The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-11-30
THE LAST ROLL CALL.
Some Pension Facts and Figures
Worth Consideration.


Worth Consideration.
with practical steps on foot for
the semi-centennial celebration Of
the battle of Gettysburg, it is not un-
natural that the breaks caused by
death in the ranks of the veterans
who fought to success the great Civil
War should yearly become wider and
more impressive. The report of Com
missioner of Pensions Davenport for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1910,
which will be presented to Congress,
shows that during the year 35,312
pensioned survivors of the rebellion
died There were added to the PEN
sion rolls the names of 3,967, maxi
ing a net reduction for the year of
81 ,345. This leaves remaining up
on the pension rolls 562,615 civil
war soldiers, and IL is evident that
within the next few years the great
majority of them will have passed
away. These veterans, however,
make up but little more than half
the entire list of pensioners of this
government for there are altogether
921,0S3 names on the list, the 9TH
ers being widows, minor children and
other relatives of the wars from the
Revolution to the Spanish war. So
that even with the passing of the sur
vivors of the civil war, there will
remain a very considerable pension
list, though small in comparison
with that which has been sustained
for twenty-five years and more.
The last session of Congress broke
all records in the passage of special
pension laws, the number being g.
063. In all, since 1861, there have
been but 32,401 special pension acts
passed and about one-fifth of them
became laws at the last session
During the past few years the lead
ers of Congress have taken a liber-
al view of this matter and have con-
sented to the enactment of many
more such special acts, or the ground
that the veterans of the civil war are
rapidly passing away, and those who
are favored with special pensions
will enjoy them but short time
comparatively.
The world has never seen such lib
erality and grateful recognition of
the services of it's volunteer soldiery
as has been shown by the United
States. The total payments of pen
sions by the United States from the
foundation of the government to the
close of the last fiscal years was
4,073, 056, ,569.S1, of which almost
four billions was paid to the soldiers
and sailors of the civil war. With
the enlargement of the roll and the
increase of the individual pension,
the annual disbursement has stead
lily increased, but the turning point
has now been reached. The past
years disbursements show a decrease
of $3.50, ,47S.50 compared with the
previous year. This decrease is sig
nificant in view of the fact that the
average annual value of each pen
sion increased S2.0S over what it
was during the previous year. New
pensioners receive an average of
Sl7l.90 per annum, while in the
preceding year they got but $780,
So. Despite this increase in average
value, the pension payments fell off
nearly $2,5OO,00O. This increase in
the annual value is due to the large
number of special pensions enacted
/ by Congress, the rate allowed under
| these laws being much higher than is
given under the general law, running
from SIC to $50 per month, and
even higher, for private soldiers. As
roll of honor it stands unique and
pre-eminent in the worlds history.
No nation ever recognized those SER
vices so generously The old sold
ier is passing, but it is the wish of
every patriotic American that he
may be granted strength to remain
many years with us, and by his pres
ence impress the story of personal
sacrifice and patriotism upon the new
generation. New Era.