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Brief HistoryCivil War Pensions |
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Such a large federal expenditure could not help
but engender some criticism. The process of awarding pensions, which was
administered locally, was amenable to political patronage and other forms
of corruption. Also, a robust legal specialty sprung up of lawyers who
specialized in helping would-be recipients secure potential pensions.
Over time, these developments led to skepticism about the program and
to concerns that it was rife with fraud, waste and abuse. Whether these
concerns were valid, is hard to say. The recognized authority on this
period, Professor Theda Skocpol, has studied the question and has concluded:
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