The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-07

10 promote.
PENSION CLAIMS.
ii appears from the report OF the Com.
missioner Of Pensions that since 1880
7S9,083 original peDsion-claims have been
filed; 10000 OF these hayh been allowed
and inscribed on the pension-roll; 1858
have been rejected and abandoned, being
IL u per cent. OF the whole number OF
claims settled.
There are now pending for settlement
2G5,5I5 original pension claims, 221,0i0 oil
which were filed prior 10 July !, 1880.
These, when allowed, will involve the pay
ment OF arrears from the date Of discharge
in case OF an invalid, and from date OF death
or termination OF a prior right in all other
cases.
From all the data obtainable II l. esti-
mated that fifteen per cent. Of the number
OF claims now pending win be rejected or
abandoned. This would show the proba-
bic rejection Of 34,040 cases, and the proba-
bic admission Of about 1913, 900 claims. all Of
which involve the payment OF arrears Of
pension.
With the present force employed, the
number OF adjudications remaining the
same and no new business intervening, this
number OF claims Qa3,000) could be acted
upon lin period OF six years. and, taking
January I, 1891, rs n near period from
which to estimate in each case an average
amount Of arrears, il il found that every
case allowed would require, for the first
payment upon il, the sum OF S1,3jO. Null
tiplying this amount by the whole number
Of probable admissions, gives S2jO,0O0,-
900 as the sum required for first payments.
This represents the sum which must be
paid upon claims which were filed before
July /, 1880, and are now pending, and en-
titled TO the benefits OF the arrears act.
From this amount (52j0, .000) may be de-
Quoted from ten to fifteen millions for cases
where, the claimant dying, there Is no per-
son who, under the law, would be entitled
TO succeed to the pension, leaving $500
000, 200 as the probable amount to be paid.
In these estimates no account has been
taken of the $500 cases filed since June
30, $780, and now pending, which must re-
ceiye attention as current business, but
which do not involve the payment OF any
arrears beyond the date Of filing the claim.
or this number it is estimated that SO per
cent. will be allowed.
As has been stated, with the present force
Of the Pension Bureau, 67j clerks, 1t is
estimated that it will take six years to dis
pose of the claims now pending.
1t Is stated by the Commissioner OF Pen
sions that by an addition Of go clerks Tin
creasing the adiudicating force rather than
the mechanically double the amount OF work
could be accomplished. so that these cases
could be acted upon within three years.
Aside from the considerations OF justice
which may be urged for the speedy settle
ment OF the claims now on the files OF the
the Pension Office, it Is no less important
on the score of economy, inasmuch rs fully
one third OF the clerical force OF the office
is now wholly occupied in giving attention
to correspondence with the thousands OF
claimants whose cases have been on the
files for the past eighteen years. The fact
that sum so enormous must be expended
By the Government TO meet demands for
arrears OF pensions is an admonitiOn TO
Congress and the Executive TO give eau
tiOus consideration to any similar project
in the future. The great temptation to the
OF fictitious claims afforded by
the fact that the average sum obtained upon
each application is II 800 leads me TO sug-
gest the propriety Of making some special
appropriation for the prevention Of fraud.
] advise appropriations for such internal
rs the wisdom OF Congress
may deem TO be OF public importance.
The necessity.of improving the navigation
Df the Mississippi river iustifes special
illusion to that subject. j suggest the
adoption Of some measure for the removal
Di distractions which now impede the
navigation OF that great channel OF COM
nerce.
CIyIL-sERyICE REFORM.
In my letter accepting the nomination
or the vice-presidency j stated that in
my Judgment ono man should be the in
,umbent OF an Office the duties Of which
ne is for any cause unfit to perform-who
: lacking in ability, fidelity, or integrity.
which a proper administration Of such
)Gice demands" This sentiment would
meet with general acquiesence,
Dut opinion has been widely divided upon
he wisdom and practicability OF the va
'iOus refOTmatory schemes which have been
and OF certain proposed reglIla-
ions governing appointments 10 public
office.
"The efficiency OF such regulations has
been distrusted mainly because they have
seemed TO cXalt mere educational and alb /
,tract tests above general business capacity |
md even special fitness for the particular
work in hand. IL seems to me that the
Jules which should be applied to the man.
lgement Of the public service may proper
v conform in the main 10 such as regulate /
he conduct Of successful private business
"Uriginal appointments should be based
IpOn ascertaincd fitness.
"Thc tenure OF office should be stable.
"Positions OF responsibility should. 20
an as practicable, be filed by the promo /
ion Of worthy and efficient officers.
"The investigation OF all complaints and /
he punishment OF all official misconduct /
hould be prompt and thorough"
The views expressed in the foregoing
etter are those which will govern my adj I
OF the Executive office. They /
re doubtless shared by all intelligent and 4
patriotic citizens, however divergent in /
heir opinions a. to the best method Of .
putting them INTO practical operation.
For example, the assertion that "origi- /
III appointments should be based upon /
sceTtained fitness " is not open to dispute. I
But the question how in practice sucn /
illness can be most seli'ectually aseertained .
8 one which has for years excited interest /
md discussion. The measure which, with .
light variations in its details. has lately .
Dcen urged upon the attention Of Congress &
nd the Executive, has a. its principal feat .
IRE the scheme OF competitive eXamina- .
ion. Save for certain exceptions, which .
reed not here be specified, this plan would .
How admission to the service only in it, I
owest grade, and would accordingly de- /
nand that all vacancies in higher positions I
hould be filed by promotion alone. In
hese particulars it is in conformity with /
he existing
CIvM-sERyIcR SYSTEM OF GREAT BRITAIN.
md indeed the success which has attended /
hat system in the country Of its birth is 4
he strongest argument which has been .
rged for its adoption here.
The fact should not, however, be over 4
)oked that there are certain features Of the I