Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-12
STRANGE FACTS OF
THE PENSION ROLL

D. | -. ssuStOsv Nv
UNCLE SANS MONEY FOR WAR Sci
VICE IS SENT TO THE MOST REMoT
COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.
Inere is more than one reason wh
the pension system of the Unite
LII States should not be regarded as of g.
= much interest to people in all parts o
q the country. 1t is the most giganti,
dlstributIon of money each year mad,
81 by any nation On earth.
fhe largest number of pens toner's re
W sl0ing outside of the United States is
TO be found in Canada, where there are
y now more than twenty three hundred
n persons who receive pensions as sur
# vlvors, or as widows or orphans of
soldiers who served this nation in war.
In Germany there are more than five
hundred In Ireland the next largest
number, 449; in England, $50; in Mex.
leo, l46; in Scotland, 12l; in Switzer
: = land, Z; in Sweden, So; in Australia.
40; In China, IA, and SO on throughout
the list of distant lands 1t is remark.
able that in far off Turkey there are
six pensioners of the United States. |
and on the island of st Helena one.
and way down in Paraguay. South
America, are two pensioners. Then.
reflect npon the fact that in the Azor.
es. In Belgium. in Ecuador, the Co
more Island, in Egypt. Siam, the Sew.
chelles Island, Samoa, Guatemala.
Honduras, India. Malta, the Isle of
Man, Mauritius, Greece and Liberia.
and mauy other places equally remote,
are to be found from one to a dozen 2
pensioners, and the bare mention of s
tne fact serves to illustrate how great
is the bounty of the United States to Q
the soldiers who have served under b
tne nag, scattered to all parts of the 81
earth, wherever asurvivor or the widow
or orphan of soldier entitled under II
our laws to pension can be found, dl
The State having the greatest mum. A
Der OF pensioners in Ohio, with 1O2. .318 to
residents within her borders who an. re
nually draw pensions. Pennsylvania W
is close second, with total of 1O1.-
l44, and next on the list is Illinois. a
With 7l,627. In other States of the Ca
N northwest the list of pensioners sums oil
up as follows: Michigan, 43, 435; Wis.
consin, 27.56S; Iowa, SO. 1872; Minnesota, les
1880; North Dakota, / 1851, and South gu
Dakota, 5,0O5. Or
The sum of $14O, 1000, 600 is paid out ex
each year to persons all over the world sal
out OF course by far the greatest ma
amount goes to people in the United ogl
states, and to those pensioners who re-. sne
'lde In about dozen States of the Clr
North. The precise distribution of
his vast sum of money is as follows:
10 pensioners in the States and Ter.
itories, $136, 1892, 1s1; to pensioners in AN
be insular possessions, S., ,9O7; to pen.
toner's residing in foreign countries. -
6S4 SOB. OF the nearly one million ~, a.
pensioners, 991, 1856 reside in the States ~
nd Territories, 4,619 in foreign coun. ~;
les, and 80 in the insular possessions. 49,
One of the most interesting tables dia
repaired by the Bureau of Pensions -, I
that relating to the rates of monthly 80
ayments to the different classes of 49,.
customers. This table shows that :. :.
ates are paid at almost every figure 49,
ON So month up to $416, ,66. which -. -
the highest sum paid, and which onr,
'es as the SIS, 900 year pensions to each ~.
oeiuon'' @no Ooln- spril
anding Generals of the army. By far foil
- s hummer VI pensioners IN had
y one class is that of the $12s month r. ;s
- a. 600 go VI 'uese peing WIDOWS, deep
'oioioie' Anele are one
ly four persons receiving the small of rt
VI W. " Noh'n' TWO oelng pen ter
- o-- "oooun0 u ai"y serVice ana BLOOD
70 on account of. the navy. 1t ap. hool,
ars from the monthly gradings of Nor,
.yments that the number of pension ., \
J in each grade, exclusive of widows, Sow,
mps up at the. various ratings such nron
$e month, then $s. $12, $14 and desc,
month, the next grade having pIoo
greater number being the $24 grade. soma
d there are %, 529 drawing this rate. A.
lere are ,676 pensioners each draw writ,
$72 month and seven widows, each
whom draw $75 month. In most
the cases of high pension payments
widows the allowances are the re- TV
IL Vi speclal acts OF congress grant ant c
Increased payments to widows of Chic,
'tingaisneo Uenerais. lsucct
There are still on the pension rolls the +
g persons who are drawing pensions are d
account of the Revoltionery War thew
vice. Incor
Another historic fact of interest is Guart
at the name of the first pensioner Ascer
disability out of service in the Civil Separ
ar was Leopold Charter, of the Onifo
Velfth New York Regiment. He negio
listed in April, 1861, and was wound nea. neim -
in June. receiving a pension in 49,,
gust OF that year. Erne,
There are 40 ex-soldiers and 442 Canal
ilian employees of the Pension Bureau Negli
10 are upward of fifty years old, and Eficit
ty-three of the soldier clerks are up. Apprc
rd of seventy years old. Conse
Optiol
Nearly Fr0feits His Life. ao .oon'