Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1921-10-01
CIVIL WAR
PENSIONS

sions given the veterans of the Civil
War for a quarter OF century
after that war and how those vet.
Grams periodically submitted to this
inadeQuacy. even concealing their
hurts and disabilities in order to
help the Government out of the
slough Of threatened bankruptcy.
During the war and for many
years after the war the rate for
total disability was only IS a month
This was the absolute standard for
all disability outside OF actual MAIN
ing-that is, gunshot wounds that
took off an arm or leg. eyes. or
some other very essential portion of
the body. The old meaning of
main" was something that pre-
vented a man from fighting.
July 4. 1864. congress recognizes
the necessity of something being
done to more adequately care for
the men who had lost both hands
and they gave pension OF $25.
which was not increased until 1872,
when 1t was made $31.25. and In
1874 1t was raised to $50. where It
remained until 1878. when 1t was
raised to $72. In 1883. "a years
after the close OF the war, II was
raised to 800. This In itself ID
q measure of the inadequacy of all
pensions.
The act Of July 4. 1864. gave a
man who had lost both feet $50.
In 1872 this was raised to a parity
with the men who had lost both
hands and made $31.25. In 1874
It was raised to $50: in 1873 to
$72 and there remained until 1903,
3S years after the war. when 1t
was raised to 800.
The rate for loss of sight OF both
eyes In the service was made $25,
but the act Of July 4. 1864. raised
II to $3l.25. with the other pen
siOnr. then to $50 and to $72 where
II remained until April 8. 1904
when II was raised to 500. This
WAS - years after the war.
A man who had lost one hand
and one foot In the service only got
$50 In 1865. and II was not until
1908. 3S years after the war. that
he got his present rate Of $50.
The man who had lost an arm at
or above the elbow or a leg at OF
above the knee did not get SIS a
month until 1866. and II was slow.
ly raised until II was made s46 In
1903. 3s years after the war. I,
was not until 1886. 81 years afte,
the war. that the man who had lost
leg at the hip joint or an arm a,
the shoulder joint got as much as
3%s. For 20 years his pension had
been slowly raised from Sl5.
A totally deaf man did not ge,
anything above - "-." 1879, seven
years after the war. when he wal
given 3i3. and he had to he content
with that for ~ years. when hi,
pension was raised to $50 and IL
years later to $40.
During all these years those who
had suffered minor injuries and
disabilities In the service had TO bs
content with fractional subdivisions
OF the pitiful So 4 month. The Cop
perhesds. the rebels. and the great
metropolitan dailies Of New York
which are devoted to free trade
were bitterly hostile to all pensions
and everyone Wis scanned with the
fixed determination that the appii.
cants were frauds and should be
denied II there was any ground for
denial. During this time = man who
applied for pension and who had
indubitabie proof was put off with
the least possible amount that
could be granted Aim. Tho Ma
tional Tribune At that day contin.
sally called attention TO the ridicu.
ious nicely approaching n chemical
assay by which they found . man
had only 81 worth Of diarrhea. an.
other el.37 worth Of rheumatism
and \ third Sl.ss worth Of loss Of
hearing. etc.
BENJAMIN Harrison. candidate
for President Of the United States,
voiced the opinion OF the whole peo.
pis BY dcnouncinG the use Of an
apothecary's scales in measuring
out pensions 10 those who had been
Injured IN the service OF the coun.
Try. The Treasury had become full
70 overfiowing. There was mach
talk about ~ surplus" and the vet.
srsns who had patrioticaity conceal.
~ their srowinG disabilities In their
youth felt that the time had come