indiana annually by four install
ments of $2,5O0, 900, has very great
influence upon the state. The pension
money coming into Indiana this year
is as great as the proceeds of the 1890
wheat crop and more certain.