The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin

Compiled and Published Under the Direction of

J. D. Beck, Commissioner of Labor and Industrial Statistics

©1907 Democratic Printing Company, State Printer, Madison [WI]

Part V. Pension Laws, Pensioners and Pensions

[pp. 815-817]

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To obtain a pension the applicant must file a claim with the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington, D. C. In his claim

the soldier should set forth all his military or naval experience, giving dates of enlistment and discharge. He should also clearly state the name or nature of all disabilities for which a pension is claimed, giving the time when, the place where and the circumstances under which each was contracted. The prime requirement to establish a claim under the act of July 14, 1862, usually called the general law, is to show that the disability for which pension is claimed had its origin while in the service and line of duty; that it has existed as a disabling cause from the date of discharge, and now exists in a degree pensionable under the law.

In a claim under the act of June 27, 1890, the essential requirements are: A service of ninety days or more in the war of

the Rebellion, an honorable discharge therefrom and proof that the disability for which a pension is claimed is not due to vicious habits, but it need not necessarily be of service origin.

Survivors of the various Indian wars and uprisings--who served thirty days or more--from 1817 to 1856, inclusive,

and who were honorably discharged under United State military, state, territorial or provisional authority, are entitled to pensions, as are also the surviving widows of such soldiers, whether officers or enlisted men, excepting in cases where widows have remarried. Soldiers who were in the military or naval service of the Confederate states, but subsequently enlisted in the United States army of navy, performed faithful service and were honorably discharged therefrom, and the widows and minor children of such soldiers, are pensionable. This provision, however, does not include surviving members of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th United States volunteers, who had prior Confederate service, but were enlisted while prisoners of war under special stipulation that they were not to be pensionable.

Soldiers who deserted, but subsequently enlisted and rendered faithful service for a period of six months or more, and

were honorably discharged, but received no bounty or other gratuity from the United States than that to which they would have been entitled had they been regularly discharged from their prior service, are also entitled to be placed upon the pension rolls.

In a widow's claim it was necessary to prove the fact of her legal marriage to the soldier, the date of his death, and,

under the general law, that it was of service origin. She must also show that she has remained a widow. If there are children of the soldier under sixteen years of age at the date of his death, their names should be given and the date of birth of each clearly shown. If any have died the date or dates of death should be provided. In a widow's claim under act of June 27, 1890, the requirement concerning the fact of service is the same as under the claim of an invalid, but in addition thereto she must prove the fact of her legal marriage to the soldier prior to the passage of the act, the fact of his death,--though it need not be shown that it was caused by his army service,--her continued widowhood and that she is without other means of support than her daily labor. The act of May 9, 1900, so amends that of June 27, 1890, as to make a widow pensionable if without means of support other than her daily labor and a net annual income of $250.

By act of congress, approved March 3, 1901, a widow who was pensioned, or entitled to a pension, under the general

law, but forfeited her claim by re-marriage, may, upon proving the death of her last husband, and that her net annual income is less than $250, be restored to the pension roll if the widow was entitled to, but had never proved her right to a pension. She must first prosecute and receive the pension due her from the death of the soldier to the date date of her re-marriage, and then prosecute the claim for reissue.

A minor child's title to a pension is good only on the death or re-marriage of the widow, which fact must be shown in

addition to the requirements in a widow's claim. A dependent mother must show her relationship to the soldier, his celibacy, that he contributed to her support, that his death was due to some cause of service origin, the date of his death, and, under the general law, that she was dependent upon him for support at the time of his death. Under the act of June 27, 1890, it is necessary only to show her dependence at the time of filing her claim and since then. A dependent father must show relationship by legal marriage to the soldiers' mother, the date of the soldier's birth and of the mother's death, in addition to the requirements in a mother's claim. Applications rejected by a Board of Pension Surgeons may be reconsidered on the evidence of two physicians that the disability exists.

Act of Congress, February 6, 1907: That any person who served ninety days or more in the military or naval service of

the United States during the late civil war, or sixty days in the war with Mexico, and who has been honorably discharged therefrom, and who has reached the age of sixty-two years or over, shall, upon making proof of such facts according to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Interior may provide, be placed upon the pension roll, and be entitled to receive a pension as follows: In case such person has reached the age of sixty-two years, twelve dollars per month; seventy years, fifteen dollars per month; seventy-five years or over, twenty dollars per month; and such pension shall commence from the date of the filing of the application in the Bureau of Pensions after the passage and approval of this act: Provided, that pensioners who are sixty-two years of age or over, and who are now receiving pensions under existing laws, or whose claims are pending in the Bureau of Pensions, may, by application to the Commissioner of Pensions, in such form as he may prescribe, receive the benefits of this act; and nothing herein contained shall prevent any pensioner or person entitled to a pension from prosecuting his claim and receiving a pension under any other general or special act: Provided, that no person shall receive a pension under any other law at the same time or for the same period that he is receiving a pension under the provisions of this act: Provided, further, that no person who is now receiving or shall herein after receive a greater pension under any other general or special law than he would be entitled to receive under the provisions herein shall be pensionable under this act.

Sec. 2. That rank in the service shall not be considered in applications filed hereunder.

Sec. 3. That no pension attorney, claim agent, or other person shall be entitled to receive any compensation for services

rendered in presenting any claim to the Bureau of Pensions, or securing any pension, under this act.

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Pensions for privates range, in most cases, from $6 to $30 per month, though $72 per month is granted to those who

have lost both feet or both eyes, and $100 per month to those who have lost both hands. The number of pensioners on the rolls in the several states and territories on June 30, 1906, with the total amount paid during the fiscal year that ended on that day, is shown in the following table:

States.	Number.	Amount paid.
Alabama	3,943	$501,734.16
Alaska	79	10,193.15
Arizona	862	118,993.48
Arkansas	10,997	1,486,365.45
California	25,888	3,352,294.24
Colorado	8,747	1,223,445.72
Connecticut	12,611	1,582,660.65
Delaware	2,683	381,916.95
District of Columbia	8,740	1,357,032.66
Florida	3,852	509,412.29
Georgia	3,632	486,978.10
Idaho	2,253	311,867.97
Illinois	69,704	9,903,963.06
Indiana	61,440	9,916,498.98
Indian Territory	4,321	581,594.55
Iowa	35,132	5,333,069.45
Kansas	39,076	5,467,713.52
Kentucky	27,244	3,854,467.80
Louisiana	6,620	805,123.15
Maine	18,741	2,855,269.36
Maryland	12,771	1,720,191.39
Massachusetts	40,610	5,258,862.38
Michigan	41,671	6,436,483.18
Minnesota	15,207	2,118,318.29
Mississippi	4,856	588,646.95
Missouri	50,434	7,001,341.31
Montana	2,082	291,251.29
Nebraska	16,403	2,175,179.29
Nevada	384	50,033.95
New Hampshire	8,211	1,208,412.97
New Jersey	20,686	2,452,280.51
New Mexico	2,106	310,092.62
New York	89,240	11,835,027.05
North Carolina	4,204	557,285.03
North Dakota	2,103	289,921.15
Ohio	98,564	14,893,188.29
Oklahoma	9,236	1,296,796.29
Oregon	7,940	1,047,311.36
Pennsylvania	98,829	13,225,941.38
Rhode Island	5,468	628,130.28
South Carolina	2,095	259,979.28
South Dakota	4,392	628,032.20
Tennessee	19,288	2,753,932.97
Texas	8,913	1,180,566.72
Utah	1,028	131,755.64
Vermont	8,347	1,377,293.84
Virginia	8,865	1,262,866.44
Washington	10,312	1,338,277.45
West Virginia	12,211	1,746,865.15
Wisconsin	27,044	3,871,963.98
Wyoming	922	125,864.33
Total	930,600	$138,099,717.47
Paid in all foreign countries	5,268	749,001.50
Paid in our insular possessions	103	15,000.48
Grand Total	985,971	$139,000,288.25

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