Evening star., 1928-12-09
PENSIONS FOR FIGHTING MEN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Spanish War now constitute the most
numerous class, there being l44.R00 on,
the rolls at present. Civil War vet
erans are dying at the rate of more
than $1,000 year. Spanish Wsr pen-
sioners, on the other hand. are on the
increase. In the last year there has been
a gain of more than $4,000. This Is due
to the fact that. with advancing age,
the earning power of these men has di-
minished and they have availed them
selves of their pension rights, only as
the need of assistance developed. OF
the 4l4,000 soldiers who served in the
War with Spain there are still some
100000 who have not yet applied for
pensions.
At present there are 197.934 Civil
War widows and other dependents
drawing pensions. This is q decrease
of 14.708 in a year There are 261a5
widows and other dependents of Span
ish War veterans on the rolls now,
gain of 2,648 in year.
Wide Variation in Pensions.
The lowest regular pension rate calls
for only $40 month. This applies to
certain Spanish War veterans. The
rates scale upward, however, depend-
ing upon the degree of helplessneSs,
There are classes drawing monthly PEN
sions of $25, $50, $40. $50 and $72.
Civil War veterans scale up to $50.
These higher pensions are paid in case
of blindness or where the veteran Is so
disabled as to require the services oi
an attendant.
Only last May Congress passed a bill
| increasing from $50 to $40 a month the
pensions paid to Civil War widows who
| had attained the age of rs years. The
| files were searched to make proper
classification. II was found that l7S,O0O
| Civil War widows were in the $S0-a-
month class and that 103,858 were as
years old or more. Payments under
the increased rate began to be made
| on June 4.
Last April Congress passed an act
providing for the payment of double
pension In the event of the death or
] disability of any off1cer or enlisted man
killed or injured in the line of duty in
| connection with the operation Of any
| submarine or aircraft.
| A glance at the pension rates ct
some European countries will SutTlce 10
show how generously the United States
| treats its veterans in comparison.
France now is paying pensions to the
extent of 792 2,000,000 francs year. In
| terms of American money this would DC
| S3l $50, 900, or only about one-seventh
/ OF the amount paiu Uue Wy htS OAtVOA
States. Jugoslavia is paying pensions
aggregating 9l6.35s,0 dinars year.
| A dinar is worth little less than 2
| cents in American money. Finland,
| another one of the succession states
which grew out Of the war, is spending
| 81, 500, 600 Finnish marks year, the
mark being worth about 2la cents.
| Lithuania is paying pensions OF LII 900
hts, the lit being the equivalent OF 10
cents, The budget of Poland calls for
the payment of i02,SS9, 900 Elotys for
pensions. the Eloty having par value
of o little over IL cents. The Ru--
manian budget calls for payment OF
400, 600 900 lei in pensions, the leu hav-
Ing O present value Of a little over half
| q cent.
THESE succession states have been
especially referred to because, with the
exception of France, and to some extent
,nInoslavia, which was built around OLD
Serbia and Rumania, they all won In
dependence in the Great War. A COM
parisofi of the amounts paid reveals
how much better off Is the pensioner OF
the United States. To be sure, these
new states were plunged heavily into
debt BY the war and the post-armistice
| period and have slighter resources than
| the United States.