New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-23
THE PENSION REPORT.
COMMISSIONER ENTLEY's ACCOUNT or THE WORK
OF HIS BUREAU-THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER
~. r.r.-.r, .rns--rEC.. AfiIH NnATIONS


OF HIS BCREAU-THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER
OF PENsIO SERs-KECJMM
WASHINGTON Nov. 22.-The Hon. j. A.
Bentley, Commissioner OF Pensions has completed nis
annual report 10 the Secretary of Interior. 1t shows
mat on til 3Otn II June there we're 25OsO2 per
sons receiving pcusIous from the Government, the list
being composed OF Army and Navy invaAds widows
minor chcu etc, surviving soldiers ana sailors OF Tue
War Of 1912, and widows from that war Eight
thousand and fOrJy-segen names nave Oeen
added TO The lat since last year. During
The year 10 545 new pensions allowed. and I377
pensioners previously dropped restored; 1888 were
dropped. The annual pensions average SOB 81 an
aggregate for all Of $259I7 COG 60 Exclusive Of The
arrears. the payments for the year amounted to
7.Oi6lsj 80, OF which $1246s ,l91 90 was accrued
pension IN the new eases. The payment Of arrears
began IN May. 1879. There was paid IN MAY and June
OF that year - o33.3s6 50 and Sl99sO,s0s % during
the last fsca year. The total amount paid out for pen
slons during the year vas S57,026,994 IL.
Commissioner Bentley estimates mat IL Will require
inward OF S5OOOO.OOO pay the pensions for the cur
reat year.
The number Of cases iii which arrears Of pensions
have been allowed up to November l. the date
Of rhe report Is 43917 The average IN each case
Is $3.50 IS These cases were settled from the begin
ning 80 "a TO dislr butte them equal proportions
throughout the country month by month, as the work
progressed
during the nineteen years June, 1861, TO July,
1850 4i2,459 Army and Navy claims for invalid
pensions were flied, and 27S,4ss claims IN
behalf OF Army and Navy widows
minor children dependent relatives l6s $50 Of The
luvals AMI 193494 OF the other classes were placed
ON the pension rolls. Under the Acs If February IL
1871 AMI March O. 1873, granting pensions on account
OF ,ervicr in the VIZ % 1912. 3G,330 Survivors pre-
septed clam, aud 4O.O20 widows; ana 25,47O OF the
survivors and % 500 widows nave been pensoned. ~
There were jane 30 2s2,597 1--we unsettled claims
for pensions Of lie Army ana Navy classes 4ud l|fly
claims for on sceuuH % service IN the wal %
1872. Tor bounty lana warrants anu Tor increase 81
sioA. There ailowei during the year lto5l
original tensions OF the Army ami Navy classes, lcH
than have been allowed III 'hF year snoe loI
! Annexed 10 the report Is number OF VaiuauN
tables. One shows the number OF pensoner
borne upon the rolls at Tue thu Oh edch hsc"l yc II
| 1861 1850 and the amount Of money PAD OUT IDl
pensions each year The total amount lor me swenty
years Is $40 $500 10 The Commissioner reiers ~
| the record OF clalms WncH mas Deen
approaching cOmpieton, Wnlcn eL,,s RI III gu
by their proper military organization ihrse recoFI
| when CON! eted. Will comprise lI6 volumes o. zoO
pages cacE aud cOntan record OF the Claims on ac
| count OF service 2,26S regiments.
The subject OF the Indian pensions on account OF ser
! wee in the three regiments Of Indian Home Guards
| raiseI in the Indian Territory has oeen source OF
much trouble in the Department Tor many years Inc
! claimants are about go be paid the dues.
There about 24j0 pensioners residing at TIE varl-
soldiers. whose pensions annually amount 10 ABOUT
$500 which been paid 40 tAe treasurer o. tue
home and dsDursed under the direction of the managers
The Commissioner requests that the subject De brought
to Of ugrcss, and ne duties OF tue CON
missioner Pensions and managers OF the nome III re-
laton these pensions be more clear defined Lrgs
.On To authorize the payment OF Tie pensions TO tine
wives and children OF insane or imprisoned Invalid pen
sioners l. recommended Tie report also Recommends
legislation to the pensions MINOR children
To- pe commenced date Of the last To the
widow of soldier whore IN" has remarked
and ana continued 10 draw the pension
II recommends legislation to enable the Commis
sioner to equably dispose OF claims Tor increase
of Desion II calls attention 10 the fact that since the
act OF June 20 1878. there is dOuDt whether tue penal
proyIsuns OF 47S3 OF the Revised Statutes eau
be luforced against The attorneys ana recommends an
amendment. Inc Commits -ivhtr repeats the iccouith
L dation OF his former reports TO substitute Tor
the present secret p"ric method or prescribing the
evidence ~ pension claims. plan Tor taxing the es
nouy Dy pubic proceedings before ON crs OF the Gov
nDent In the reighbOrROod OF The claimant and wit
nes,es aud urges early legislation 10 accomplish Lhis
| purpose. a. A. -.
Referring to the operations Of the office IN the nves-
tgatOn OF fraud he presents table showing that the
expenses OF tue year f2b4O6 III that htfe was
saved city the Government by the lnVestsa ION
S45l 77J Co The Commissioner ID OF OPINION that Only
small per ceutage Of the frauds committed nave beeu
/ discovered.
The OF the agencies for paying pc sOns
under the order of the President dated May Z, 1917
has worked gleat reform III the service, no only IN
the direction OF economy, out IN the rapdlty and
! promptness with which the qulrteriy payments are
made A. the last september payment 1o4SO5
pensions were paid IN the nrst ten days