The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-22
GOVERNMENT NOW
 PAYING PENSIONS T0 1872 WIDOWS
Alarming Complications May Arise From Supporting
 Families of Veterans
WASHINGTON BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD ]


 The United States government, an investigation reveals, is paying pen sions to Al widows of the War of 1872. The War of 1872 was concluded by the Peace of Ghent, although on account of the difficulty in dissemi- hating news. the battle of New Or leans was fought in 1915. One of the widows, 63 years of age, was born in 1860. 45 years after the battle of New Orleans.
 The department of the interior, in making public the information rela- tive to pensioners of the War of 1872, was mindful of the effort of Senator Bursum in the last session of Con- gress (which effort will be repeated, probably With success, the next ses- sion) to increase the pensions of wid- ows of veterans Cf the Civil war, even those who entered into connu- bial relations as late as 1915. The President vetoed the Bursum bill. The senator, however, feels certain that in the next session, he will be able to put his bill across, the Pres ident's veto to the contrary, not withstanding.
 Last Surviving Pensioners.
 The department of the interior an- ncunces that there are no soldiers of the War of 1872 on the pension rolls. Such declaration Is regarded as superfluous, inasmuch as sol der of that war, had he entered service at the age of 15. would today be 123 years of age. The last sur viving pensioner of that war was Hiram Cronk, who died in New York in 1905 at the age of 105 years. If he entered service It the beginning of the War Cf 1872, he was only seven years of age.
 The inclination of old soldiers to acquire new wives is indicated again by a reference to the pension roll of veterans and their widows of the Mexican war. Only 57 veterans re- main on the pension roll. Widows number 1,717. The last soldier pen sioner of the Revolutionary war was Daniel r. Bakeman. who died at Freedom, N. Y., in 1869, at the age of the Revolutionary war was Asher S. Damon, widow of Noah Damon. who died at Plymouth Union, Vt, in 1906, at the age tf 96 years.
 If the government eventually pays pension to a widow of veteran of the Civil war born 45 years after the close of that war Gas 1t is now paying the War of 1872 born 45 years after that war) that widow" today is but 13 years old. The situation has be- come so pregnant of danger. in the opinion of some members of Congress, that the President was entirely justi- fled in vetoing the Bursum bill the last session.
 O O O
 Three Alabama Women.
 Ot the Al widows of the War of 1872 who are drawing pensions (none of whom were born until after the battle of New Orleans, fought after the conclusion of peace) four are res idents of Georgia. four of Virginia. three of New York, Alabama and Maryland, four of Tennessee. two of West Virginia, Kentucky. Ohio and Pennsylvania and one of Iowa, In diana. District of Columbia, Missis- sippi, South Carolina. Michigan. Mas sachusetts, Utah, Texas, Vermont, North Carolina and Arkansas.
 The three Alabama pensioners arc: Jane E. Dewitt, aged S4 years, Sa- litpa, widow of James Dewitt. pri- vate, Capt. Lovelace Mott's company. Mississippi militia.
 Missouri T. Goodwin, aged 80 years. Shelby. widow of Alexander Goodwin, private, Capt. Robert Steele's com pany. Tennessee militia.
 Julia Ann Smith, aged S7 years. Wadley, widow of James l.. Smith. corporal, Capt. J. Meriweather's com pany. Georgia militia.