The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-10

The adjusted compensation law, changed by
the act Of 1881 made it possible that compensa-
ton certificates, maturing in 20 years. should be
available TO all below the rank of captain who
had served in the military service more than
60 days At maturity these certificates will vary
in value from $3.50 to s1.595, depending on the
length OF the veterans service, and meantime
money may be borrowed on them. Certificates
issued up to March I, 1881. totaled 349s.376,
and had total maturity value of Sc, 52SO22. III.
Loans made upon them Appropriated about
S243,0O0,OOO during the same period
Under the disqualification plan all veterans
are entitled to free treatment of hospital nature
either in or out of government hospitals, 81
hospitals being operated in 1881, five more be-
ing built and ten more authorized by congress.
The cost of operating these institutions and car
ing for the patients is In excess of $3.50 200
TO January l. 1881
The government relief program includes death
and disability compensation, disabled emergency
officers retirement pay and disability allowance
which have cost S2205, 215,659 up to July 1, 1882.
Another relief activity is the grant of low-cost
insurance against death or permanent disability
in any multiple of $500 from 81 900 TO $4,000 to
any healthy veteran who has previously applied
for or has been eligible to apply for annually
renewable wartime insurance or United States
government life (converted) insurance The
total amount paid on these items is 81 $40, 49,
400.
Many thousands of claims have been fled IN
der the law providing monthly payment of term
insurance and government life insurance for total
and permanent disability, and relief was being
given in 2O.195 cases on June 80. 1892
The disability allowance plan, which went into
effect July l, 1880. provides monthly payments
to veterans permanently disabled to the extent
of 25 per cent more, even though their dis
in
their terms Of service. Another new relief law
provides for the pensioning of emergency off,
GERS who are 80 per cent or more disabled or in
capacitated a result of their World war serv-
ice on the same basis as retired officers of the
regular army.
The history of pensions for veterans of Amer
lean wars goes back to the earliest days of the
republic. On June 20. 17T6, even before the
Declaration of Independence had been adopted,
the Continental congress appointed a committee
to Consider what provision ought to be made
for such as are wounded or disabled in the land
or sea service"
This committee made prompt report and on
August &c, 1776, the first national pension act in
America was passed by the Continental con-
gress That part of the law fixing the amount
was as follows: THAT every commissioned off,
GER non-commissioned officer. and private soldier
who shall lose limb in any engagement. or be
so disabled in the service Of the United States
of America as to render him Incapable after
wards of getting a livelihood, shall receive, dur
ing his life or the continuance of such disabl-
ity the one-half of his monthly pay from and
after the time that his pay an officer or
soldier ceases"
After the Constitution had adopted and
the new government had been organized, ii con-
tinued for time the pensions which had been
previously granted and assumed their payment
Soon, however. a strong demand arose for
new pension law and on March q. 1892 the
first pension law passed by the new government
went into effect
Later there grew demand for pension law
not based upon disability incurred in the service
and in his annual message to congress on De-
cember 2 1877, President Monroe recommended
such a law. bill was passed by the house on
December "a sort Of a Christmas present
TO the veterans of the Revolution. passed by
the senate Immediately afterwards and approved
by President Monroe on March Is. 1918.
The loose wording of this law. however made
frauds easy and the grant of pensions became
a public scandal. A law passed in 1920 required
all pensioners already the rolls and future
applicants to file statement of property as
proof of their alleged dependence Gran govern
bounty for livelihood As result. the