National Republican., 1882-12-21
HARMLESS AND LEGLESS.
Commissioner Dudley Sends the Senate Some
Interesting Information.
What the Proposed Increase of Pensions
Wn Cost.

The reply of W. w. Dudley, commissioner Of
pensions to Senator Platt's resolution of in
quiry was laid before the senate yesterday.
The questions asked are answered in their
order, substantially, as follows:
1. The number of pensioners on the roll
December 1, 1889, is estimated at 291 ,656, with
an annual value of $50 0013,000.
q The number of applications for pensions
pending and the number on the rejected files
December is shown by the several classes
as follows Applications pending-Original,
275076; increase, %, 1873; total, 297,2O1. Num-
Der on the rejected files, 79,5S3. Total num-
Der on the files, 376,7S4.
To state the number of cases on the re-
iected files which may in the future be sub
ject to re-examination, is so purely conf ject-
uTal that the commissioner only ventures to
give an opinion upon the subject. Perhaps
one-third of the whole number will again re-
ceive the consideration of the office upon ad-
ditional testimony, but not more than 10 per
cent. of this number, it is estimated, will
upon such reconsideration receive favorable
action.
g. The persons who were entitled to the
benefits of the arrears of pension acts of Jan
uary 20, and March 3, 1879, may be divided
into two classes, the first embracing those who
were granted u pension prior to the date of
the first named act, and the commencement
itatiOn of the statutes, and the second class all
those who had at the same date an applica-
tion for pension pending, or who did prior to
July l, 1850, apply for pension. The amount
paid for arrears to the first class is So, ,72S,-
1880, and to the second class $73, 1853, ,351 4S,
being q total disbursement for arrears from
January 25, 1879, to December /, 1882, OF
$97, ,S91, ,506.9S.
A. To state the probable amount which may
in the future be paid for arrears of pension
under the provisions of existing laws is so
problematical, that it is with hesitation the
commissioners make even an estimate, and in
support of his conclusions he appends the rec
ords of the Office, upon which he bases an
opinion. Of the late war invalid pension
claims filed prior to July l. 1876, II per cent.
have already been allowed, and as % per cent.
of the cases of this class admitted during the
fiscal year just closed were filed during the
period stated, it is fair to presume that the
percentage of admissions will be still further
increased. On this basis, especially for the
reason that larger percentage of the widows
class have received favorable action, it would
seem safe to assume that so per cent. of the
late war claims filed prior to July l, $780, will
receive favorable action.
There are now on the files 253, ,64S, pending
and rejected late war claims, which were filed
prior to July l, 1880, and allowing 20 per
cent. for rejection, there would be 2O2, ,919 for
admission and entitled to the benefits of the
arrears act. If these should be placed on the
pension rolls simultaneously, the amount of
arrears on the present value of etch case
allowed, would be, in the aggregate, in round
numbers 1904, 4,795,000. On the same pro-
position it would increase the present roll of
pensioners from 29l, ,656 to 494, ,575, and the
annual value would be, in round numbers,
$50 100000.
8. The class of persons to be benefited by
house bill 1410, now before the senate, are
those who have lost one hand, one arm, one
foot, or one leg; also, those who are now re-
ceiving pension for a disability equivalent
to any of those first named.
From an analysis of the pension rolls of the
ten accurately reported, out of eighteen
agencies it is shown that 5.22 per cent. of the
invalid pensioners borne thereon, are in re-
ceipt of a pension for amputations described
in the pending bill, also the number who are
receiving such pension for the loss of a hand
or arm, or a foot or a leg. Applying this
ratio to the whole number Of pensioners on
the rolls, it would show as follows: For
loss of hand or arm, 4,672; for loss of
foot or leg, 4,4S9 total, 9,161. In the re-
ports before mentioned as received from
the pension agents, four of them specify the
surgical point of amputation, and accepting
the same as basis for division of classes
the following statement will show how an
estimate of the whole number who come within
the description of the bill. so far as relates to
amputations, giving the number who have
lost one hand, and who are now receiving $1S
per month, those who have lost one arm and
who arc now receiving $24 per month, those
who have lost one foot and who are now re-
ceiving $1S per month, and those who have
lost one leg and are now receiving $24 per
month, together with those who have lost one
hand and one foot, and those who have am
putation at the hip joint receiving $36 and
$37. so per month respectively, also the pro-
posed net monthly increase and the net an
nual increase for each class from their present
rate to that of $40 per month.