New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-02
THE WORK OF THE PENSION OFFICE.

IHE WORh IHE
A LARGE SAVING IN EXPENSES THIS YEAR-NEw
CASES, THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF PENSION
ERs, ETC.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30.-Mr. Bentley, the
Commissioner Pensions, has completed his report for
the year ending June 80 1878.
The number OF CLAIMS of all classes filed during
the year 67,5O9. OF these 1882 were original
invalid claims, being more than double the number OF
the class filed in either Of the four years from
1871 to 1874. As many 1920 were for service In
the OF 1912 One in six only were the claims OF sur
vivOrs the balance being those Of widows Claims 10
the number of 1894 settled at an average cost for
salaries OF so IS per The average cost In 1877
S12 81, and in 1875 81 IL.
The wing through efficiency OF the office
inducing the reduction in the salary APPROPRIATION
Of $50 81 in 1877 1876 was $1s3,O5O, and'n 1873
over 1876 including the reduction or the salary fund OF
49,, 500 S340172. The number OF cases settled IN
1877 22 greater than In 1876, ana Id 1919
So per ceit greater than in 1875.
At the beginning OF the year the number OF pension
agencies reduced from yeight to eighteen, saving
in salaries for the year SAP 0O0 making an aggregate
saving the bureau for the OF S4S2l72 since the
consolidation pensions have been paid more promptly
than before. The pay service has advanced to high
degree OF efficiency The Commissioner is Of the opinion
that the reduction in the rate Of the agents compeDsa
ton made In the appropriation bill for the current year
be maintined without injury 10 the service ana
some further allowances should be made for their OK
penses.
On the 30th OF June, 1873, there were 223,99S pen
si0ners the rolls, reduction OF 2645 during the
year. II Is expected that the nuLiber will increase
considerably during year account OF the
1912 pensions.
The amount paid for pensions during the year was
S26,53O.792 10. or this amount, $24O90l SO was
retained the pensioners and paid 10 claim agents
for their fees
The special investigation OF fraud under Section A744
Revised Statutes 235 So and resulted in saw
ing S402 096 o. besdes the discovery that many claim
Pension law. considerable numOer OF tnese persons
been convicted aud punished by the conrts, ana
many Others Dy suspension or permanent prOnloiuon
from practice in tJe Department OF the Interior. .
Considerable Is devoted IN the report 10 tne
clam agency SYSTEM and to an explanation or the ACT
Congress OF June 90 1873 reducing the claim agents
tee from S25 To SO, aud changing the plan OF collection
as leave agents collect their own fees Instead
OF having them collected by the Government through
the pension agencies. The Commis approves OF
the act aud IL of opinion that II w greatly benent DOtn
honest claman and the Government. -
The COmmiss reviews his recommendation or last
year and the year for entire change IN Tue
system OF settling claims by dividing the country into
districts, anu sending into each district surgeon ana
skilled clerk to examine the claimants. and TO colect
testimony support OF the claims. He also renews
other minor recommendations OF his last rep0rt
and makes the new recommendation that the Dlehhlal
examinations be dispensed with He thinks they are