The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-22
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIo J. HAsKnN, Director.
Washington. ID. O.
WAR BoUNTIEs AND PENSIONS.

upon to pay the bonuses voted by the
various states to veterans of the World
the fact that the congress once took
action of substantially that character
in connection with another war, and
because so many states have decided
to reward their soldiers of 1917-1915.
Following the war of the Revolu-
ton the first pensions which may be
regarded as a form OF bonus, were
paid by the various states. but in 1888
the congress passed an act whereby
the general government assumed the
payment of such pensions as had been
granted by the states and this provi-
sion was continued by subsequent leg
islation. There has been no sugges-
ton as yet that the burdens and obli-
cations of the states incident to the
recent war be similarly taken over,
congressman may seek to endear him
self to the people back home by pro-
posing to dip into the federal treas
ury for the funds that otherwise must
come from the state strong boxes
To date twelve of the states have
paid or are paying bonuses, while in
three others all the necessary steps
have been taken except the raising OF
the money and in eight referendums
are to be taken on bonus legislation
In all the bonus appropriations actual
ly made or proposed in these twenty
three states aggregate considerably
more than three hundred million dol
lars-$3S1,739, 1000, to be exact, ac-
cording to departmental figures avail
able in Washington. This is not
stupendous sum, as government expen-
ditures go these days. but it represents
substantial items in the budgets of
some of the states.
Moreover, practically all this state
generosity has been provided for by
bond issues and the taxpayers of the
various commonwealth will not real
ize fully the burdens they have as
sumed until the honda come due and
must be redeemed or refunded. That
will be the time when it is most likely
that proposal will be heard to shunt
the load off on Uncle Sans broad
shoulders. OF course it is improb-
able that such a scheme would get
by as long as only twenty-three states
are interested, but If a sufficient num-
Der of the other states place them
selves in the bonus column it would be
no difficult matter to get the requi-
site votes for the congressional action
indicated
What the States Pay.
Allowances by the states to the vet
Grams take various forms and are of
varying amounts. They include pen
sions for the sick and wounded. assist
ance for educational and vocational
training and cash bonuses. The latter
are based on length of service and
range from so cents to 81 per day,
with maximum payments of from
500 to $500
In connection with state action
along this line and the proposed fed
eral bonus it is interesting to review
the rewards of war heroes dating
back to early colonial days. The New
England militia which Joined the
British army in the invasion of Can
ada were pad a money bounty, as
were those who wintered at Louisburg
in 1850. When the Revolutionary
war came on volunteers in the Cont
mental army received small grants of
money and land from the government
and as the enemy was especially lib
eral in this respect a competition de-
VeIoped that led Washington at one
time to fear the loss of his army un-
less the congress was more generous
The states gave bounties of varying
values, Virginia and New York voting
lands, but in 1880 there came a crisis
when Washington had to offer 5000
ly in order to demobilize his army in
1888, persuaded the continental con-
gress to give the officers a bonus
equivalent to five years full pay.
Washington himself, by the way,
was beneficiary of the land grants
to soldiers of the French and Indian
war Lord Dunmore of Virginia was
authorized to offer bounties of land
to all officers and soldiers who had
served in this war, the grants ranging
-
5000 acres to captains, 200 acres to
subalterns or staff officers and fifty
acres to privates. Washington Sc
cured patents in his own and other
officers names for $4,000 acres. of
which his own share was $4,000.
These grants were much larger than
those promised officers and privates
OF the Revolutionary war, when colo |
nels were given 500 acres, majors 400, |
800, lieutenants 200 and nom |
fSefr i
men 100. while major generals re- |
ceived 1,100 acres and brigadiers $50 |
acres. Four thousand square miles or
7, 100000 acres, including twelve |
counties in northern Ohio, were set
aside to take care of these grants.
Four million acres of bounty lands |
were given to the soldiers of the War |
Of 1912, while to survivors of the |
Mexican and Indian wars 5S,652,450 |
acres of the public domain were dis |
under 53o,20S warrants. Then |
came the Civil war and under the act |
Of 1862 land scrip worth S1.25 per |
acre was distributed for 100000 ]
acres.
Bounty Jumping n Business.
All volunteers in the northern army |
turing the Civil war received cash |
oounties, cities and states competing |
with each other and with the federal |
government, while many individuals !
hired substitutes to take their places |
at the front. By 1866, owing to the |
magnitude CT the war and the diff |
Guilty of getting recruits, the gratui- |
lies which a volunteer could gather in |
amounted to as much as $500 and |
'bounty-jumping" had become bust |
ness. A man would enlist in one place |
under one name, hurry to the front, |
collect his bounty, desert and then go |
70 another locality and repeat the |
performance under another name.
Aside from what the government paid |
out it is estimated that local and state /
oounties in this war amounted to /
more than $500. 100000.
When We come to the matter of l
pensions which are deferred bounties |
or bonuses it is found that prior to |
he World war the government had |
lisbursed q grand total of $500. 3d.