Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-11
GET TING A PENSION.
The Laws Under Which Millions Are
Distributed.
IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICANT
Needy Veterans Cared For by a
Generous Country.
WIDOWS AND DEPENDENTS


The report of the Secretary of the In
terror for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1901, shows that there are 997 ,735 pension
ers on the government rolls, and that dur
ing the year the enormous SUM of $144. 00S.-
46a.01 was expended in payment Of pensions
and the administration of the pension Office.
There are on the rolls the names Of 715,667
soldiers who served In the civil war. and
also the names of 20, 122 men who served in
the navy of the United States during the
same period. 1t costs nearly $4,000, 600 per
year to pay the clerks and employees Of the
pension bureau, and the medical examiners
and others engaged In the administration OF
| the law. There are upon the rolls the names
Of nine widows and daughters Of revolu-
tionary soldiers, and 1,52S of the widows
and survivors Of the soldiers Of the war
of 1912.
No country on earth has been so prodigal
| In Its bounty to the needy veterans OF Its
wars. The rates of pensions granted range
| from 800 per month down to s. per month.
Not only Is a pension granted to soldier,
but to his widow, minor children and de-
pendent relatives, under certain prescribed
legal restrictions. Indeed, there are now on
the rolls the names of 258, All widows. chill
dren and dependent relatives of soldiers of
>.
| the government there has been expended
for pensions the sum of 81, s49. 173 81. Al.
In spite of the fact, however, that in the
| distribution Of this enormous sum of money
| every section of the country has been af-
| fected. so that hardly a community exists
| anywhere in the land but has one or more
| persons receiving some small share OF
this governrnental evidence Of gratitude,
| there is great ignorance prevailing as to
| the scope and intent Of the pension laws
! in general. 1t is honestly thought and
| stoutly maintained by many people that
| pensions are granted on favoritism. and
| that in some cases, no matter what the
| army service, there is no need of making
| application, as pension will be withheld
| on the ground of alleged prejudice. Others
| have an idea that by virtue Of army service
| alone soldier and his survivors are en-
| titled to a pension by merely calling the
| attention of the pension bureau to the fact
| that soldier served, and that he or his
survivors are needy.
In Favor of the Claimant.
The fact is that the pension laws have
grown into a great system, and by expert
ence in the adjudication Of claims during
| long period of years rules of practice have
been put in force by the Secretary Of the
Interior. which must be complied with be-
fore pension can be granted. There are
| certain things that must be established
| by the claimant before his name can be
placed on the rolls under the law, and yet
|
every aid that is possible to secure to de-
serving claimants that to which the law
entities them. The records of the War De-
u. .partment are open for him. and great
force of clerks in that department Is con-
stantly engaged in looking up the records
of claimants and verifying, and, at times,
even correcting, records, where it is mani
fest that an error was made. In the admin
istration of the pension laws every pre-
sumption is in favor of the claimant that
can be called in to his aid, and the papers
esfiles become public records to which he,
or his attorney, may have ready access
| If a medical examination Is required to test
the claimants physical condition. this is
done at public expense by board Of three
missioner Of pensions on the recommends
ton of members Of Congress, and who meet
at convenient points in the various political
divisions of the states, usually at the coun-
ty seats,
An Attorney Not Essential.
It Is not now necessary, and never has
been absolutely SO. that a claimant for any
! pension under the law should have an at
torney to represent him. 1t is always bet
ter perhaps. to have one who knows the
law to arrange the papers, make out the
application and attend to filing affidavits
etc, but this is not necessary. AS far as
| possible the bureau answers quickly any
! call made by claimant and renders him
; aid in informing him as fully as may be
|
, his claim. telling him the necessary evil
dence and why that on file is insufficient
for the purpose required.
AS every section of the country is inter
eSted either in direct or indirect manner
in pensions, short resume of the methods
best adapted to secure a pension to a de-
serving applicant will not be without gen.
eral interest. AS rule pension money
| passes into the hands of needy persons and
is quickly expended in the community fol
the necessities Of life.
The first pension to be considered will be
that under what is known as the genera
law" which grants pension for service in
the regular army well as for service In
, any war in which the country may have
been engaged. Including the war with
Spain, and it also applies to members oil
e the navy and marine corps.
Under the General Law.
The statute provides that where soldier
incurred an injury in or contracted disease
during his military service for the United
States he shall be entitled to pension fol
. such injury or disease in a measure gauget
by his inability to perform manual labol
resulting from such cause. If he is totally
disabled for the performance of any man
r ual labor he is entitled to $50 per month
and from that on down to So per month
: according to the grade of the injury or dis
e case.
II claimant was injured of contracted
f disease during his military service and il
line of duty and can prove 1t by two Of
three credible witnesses, who know wha
e they testify to, and can furnish medica
: evidence of the existence of disability a
: and after discharge to date Of filing claim
8 | q claimant should have difficulty ii
! | securing pension under the general law.
e Widows Claim Under the General Law
. When soldier dies from a disease con
e tracted or an injury incurred during hi
: military service. or from pathological re
: suits of said injury or disease. or from I
= disability interviewer with or intimatei.
d connected with same, his widow is entiuet
to a pension of $12 per month from the dat
of his death, SO long as she remains hi
| widow A widow is required by law t