Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-18
GENE ROUS To
HER SOLDIER rs
~FERNALD POINTS OUT WHAT
COUNTRY HAS DONE FOR
VETERANS AND WIDOWS.

Washington, May 1S-(Special cor
respondence) Senator Bert M. Fern
aid of Maine was in charge of the
bill recently passed unanimously by
by the Senate appropriating $17,000,-
600 for the construction Of more hos
pitfalls for the accommodation of dis
ablcd service men. In the course of
his remarks on the measure, Senator
Fernald gave statistics of what the
United States has done for it's soldi-
ers in the World War as compared
with what was done in former wars,
and with what other governments
have done for their veterans that
should be brought to the attention
of every person who thinks this coun-
try has been negligent in that respect.
Senators may be surprised to
know the difference in the treatment
Of the soldiers by the different gov
ernments," said Senator Fernald.
Outside Of Australia and New Zea-
land, no Government that was in any
way connected with the late war has
paid anything like what the United
States has paid her soldiers. Canada
alone paid her soldiers $33 per month.
The United States paid her soldiers
$33 per month. Great Britain paid her
soldiers So per month France, Austria
Hungary, Italy, and Japan paid their
soldiers less than So per month. So
Senator'S may see that in comparison
with what other Governments have
laid, the United States has been ex-
cecdingly generous.
"No soldier Of the Revolutionary
War RECEIVED n pension, for over 40
years after the close of the war, of
more than So per month, and that
only in case of disability to such an
extent as to prevent his performing
m lnual labor.
mo soldier who served in the war
for independence was allowed a pen
sion for any reason except injuries of
disability incurred in the service, for
AZ years.
"No soldier of the War of 1912 was
peNsioned for any cause, except for
disability incurred in service, un-
til GO years after the war.
"No widow of the War of 1872
received a pension until the act OF
1916, and then only 81 per month.
"No soldier of the Mexican War
received a pension except such as
were wounded or disabled in the ser
vice, until 40 years after the close
of the war.
"Those totally disabled as the re-
suit of service received SO per month
mo soldier Of the Civil War who
was not injured or disabled by his
military service received any pension
from the Government until the act OF
1890, % years after the close of the
gar.
~"Those totally disabled received
only So per month in case of privates
and only $50 per month in case OF
lieutenant colonies and those o.
higher rank.
"No widow of Civil War soldier!
was granted pension until 20 year!
after the close Of the war, and thei
Only DIOOI VI bhC SOlNiNA NS"S'
being of service origin.
AT the close Of this fiscal year w
will have expended during this IL
month period for the benefit of tn
soldiers $43S, 100000, twice as mucl
as was ever expended before in ali
of the soldiers of any war.
"From the beginning of the Revo
lutionary War until July a, 1866
wears after the close of the WARM
widow of an enlisted soldier who ser
we'd in the War for independents
was ever allowed a pension. But b.
the act of July 4, 1886, and severa
amendatory acts, widows OF Revo
lutionary soldiers were allowed
pension at first Of 81 and later S
per month. They were never allow
ed more than that until the act o
1sS6-more than 100 years after tn
war.
"IJntil the act of 1916 no widow @
the War OF 1912 received a pension
But by that act widows of soldier
who were killed in the service wer
allowed half pay, or $18 per year
a 81 per month.
widows of soldiers killed in tn
Mexican War received half pay c
s4s per year for life, and it neve
was increased above that amount vi
I'll 1870 years after the close {
the war-and then increased to
per month.
"In 1886 pensions Of widows {
Civil War veterans were increased
s12 per month, so that no widow Of