Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1914 — The Costly Persistence of Pensioners [ARTICLE]

The Costly Persistence of Pensioners

Pensions are still drawn by about 200 widows of U. S. soldiers who fought in the war of 1812. Although the Indian war seems a matter of ancient history, the government still gives pensions to 120 survivors w'ho took active part, and about 2,439 widows.

Now that Europe has been convulsed by conflict it is interesting to note that the Mexican war, so long ago fought out, still costs the United States a considerable sum of montty, distributed in pensions to 1,313 survivors and 5,533 widows. The pensions of the civil war veterans and their widows are, of course, an enormous expense. At present pensions are paid to about 350,000; 103,000 invalids, 64,000 widows, 351 minors, 1,413 mothers, and 202 fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. The war with Spain added to the pension list 23,000 invalids, 1,288 widows,,3o4 minors, 3,000 mothers and 500 fathers. Each pensioner has an average income of $174. It is curious to note that, in 1866 the number of pensioners was 126,000, while in 1912 this number has been increased 860,000. Star.

And yet Congressman Peterson of the Tenth Indiana district, would add the army of civil service employes of the government to this list, notwithstanding the fact that they receives good big salaries, have practicaly a life tenor in office and there are dozens of applicants for every job. Is it the fault of the people who must pay such pensions, were such a law enacted, that these employes—or some of them—do not lay up anything for the “rainy day,” when they are incapacitated from longer retaining a hold on the public teat?

Mr. Peterson's ideas in this matter, like his milage grab vote —when he stood alone among the congressional delegation from Indiana tq retain the ten cents per mjle instead of the actual traveling expense—is not popular with his constituency in this locality. It is both contrary to democratic principles and is unbusinesslike.