New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-08
PEN,ION WORK sTOPPED.
SOME OF TH2 EFFECTS OF THE NEW BILL BEGIN
MING TO BE MANIrEsr-GREAT DANGERS DEVIL
OPED BY THF BILL.

s0NT OF THG EFFECTS OF IHE NEW BILL HELM
MING TO BE MANIrEsr-GREAT DANGERS DEVIL
OPED BY THE BILL.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRlBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Feb. Some most astonishing re-
suits have already grown ont Of the passage OF the
Arrears of Pensions bill not the least OF when Is
tc practical stoppage Of work at the Pension once
Not a case which could be affected BIZ the bill has
been adjusted since the bill passed aud none can be
adjusted until Congress amends its work, without
running great risk of rendering another arrears BILL
Of even more sweeping dimensions, necessary next
year.
The Commissioner OF Pensions, who has given his
entire time since the bill passed tho study of the
tbiect. finds the obstacles which 1t presents al
most iusurmOuntabe, and he has written letter to
the Secretary of the Interiorset forth the diff
rulnes which have been created, and recommend
ing legislation which will help to remove them.
The Commissioner estimates for arrears TO the
q 900 pensioners on the rolls who are entitled
thereto SG4 600 900 for additional pensioners for
the current year, -, 100000, and for the next
year, SJO0O,O0O tie holds that tde clause
If the bill providing that the arrears
OF pensions shall be computed at the
rate at which the original pension was allowed,
APPLIES orlyto the $1,000 settled claims, and not
10 the unsettled cases, and saws that the latter
class Of cases viii %, rated according TO their dis
abilities from the date of discharge. The Commits
sioncr add, thatlt was the obvious purpose Of the
act 10 cgua.ize the pensions, and he shows
that 10 fails lu that character. as it gives
10 each o! Ga" - 900 eases from several hun
dr.ds 20 upwards Of 5000 each more than
they would have received IL they had been PEN
stoned from the date Of discharge al rates COM
1ael.surato with their disabilities. and in this way
creates against each OF the 80 600 other invalid
PENSIONERS inequalities which viii inevitably de-
lnaud equalization. The cost Of the second equali-
zatiop would be greater than that provided for by
the preScn. act.
Tie Commissioner also shows that the act opens
rumbeIlos questions of the construction Of stat
utc,. myi.w OF the many difficulties which will
attend Tile execution of the act 1t stands, and the
inequalities IN tie pensions which it Will create he
recommends an amendment as follows:
The amount arrears nva ID cases shall NOT exceed
onhal total pcusjJu ny rank or all time previous 10
FIN. application except ia cases q! permanent dis
abilities OF mat degree and Of when there Is q
THIS ne SAYS viii practically equilIzo all pensions As
the new act ias 10 include the soldiers who remained
do service after the cessation OF hostAtes, nc sug
gt~t- amendment 10 lncIide tAust' anu d.r'
mat Section ., the repeating section, DE re-
pra.cd as cnd8ucerne provisions or the statutes
which the act NOT intended TO ahect Inc Rdupu"u
estimate FOR pension. the rolls from S3iOuoOoO ~
S2l.0OOOG0 and tie others ac oIdiug.'. tie
takes occasion 70 urge a-a.n iAe ne'.'-iE
aulUa report, T., changing 'EH system" lot d"lu'uhE
pension claims pcC y. because u thc increased temp
i4tuu to -sauJ growing out az the new a.. H gives
years under tle ace uUt Congress snail hayc had .n op
l..'u-lty % consider the sus- tstous az his letter