New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06

Grcatcr uniformity III csUlna'l"S Wv Ih ,i,h,
Sf invalid pensioners and claimants, iuv ,,s"i
Dra a,scL,r,,ca ,oldicr o,scaman 10 be pensloncd
nj all. for a disability really oNlSung' l."s. W
many cascs dcpcnd upon questions P'VP"aH ~, ~ "
determined by the examining S,,iSV"n' nv -
AIT order of professional QuallnCo''"u n "'''"
semisite To n sound and rcliabie opinlp' On ''N'
srauoa,to5 In the designation of hysiclans ana
snr,,.ons f,r the performance OF these uulcs, IL
aaa noon ms aim 10 secure the best aNaiiaolc ana
Eor The sake of uniformity, however, ana Tor the
Snrposc of professional supervision III lhcSc cA-
kwin.tlons AZ well as for the settlement Ol Qu's-
lions recurring thorough cduca ion and eNpc-
Slencc In medicine and surgery, as they arse III
Ihe ADJUDICATION Of pension claims, II ~ suggested
That consulting and supervising surgeon mlgni
proltably be provided for, whose services shall
he rendered In this bureau The OBVIOUS adNIl'
iages of such an officer would no doubt, secure
Favorable action, should the subject be brought "a
lhe notice OF Congress. In dciHul, OF particular
legislation 10 this end the detail ofan experienced
kiirgeon now In the service would probably DC
made, if requested of the proper department,
The preparation of scale of disabilities pro-
posed in my last report, TO be intiused to con-
EMISSION of surgeons, would, perhaps, be einh'!
well accomplished through the aid OF an o'll,o ,s
appointed as above Indicated. Ihis sun So
~ me an object worthy Of attention, aItnVuSl 90
large portion Of the claims to be anec''u INV
by have already been adjusted .,.,.,,, soo-
, The power conferred on me by inc eleh'h ~,
tion OF the Act of July 4, 1864, 10 ordei p,o
examinations of enrolled pensioners a. l's't,.tS
migbt scem TO require, has been eNeIclstu WIN
s,n3onhted advantage TO the Governments, III
many instances and has sometimes scctueu 10
The pensoncr higher rate, TO whlch ne was
Fairly entitled. Special EXAMINATIONS nave IRE
puently been required annually or selnl-ahnuaiil'
Nv the insertion of clause to that effect IN the
pension certificates, in cases OF manlieslv 'enl-
Rorary and variable disability. In DINER I'D,
Stances, a surgeon has been specially detailed
10 investigate and report upon the merits oil cases
had
las to the existence Of any disability or It's de-
Eree. This action has tended to correct any ue-
hartures from uniformity In estimating Inc rates
of disability, and To correct erroneous allowances,
either through inadverance or through inaccura-
Eies ia testimony.
PENSION NOTARIEs.
Only a very limited number Of pension nOtaries
have been designated. for the accommodation OF
applicants residing at distance rom any pace
mt which a court of record j. Dcd, the thlrd sec
lion of the Act Of July f. 1864. which cOnfcrs this
authority having restricted its exercise To locall-
HES mOHc than twenty-five miles distant from slch
court In many Instances. the absolute require
unent that the declaration be made before some
officer of court OF record, with only the eXcep-
pion just stated seems TO be hardship to Claim
ANTS, and especially 10 the sick and lnhrn.
modification Of the law for the benefit OF such
Elaimants leaving wide discretion as TO the de-
Sgnation Of pension notarics would afford de-
Brabe remedy for the evil
THE COLLECTION or PENSIONS.
Numerous complaints have been made to this
office Of eXorbitant charges by attorneys for their
services in the semiannual drawing OF pensions.
BLANKS are furnished. without expense. TO all pen
eioners who desire them, for the execution OF the
requisite vouchers, and they can be readily made
iput by any intelligent person who can read and
write requiring only the expense OF fees for adj
unnistering the oaths required. The sum of from
two to five dollars for filing out one OF these
BLANKS, and transmitting the vouchers to the
agency has, nevertheless, been eXaclcd every slN
months by many attorneys, who, availing them
selves of the ignorance of the pensi0ner, retain
numbers Of pension certificates In their custody
permitting the impression that their services arr
nndispe nsable to their clients. This practice ha
[been partly broken up by requiring pensioner
Presiding near. the agency al which they are PAL
20 present themselves In person with their cert
hicates, without the Intervention of an attorne!
But the evil can only be partially remedied by al
administrative action. A stringent law, in regar
TO fees, for the collection OF pensions no less tia
for procuring the allowance OF pension claim
already enacted, would seem TO be indispensable
to protect these pensioners residing at a dstanC
from the agency where they are paid nom thes
exactions.
For administering the necessary Oaths TO pei
sloners or their attorneys pension agents al
allowed by Congressional statute the fees fixed b
the local law for Ike services. Beyond thi
under your order OF the 2lst ult., Dsbursn
agents will not hereafter be permitted TO chara
any lct iDT out tue NECESSARY vouchers IL
pensioners. IL il obvious that the small sem
annual stipend allowed 10 pensioners should reaC
them as promptly and with as little cost as pos
Die. and il is in accordance with the spirit Of o.
pension system to protect all pensioners. so far
may be necessary, from the diversion or retentiC
of any portion of the periodical sums granite
them.
NAVY PENSION FUND.
The amount of the navy pension fund invest,
in gOd-bearng bonds of the United States. ind
the direction of the Secretary of the Navy.
trustee. is S9.000000. There is now on hand
this fund, subject To use as may be required, or
investment, the sum OF 81 1895, ll4.3l. The annu
income from the portion invested is now mo
than double what is required for the payment
Navy pensions of all kinds, regardless of {
difference in value between coin and paper CT
rency. While IL would appear that this fund
equtably liable for all classes Of Navy pensio
alike, the Act by which it is created specifl
invallds of the Navy alone. Further legisat
action, therefore, is necessary In order to mai
the fund available for the largest class Of Ma
pensions.
GENERAL REMARKS.
From the estimates for the fiscal year endiI
June So 1867, heretofore submitted In a separa
report IL will be seen that a sum eXceedlI
$4,000 900 Is believed TO be necessary for Il
payment of pensioners for that year. The app
cations for pensions during the first quarter OF u
current fiscal year have exceeded In number tho
of any previous quarter since the commenceme
of the late war The number OF claims now
file, and the probable number hereafter to
filed, are such as TO justify the opinion that Il
pension list will continue TO enlarge, at rate col
siderably exceeding the diminutions from dealt
and other causes. for at least three years to com
The maximum yearly amount of pensions thu
attained can hardly be less than $lS,0OO,0O0.
four or five years material falling of from tn
maximum may be anticipated, In the absence
hOstities.
In view of the magnitude Of the interests Ii