The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-02-09
THE BURDEN ON THE STATES.

When we first formulated The Ma
| tional Tribune bill the expectation was
| that it would prove a great relief to the
States in the North which were expend-
ing large sums of money in eking out
the pensions paid by the Government
The payment of an adequate sum to
support the veteran and his wife by
the Government would lift this burden
off the States and be d qualification to
| the local taxpayers, who had so much
more need of their money for local pur-
poses. We addressed inquiries to the
Treasurers of all the States in the North
as to the amount of their contributions
for this purpose, and found the amour,
even larger than we had anticipated.
A. r. Beatty, Deputy Auditor of the
State of Ohio, replied that there had
, been levied by the Commissioners OF
the various Counties for the relief of
civil war veterans for the year 1909-10
$484,462.S2. This is manifestly an in
complete return. as there are many ways
in which State aid is given that does
not appear in this estimate.
Clark Williams, Comptroller of the
State of New York, replied that the
State paid s293,511.S2 for the mainte-
nance of the Soldiers and Sailors Home
at Bath. and s63,507.39 for the wom-
ans Relief Corps Home at oxford, maxi
ing total of $357,O19.12 in this direc-
ton alone. He gives 10 account of
what the Counties and municipalities
appropriate.
S. G. Iverson. Auditor of Minnesota.
a levy of a tax Of one-tenth of a mill
on each dollar of valuation of-the
property in the State. This yields in
round numbers $4,000
o. Il. Fuller, Auditor General of
Michigan, writes that the State makes
an appropriation of $175,OOO year
for the support of the Soldiers Home
at Grand Rapids, and, in addition to
this, the Counties pay the expenses of
the burial of a veteran or his widow to
sum not to exceed $40 in each case.
This again does not take into account
the money paid by the Counties to help
the veterans support themselves on their
pensions.
Gideon Spencer, Secretary and State
Pension Agent of Rhode Island, writes
that the State appropriates $4,000
each year for this purpose, and last year
expended s9,194.44
William E. Drake, Auditor of Ac-
counts of New Jersey, writes that the
State paid in 1909, S44,692.6S for the
Soldiers Home at Kearny, and $62,-
S7723 for the Home at Vineland He
does not state what the several Coun-
ties appropriated for the support of vet
Grams.
John Bates. Clerk of the wyoming
Board of Charities and Reform. says
support of the Soldiers Home in John
son~County. He makes no report of
other expenditures.
The report of the Commissioners of
the Soldiers Home at Lisbon, n. d..
is made by months, and shows that the
expenditures range from $4,000 to
$4,000 a month.
U. u. Fellows. Auditor of the State
of New Hampshire, writes that the
State makes no appropriation, but the
Counties and towns render needed as
sisrance." The amount for the whole
State cannot be ascertained
William ID. Hawley, Deputy Auditor
of Massachusetts. says that the amount
appropriated by that State for the relief
of veterans of the civil war and their
widows and orphans is $S66,000, which
is disbursed by cities and towns and
reimbursed by the State
Charles p. Hatch, Auditor of the
State of Maine. says that for pensions
burial expenses and asylum the State
paid last year $113,524
James NJ. Nation. Auditor of the
State of Kansas, writes that the State
paid last year for the support OF the
Home. etc, $12S,OS0.
John l.. Bleakly. Auditor of the State
of Iowa, writes that the State pays onI
an average $4,000 a year for the re-
lief of veterans. He says nothing about
County and municipal relief.
James A. Frear, Secretary of the
State of Wisconsin, says that each Of
the Counties has Soldiers Relief Com
mission which distributes a large sum