New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-11
COMMISSIONER DUDLEY'S RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 10-The report OF the
Commissioner Pensions for the fiscal year ended june
80 1892 has just been issued. In regard 10 the oouS
land laws C0mmlssOher Dudley says "Ihey shouiu NC
generally rein0dellcd and simplihed. Inc mls'"heS
made IN the codacaton OF the laws as found III the ko
yscd STATUTES should be corrected and changes shod
be made 20 eauaze the benefits 10 all the classes vi
persons to whom title is already given under the law
The Commissioner also recommends that! 'n0
section relating to widows and minors pensions Oe
amended So as to enttle minor children TO pension from
the date of the soldiers DEATH where the widow has re-
married prior to July 1880 without having received
any pension on account OF such soinr
death Great injustice, he says, has been done
a worthy class OF pensioners by the parrO"
construction necessarily placed upon the statute govern
the issue OF pensions 10 dependent reiauVeS. anu
there ~ necessity Tor an amendment Oh we Sov.
barred by tho threeyear limitation should nave
pcation. rather than at of fling the Last piece
of evidence This amendment would affect large cls
Commissioner Goes not hesitate to sugscst lho
cnaGge. lie makes the following reconm endalouso
Widows, aud invalid soldiers Of the regular Army and
Navy whose rigdts have accrued since June 80 1850,
should be allowed q reasonable time. say two TO five
years which to file their applications, ana pensions
should date from the commencement or inc accung OF
the right instead OF FROM the date OF the fling OF
,he application In provisions of the Act OF June 49,
1880 unjust discrimination has been mace ana sucn
legislation should be mad VIII aInit those are
utterly helpless the benefits OF the provisions of this
act, 10 dale from the time when they became utterly
helpless and its benefits should also extend to those who
were entitled by reason rhcr hrpessnrss to The rate
of $40 M date later than The passage Of the act or
vino Tor some other catse were actually upon the
rolls at that grade tHat exact day, huj atterward
sOwcd themselves to be entitled from Date anterior
thereto.
TIE Commissioner then refers TO the illogical manner
ia which tue pension AGENTS are now PAID, and
ucnds tAat they furnished with stationery ana Office
furniture ana be paid yearly salary of $4,000. The
new system of special examinations IL declared TO be
greatly superior 10 tue OH X-pGrte system.
The report cIntinUcS Inc qucs lOn dCscTtiOn, In
connection VITA That OF lille 10 pension, should be def
nitey settled 10y law. pension Is III no reward
for faithful aud meYiOrOUs service, buC payment for
loss sical ability 20 earn livelihood There ore.
dcS ION Subsequent 10 the lncurrcnce OF disability aud
refusal OF the war Department 20 change the record,
sho carry with ii forfeiture 10 llsnt OF pension
Attention cal ed TO the dangerously exposed c0ndl-
don OF valuable archives stored In hc Pension
Once bU.drs, d al appropriation OF 100000 IS asked
Tor ne erection OF a nrc-prOOt building
best approximation mat can b. made shows tliat
Of the 2U65.Jyl soldiers who enlisted during the war,
pensions nave applied for by, or account OF, only
20 per Inere Is Surviving soldier population OF
IA 100000 out Wnlcl claims lUr pension
in tHe future may made by those incurred pen
.lOnaDle disabilities.