The Washington times., 1902-05-05
Comparative Pension Systems
By FREDERICK FENN1NG in the Forum

by fREDERlCk FENN1NG in the Forum.
The amount estimated as necessary
for the payment of our pensions for
the coming fiscal year is S13s. 800. 900.
As compared with the appropriation
for the present year. this sum shows
an estimated decrease of $500. 900.
Compared with the pension expendi-
lures of other governments, as based
on the figures of the last two wears.
/ it is more than double the total of
all of them put together. The mag
mtude of our pension scheme is an
obvious indication of the liberality of
our laws. Their liberality as regards
! the title of claimants. as well as the
conditions under which pensions are
paid. can be more fully comprehended
by considering the requirements and
restrictions which attach to the pen
sions paid by the United States and
those paid by other governments.
Practically, there are military PEN
sion systems in all countries. Occa-
sionally they are closely connected
with provisions for civil pensions. In
Italy the two plans are inseparable.
In the first place, there are few
countries in which the regulations
under which applications may be filed
are as favorable as they are in this
country. Great Britain refuses to en-
tertain any application from an of
ficer for pension for a wound un-
less he applies within five years after
receiving the wound: in Japan the
maximum time is three years; and in
Switzerland one year from the time
the disability was incurred Switzer-
land, furthermore, pensions for one
year only. the application being "re-
considered after the end of each
year.
Very different from these require
ments are those of the pension law
of the United States. with no limita-
ton as to the time of application. no |
term pensions. and no annual exam |
nations. y civil war soldier Is fully |
at liberty to seek pension today for |
wounds or disability incurred in 1862;
and if he can trace the origin of a dis |
ability to his army service the pen
sion is granted. although for forty |
years he has failed to make any claim |
on the Government for assistance. 1t |
may be that the applicant is occupy
ing remunerative Federal positions:
if so, that fact will not be considered
in adiudicating the claim or in pay
ing the pension. In Japan. however.
a pension is suspended during the
time of government employment. In
this country the pension roll has in
cluded members of the Cabinet and
nf Congress.
In case the pensioner desires to
cave his country, either permanently
Dr for term of years, how is such
departure looked upon by the various
Under the law of Ser
'ia such pensioner ceases to receive
aid from the government. The AR
yentine Republic pays him for two
months only. In Peru the right to n
pension is forfeited if the beneficiary
remain abroad two years. France,
Austria. and Greece permit residence
lbroad by express consent of the gov
'rnmcnt only. England requires pen
,ioners to obtain leave to go outside |
he country, and provides for n re-
luction of the pension after three
years. absence, with Its entire for
eiture if the pensioner is under fifty
rears of age; between the ages of
fifty and eighty the pension may be
With the exception of Il
aw that was in operation from 1898
o 1895. the United States has made
10 distinction between pensioners
esident abroad and those resident in
he United States, Last year this
government paid Soil, 1876 to 4,541
pensioners residing in foreign coun-
/