Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-07
PENSIONS FOR coNFEDERATES
Southern states Constantly Incrcns-
inE Nrovision for Its
Soldiers

J. snAutcrNs
"Thc southern states have not failed to
undertake to provide pensions for the dis
ablod and needy among their own confeder-
ate soldiers says writer in the 5 .uth
Atlantic quarterly. ITO tho federal rem
sions thcy we've Obliged to contribute from
the very hour OF defeat with the recover
ing wealth and prosperity Of the south,
one by one every southern state has estab-
lishcd its confederate pension system
The amounts Of the pensions are small
as compared with those under the federal
system. but with the increase in resources
| there is constant increase In the state APP
populations Ter confederate pensions. This
is true In spite Of the pressing need in the
south OF public money for education, good
roads, and the protection of public health
and for the maintenance Of necessary state
institute, ms FOR the dependent and defective
classes.
AN investigation made a few years ago
! showed g@,Oi9 confederate pensioners i'm the
southern states. The total expenditure for
the year 1906 was SS,S75,COo, 50 IT. at the aver
age pension was less than $40 a year. Fortu-
natcly recent reports are available from
Georgia, the state with the most important
confederate pension system.
In that state pensions have been paid
since 1892 to the widows of confederate sold
lers whose husbands died in service OF after
the war from disability or disease con-
/ tractod in service. In 1S0G INDECENT confed-
crate soldiers were placed upon the rolls.
! and In 1902 the benefits were extended to
INDECENT widows of confederate soldiers.
even though the soldiers death was in no
way due to his military service A constitu-
tional amendment has recently been
adopted which opens the way to increasing
liberalty especially in the granting of pen
| sions to confederate soldiers widows.
| ITO INDECENT confederate soldiers and to
the widows of confederate soldiers Georgia
| pays a pension of $50 a year. Invalid con-
| federate soldiers who received disabilities
Of service origin are allowed specific annual
rates i'm prop rtion to the seriousness Of
the disability. The rate for total loss of
sight is $50, for total disability of labor
so as to be helpless, 500; for the total loss
of hearing, $50 for loss of a hand, 500. for
incapacity to perform manual labor $50;
for the loss of one finger or one toe. So. and
similarly for other specific injuries
These rates are very much lower than
those paid under the federal system for in
juIies of the same character. For instance,
the federal government pays 1920 a year
for total loss of sight; for total loss of
hearing, S4sOS for loss of a hand $3.50; for
incapacity to perform manual labor, $500,
and for the loss of a finger cr toe, $72.
THE growth of the pension system of
Georgia was so rapid that in 1896 1t
was entrusted to the administration of a
commissioner of pensions appointed by the
governor. The latter was authorized to
exercise a power of revision and change
over the commissioners rulings. In 1908 the
office of commissioner Of pensions was
made elective by the voters Of the whole
state, indicating that the position is now
regarded one of the most important
state offices.
Pensions were formerly pad in quar-
terly installments, but are now paid annu-
ally in one sum. Including the year 1910
the pension payments since the beginning
of the Georgia system have amounted to
over $14O00,0O0, a great sum for a single
state of the south. The following table
shows the growth of the Georgia pension
system: