New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-13
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

TIFF roRrIFIcATIoNs AND PENSION BILLS PASS d
by THE Housv-INvEsTIGAr OF THE PEN
SION BUREAU ASKED FOR
IBY TRIDuSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dee. 12.-In half an hour this after.
noon the House passed the Fortidcations and Pen
sons Appropriation bills, which were reported
Yesterday The amount to be appropriated for for
thcations is 1915, 000-a very heavy reduction
from the estimates furnished by the Secretary of
War OF the amount appropriated. about one-haf
NAV be expended in converting sm0oh-bore into
ufed cannon.
The appropriations for pensions amount to
$50 404. 900, an increase last year Of 3d.
O3sO 900. Representative Hubbel, of Michigan,
who reported the bill from the Appropriations
Committee, explained that this heavy increase is
mainly due to recent legislation by Congress An
act passed last January provides that whenever a
pension is granted it shall begin at the date of dis
charge or death. Another act passed in March.
1879, provides that pensions shall be paid on ac-
count of soldiers who died or incurred disability
after the cessation of hostiies in 1865 and before
their muster out of service. Mr.. Hubbell said that
according 10 the statement of the Commissioner of
Pensions, there will be very considerable deli
cheney to provide for owing 10 the fact that the
laws above mentioned were enacted after the esti-
mates for the year ending June 30. 1880 had been
sent in The whole number of pensioners now on
last year. OF the whole number of pensioners,
l62l are surviving soldiers of the War of 1912.
and n 1O4 are the widows of deceased soldiers of
the same war; Mr.. Hubbell said that the number
of unsettled pension claims now on file III the Pen
son Office is about 100000. which number the
Commissioner of Pensions estimates Will reach
100000 by the close of the current year. These
figures do not include the number of claims on ac-
count of arrearages OF pensions.
There is considerable complaint of the delay in
adjusting pension claIms-a delay which is under
stood TO be caused by the inadequate force placed
nj the disposal of the several officers who have
charge OF the examination aud settlement OF the
cases. The Commissioner of Pensions says that
pension claims now coming into his Office
about two aud a half times as fast as they can be
disposed of with his present force and under the
system now vogue.
Representative Harmer, of Pennsylvania. will on
Monday next introduce the following resolution:
Bheroas Ii is matter Of public record that SOL
diers claims To tine plumber OF 2OO,OOO are now
pending in the Pension Ofncc and unsettled; anu
UheTeds, 1t is asserted by the Commissioner OF
Pensions that under the present system many
irsucn or eri,orn1s Claims DELAYED and
Thoods II is alleged that bounty and back pay
due under existing law "a soldiers who nave served
In the armies OF the Unlted states, are uuc anu un
Rssolred. by the House of representatives of the
United States of America mat commit,ee Oh
seven members of this House be appointed by the
Speaker whose duty II shall be to examine and i'll
azure INTO the method and manner OF payment OF
pensions arrears of pensions. bounty aud back pay
aud 10 ascertain whether any irregularities exist III
the payment of the same and the SAID committee
shall have further power TO investigate subject
Of complaint that may be lodged WITH them CON
cerning payment. rejection az suspension OF PEN
sons bounty and back pay, to examine witnesses,
TO send for persons and papers, 10 employ CLERK !;
and TO report the result 0f SAID Investigation to TINS
House with view to the enactment OF such addi-
tional legislation as may correct existing deiects,
and as may be deemed necessary TO protect pension
rrs and soldiers of the Government IN their rights.
Aud he II further 49,
I,r,oIred That the expenses of the said committee
shall he paid out of the contingent iund oil the
House upon vouchers signed by the chairman of the
utrpif