Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-09
APPLYING FOR PENSIONS
New Service Law Brings Many
Applications.
WILL INCREASE ROLL 10000
Commissioner Warner Says All Who
Are Entitled to Pensions Should
Apply Immediately.

Apply lmmedIateiJ.
Washington, March 7.-"Eyery per
son entitled to pension under the re-
Gently enacted pension service law
ought, in justice to himself and his
descendants, apply for a pension
| This statement was made by General
Vespasian Warner, commissioner of
pensions, in commenting upon the OPP
GRAFTON Of the new law. General War
ner was asked how the law was work
ing and il there would be a material
addition to the pension roll by reason
of Its enactment.
Naturally" he replied, ut is making
lots of work for the pension office, but
that is what we are here for. Per
sonally, do not believe now that the
law will put on the rolls many new
names. When it was under considera-
ton, experts in congress and in the
pension Office thought that the new
names added to the pension rolls on
account of the law, If it should be en-
acted, would be very great in number
General Ainsworth, adjutant general of
the army, estimated that the number
of what we call the unknown army
that is, the men who served in the
civil war and are not now on the pen
sion rolls-would aggregate one hun
dred thousand. Other estimates did
not differ materially from General
Ainsworth's figures.
"The indications now are, after the
law has been in operation a month,
that the estimates OF the unknown
army" were too high. I do not believe
it will aggregate more than fifty, or
sixty thousand. We are receiving an
enormous number of applications for
pensions under the service pension act
but they come principally from those
who already are receiving pensions
and are entitled, under the law, to an
increase. The men who served in the
civil war are getting old and very
many of them, if they should make
proper application, will receive a some
what greater pension than they are re-
ceiving at present
These applications are pouring into
the pension bureau at a tremendous
rate just now. Many thousands are re-
ceived in the mails each day. The bu-
reau force is far behind in it's consid-
GRAFTON of the cases, simply because
it is physical impossibility to han
die every day all the mail of that kind
which comes. Thousands Of the appli-
cations have not yet been opened, but
that fact will make little or no differ
ence TO the applicants. Eventually, the
applications will be handled duly and
the applicants will receive their pen
sions from the date of the receipt of
their applications.
in justice to himself and to the
members of his family, every ex-soldier
entitled to a pension should have
pension certificate. That shows def
initely that he served honorably and
waws dischal ged from the service hon
orably. That paper will be of great
value in years to come, entirely aside
from the good the money he will re-
ceive will do the pensioner Fifty
years hence that certificate will be
framed in gold by the descendants of
the pensioner, because it is badge of
honor.
Pensioners now are, dropping off
the rolls at the rate of approximately
5000 month. Among the old SOL
diers the death rate now Is very great.
That does not mean, however, a great
decrease in the actual number of pen
sioners, because, when soldier passes
away, his widow and minor children
usually apply for and receive pensions.
These pension do not aggregate so
much money as the pensions of sol
diers, but they do amount to almost as
many pensioners.
I'VE now have on the pension rolls
about 100000 names. This number
will be increased somewhat under the
new law and the amount paid out will
increase for year or two, but it will
soon begin to decrease, as, in the
course of events, the man who fought
the country's battles cannot survive a
great while longer"