Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-22
Is Virginia Proud of This?

7 time when Nirginians are turning,
"A with renewed thrills Of pride, from
observance of the Lee and Jackson ami
ycrsaries 1t should be appropriate to con-
slider what the State OF Virginia is doing
10 temper the winds of adversely for the sur
viving followers OF those revered soldiers
Are not making mockery of our trib-
utes to Lee and Jackson when we regard
with cold indifference the privations and
loneliness OF men whose tribute to those
great leaders was that of unfaltering al
legiance under the bitterest conditions war
ever knew?
What is Virginia doing for the little band
of survivors. to whom Virginia stands-or
should stand-in the relation of grateful
and solicitous protector? So little that
every true Virginian must feel surge of
humiliation on examining the figures. Let
us consider the present pension provisions
in connection with the provisions OF q bill
introduced by Representative Samuel l..
Adams. This bill would give to veterans
who are totally disabled a pension of S132
a year; this compares with 500 as the
present annual allowance Tor such cases Mr..
Adams would provide pension of S132
also for veterans who. 'by reason OF the
infrmities of age" are no longer capable OF
earning livelihood; for these the great
State Of Virginia now allows SIS. Core
spondngly smaller pensions are provided
for the widows of veterans These also
would be increased by Mr. Adams meas
ure.
The author Of the pending bill probably
would be one OF the last men in the State
to claim adequacy In behalf Of his proposed
payments. But lie must be credited with
n readiness to initiate a move, however
feeble it may be- in the direction Of fairer
handling of a matter that ought to be very
close to the heart OF every man. woman and
child in the State. We may hardly believe
that the General Assembly will consent to
the rejection OF such a measure or to its
amendment unless alteration be for the
purpose of increasing the figures that have
been set.
There Is In Virginia today only precious
remnant of the once formidable armies OF
the South. The pension rolls of the State
carry the names OF aba lettering survivors,
ana In addition the names OF 4.4S7 widows
or those represented in those lists 412l are
between 20 and 80 years Of age; 2.134 are
between 80 and 80; more than 100 have
passed the 90th milestone Eighty-two
fighting men Of the Confederacy, included
in these lists. are totally blind There are
seventy who have lost an arm or leg. And
the rich State OF Virginia is translating her
sense OF reverence and gratitude into pitiful
annuities OF sl00-and downward.
The State aggregate pension bill, under
the present humilatipg arrangement, is
SS36,000 year. The Adams bill would
raise II TO sr,l61,0 900. That is. II would in
theory; but as matter Of fact. the space
OF few years will mark the removal of the
burden" altogether. The armies of Lee
and jackson are passing 10 a more secure
haven Ten per cent OF the survivors are
going annually, statistics show; and every
one must know that this percentage will be
heightened
What is the State OF Virginia going to do
10 compensate for so long deferring set
Element of debt OF honor?