The daily union., 1856-12-19
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
PENSIONS.
PHssIos orrIcr, october Is, ls5

nesspenscns and bounty landsi the last annual
ports
I-PKSsIoss
In this branch the operations embraced in this report
are those during the year ending June 30, 1856.
/. IaValsd PsnsioasThe number OF applications for
new pensions and for increases Of old of this class which
have been allowed during the year. is lF6 involving
reas amounting $3826 90 and annual pensions 10 the
amount Of 637 The amount paid out at the agencies
during the year for pensions and arrears S43S o.
The number OF pensioners the rolls the 30th day
Of June last was 1896, with annual pensions amount
ing to $443,l52 80.
In former reports from this Office attention has been
called the propriey OF further legislation to
correct and guard against existing and constantly
increasing abuses in the enjoyment OF pensions OF this
class by parties TO whom they may have been prop
erly allowed in the first instance, yet who by subse-
quent recovery from their disabilities have ceased TO be
Justly entitled 70 any further q Se %
within the past year have afforded illustration OF the
proprety OF the suggestions made this subject AT the
of the year there numerous pensions
OF this class on the rolls of single State which had
Gently been suspended account Of information to this
office that the pensioners either not justly entitled TO
any pensions pensions OF the amounts they
ceivng very competent disinterested person
ployed TO make personal examinations in the cases. lie
has conducted the highly TO the satisfaction Of this
Office and, ii is believed with justice TO all concerned
Those examinations show that OF tie sxyseyen in
which they made eleven entirely wrong and
the Of most OF the remainder much larger
than the real degrees OF existing disabilities entitled the
pares to- The pecunary result in all the was that
reduction Of the whole amount of the pensions TO less
than onehaf of the amount the parties were receiving
would be necessary conform them to the proper rights
OF the parties under helaw There will be annual saving
to the treasury OF $4,000 in these 1t should be
borne in mind that the examined were but portion
of the invalid pensions on the rolls of single State and
INT small proportion of the whole nuGber OF pensions OF
the same class on all the ros The long continuance of
these pensions for life renders these abuses OF more conse
auence than if they for shorter periods.
The importance Of some action this subject viii ap
near the greater wien il is considered that while all other
classes of pensions are diminishing TINS IS ana VIII con-
he tapt1u
Revolutionary Pensions.-These are granted by va
ns ac The new classification recently adopted in the
appropriations for their payment however, reduces lhen
INTO two dyisonshose to the soldiers and those to their
widows 81
Tie number of applications for new pensions, and for
increases Of DID, to the soldiers themselves whch nave
been allowed during the year is III involving arrears 10
the amount of $2S672 81 and annual pensions amout-
ing to $4a05 63 The amount paid Out al me Agencies
during the year. for pensions and arrears was
The number of pensioners the rolls on the eo os5 VI
June 54 with annual pensions to the amount oi
$3l954 "a
The number of applications which have been allowed to
ha widows of revolutionary soldiers during the year Is
54s involving to the amount $l356l4 81 and
annual pensions amounting to $35532 OF. The amount
paid out at the agencies during the year. for pen
sons and arrears was $50954 &c. The number OF PEN
sioners on the rolls the both day of June last was
5le7 with annual pensions to the saoppt OF S4lb435 10
The whole amount paid out at the agences dIrng the
year. for pensions and arrears on account OF
services was S590,72S 81
Though the number Of claims of this class which have
been allowed during the past year less than In former
years vet there has been corresponding decrease oil
labor the office relative to such claims, During the long
time most of the acts granting such pensions have been
in force the certain and clearer claims have been al
lowed Those on which the Office has been called to act
during the year have been in great degree such ac
of difficulties in the proper establishment OF them
have not before been presented TO the office or have been
dsalowed by it. Consequently, much labor and caro-
have been required in the examination OF them and the
number finally allowed bears less proportion to the whole
number examined.
H.Jf. far fine tn he
widows Of soldiers who have died in the service from
wounds received or diseases contracted therein.
The number of applications for pensions Of this class
which have been allowed during the year 1885, nvGTipg
amounting S36 7ls oo and annual pensions
the of 20936 The amount paid ont at the agen
cies during the year. for pensions and arrears was
229 H. The number pensioners tho rolls the 3ott
day Of June last was 253 with annual ponaons amount
ing TO Sl8l,l56 %.
a Navy Psnsions-The number of applications for new
pensions and for increases of old of this class which hay
been allowed during the year 10 the nyalids themselves
26 involving amounting TO S52G IL and annual
pensions the amount Of 625. The amount paid ou
the agencies during the year. for pensions and arrears
S22597 49, The number Of navy nvalids on the roll
on the Both day OF June last 1885, with annual pensions
amounting TO S22,5l5 IS.
The number OF applications which have been allowed
during the year the widows and children Of inyads
the navy 81 involving arrears amounting 10 S2947 81
and annual pensions to the amount Of $4,000 The
pad ut at the agencies during the year. for pensions
arrears Iyas $lo0l69 93 The number OF pensioners
the rolls on lie 30th day Of June last 4ss, with
nual pensions Al, counting to S9S8T0.
These four classes tabrace all the pensions allowed BY
this Office From the -ang statements will appea
that the whole number Of app alohs or ne" pensions
and for increases OF old in these ca when have oeei
allowed during the year. Is IL involving eers aiunt
ing TO S20s37 SO, and annual pensions to the sount
$79535 65
The whole amount paid out at the agencies during the
year, for pensions and arrears, Sl360694 0l The
number OF pensioners all The rolls the 30h day Of June
last was 1914, with annual pensions amounting 10 81
l92ss4 70.
The business Of the Office ia this branch has been prop
ery attended to during tho year. and up to date
There several claims which action has been and
still is suspended by your order awaiting the determine.
hon OF certain legal questions Submitted for the consdera
ton OF the Attorney General When those questions
determined the claims will be disposed Of without delay
The want Of some fixed policy and uniform principles
10 govern legislation relative 10 pensions has occasoned
in the acts passed at different times great com
pcao1s and many Inconsistencies and conflicts eyen n
their provisions In your last annual report auson was
made 70 the consequent impossblity Of satisfactory exc
cuton Of the existing pension laws and the inequality
and injustice Of their operations These defects be
fully remodied only by entire revision Of the system
But there which easily be remedied refer
particularly TO the distinctions made by existing laws in
army and navy pensions.
In army pensions the amount allowed 10 invalds Of the
lowest rank Ia the service Is SO per month while In navy
pensions the amount allowed to those Of the lowest rank
is only SO 5o and to only SO per month II the
amount Of the pension has reference 70 the necessities
the parties those OF the invad of the navy are as great
those Of the nveds Of the army and their support
expensive No appears for this difference In their
rates OF eusou Besides the pittance allowed to the lower
rank in tho navy h entirely inadequate for any substantial
relief
More numerous distinctions between the two services ap-
pear In the provisions o. existing laws relative pensions