The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-10-31
PENSION OFFICE SENDS
MUCH MONEY INTO
STARK COUNTY.

EIFTEEN hundred pensioners in
4 Stark county receive annually
from the general government at
washington a sum aggregating $780,
0Oo. This amount Of money comes to
old soldiers. soldiers widows; depend
ent parents, and to minor children OF
those who were killed In the Spanish
American war.
through the pension department are
the funds of the general government
distributed throughout the country.
and this dissemination Of the reve-
nues does much toward keeping the
balances even, as the people OF the
country contribute largely to the ma
tional treasury through the postoffice
department and revenue Offices.
While the state Of Ohio Is not the
largest In the great union of states.
she was second in furnishing soldiers
for the rebellion, and in the number
OF soldiers killed and wounded, the
Buckeye state was first. Pennsylvania
alone exceeded Ohio in the number of
troops, but the margin In her favor
was small. The Ohio troops saw
harder service and consequently suf-
fered more
The result is that Ohio has more
pensioners than any state in the union.
the number being 100000. and the
amount OF money that comes to the
state each year to pay these pensions
is S16 l04,092.54. Pennsylvania Is
second and New York third.
The total amount paid out In the
entire country is $136, ,742,5O6, and
nearly million additional is required
to pay pensions for those who reside
In foreign lands. There are United
States pensioners in every civilized
country In the world, almost, there be-
Ing one In the Seychelles islands.
They are found In the Comoro islands.
siam, St Helena, Samoa, San Saliva
dor and In nearly every obscure cor
| ner of the globe.
Canada has 1892. Germany 593. Ire
land 442. Scotland 120, England S3l.
and Switzerland "a. Altogether In
foreign lands there are over $500. and
In many home in Ireland Patrick n
smoking his pipe In ease and com.
fort and taking his bitters straight
at the expense Of Uncle Sam. In Ger
many United States pensioners are lit
tie nabobs who have a comfortable
living out of pension that would
be little better than pittance in this
country Of high prices.
/ There are those who claim that PEN
sions have been curse to soma men
to whom they have been granted, as
1t makes them worthless loafers. II
Is admitted that In some few instances
this Is true, but where It is q detri-
ment to one, 1t is benefit to hun
dreds. and 1t Is question II the ones
who lacked energy were not built that
way and did not need the enervating
influence OF easy money to make them
80.
The present pension commissioner
is said to- be liberal In his dealings
with pensioners and instead of throw
Ing obstacles In the way of applicants
uses the department to aid In securing
evidence where It Is lacking. As q
result many claims, that had been re-
jected are being revived and allowed.
In addition 10 these old claims. many
pensions are being granted to the SOL
diers Of the Standardization war.
the climates of Cuba and the Philip
pines having ruined the health OF
largo per cent Of those who were In
the regular service during the war.
Only soldiers who were In the serv-
Ice during actual warfare are entitled
To pensions. the regulars In time OF
peace, no matter what their disabiIi-
ties. not coming under the provision Of
the pension laws.
The pensions are paid quarterly. the
distribution In this state taking place
from Columbus. When the papers are
to be made out pensioners by the hum
dreds throng the probate judges
office and the Office OF some of the To-
cal pension agents who are authorized
to attend to such matters. The SOL
diers Of the rebellion are In the main
men who are beyond 80 years Of age.
The most of them are from 66 TO 10
or even rs years, The oldest pension
ers are found among the parents OF
soldiers. There are still few PEN
sioners Of the war of 1912 In the coun-
try. but they are almost an extinct
class.