Evening star., 1922-12-31
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

b1 Gs GOULD L1NOOLNs
ASSAGE by Congress Of tho
- Bursum bill increasing pen-
sions for civil war veterans
and veterans of the Mexican
end Indian wars serves to call atten-
tion to the tremendous changes that
are occurring in tho ranks Of tho sur
hvors of these wars and to what the
United States has done. and has failed
to do. perhaps. for the defenders Of
the Union.
Tho average age Of the veterans Of
the civil war today is seventy-nine
years-this for soldiers and sailors
now on the pension rolls. It is really
a great age. an age that means the
great majority Of these pensioners
will be finally mustered out" within
the next i've years. Widows of the
veterans, not unnaturally. are young
er. some of them much younger. But
the records show that the widows are
dying Off month by month almost as
From May. 1921, until April, 1922. in
elusive. 1855 veterans Of the civil
war were dropped from the pension
rolls by reason of death, ana 20.6l7
widows, a total Of 1929. The death
rate among the old soldiers is In
creasing rapidly. however. and the
losses per month are very large.
Claims stin Being Filed.
1t is true that new claims for pen
sions are being filed all the time.
Men who have struggled along. max
ing good. have hesitated to take
pension from Cpcle Sam, although
they were entitled to it under the
pension laws enacted. But today. with
their great age and their earning ca
pacity going, with cost Of living so
high, veterans who have withheld
such claims are now making them.
and also the widows Of the veterans.
The number Of claims allowed for
the first three months Of 1922 was
$3.50.
Clearly, therefore, the number
dropped from the pension rolls by
reason of death does not show ex-
actly the rate of decrease in the pen
sions, because of the new claims al
lowed. The pension bureau has esti-
mated that the net losses from the
roll during the five years beginning
with 1922 will be $500 in 1922. 34.5o0
in 1923. 32.400 in 1924. 31,130 in 1925
and 10000 in. 1926.
/. PassinE OF the VeteraBa
When it is known that the total
number Of civil war veterans on the
pension roll at the end OF the last
fiscal year was 193,Ss1. as compared
to 21s.775 in 1921. and that the total
number of widows, minor children
and dependent children on the roll
was 212,1el at the end of the last
fiscal year as compared to 2Sl.327 in
1921, it is easy to figure how the pen
sion roll must dwindle in the next
Ave years.
The Bursum bill for which the vet
erans have eagerly waited. and unde-
which they will benefit next month.
gives a fiat increase Of from $50 70
s72 a month to each veteran soldier
and sailor on the pension rolls who
served as an officer or enlisted man
for period of ninety days in the
civil war and was honorably dis
charged, or for period OF sixty days
in the Mexican war. 1t gives to the
widows of these veterans an increase
to $50 a month, with an additional $6
for each child under sixteen years OF
age, or child that ia helpless, mental
ly or physically. Furthermore. 1t is
provided that widows of the veterans
who have married again. and who
have become widows second time,
or have been divorced from their sec
ond husbands. can benefit under the
pension law, provided there is moth
ing against them morally.
Other Pension Increases.
The rate Of pension fixed in the new
act for veterans of the Indian wars is
raised to $40 a month, and for their