Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-10-26
PENSIONS.

commissioner Of pens!Cns for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1888 shows that there were
3O3,65S pensioners on the rolls at the end OF
the fiscal year. During tho year the names of
rs whose pensions had been dropped pre-
viously were restored to the roll making
3S, 95S pensions added during the year, an
excess Of 10, G45 over the preceding year.
The average annual value of each pension is
Pl06, and the aggregate annual value
of all pensions was 49,, 245, 1872, al in-
crease of $29O.4O9: Inc amount paid
for pensions was $500, 0GA, 900, exc *ed.ng
the annual value by several millions Ct
dollars. The bulk OF this excess was on &C.
count OF arrears of pensions covering the
period prior TO the allowance Of claims. The
appropriation for salaries aud fees to pension
agents was exhausted, and there is a balance
due agents. The whole number Of claims
filed since 1861 was $50, 1877, Of which 5l,-
93S were allowed. During the same time
SG2, lO7 ,237 were paid out for pensions and
cos 8 of disbursements. The percentage al
lowed Of army claims filed has decreased from
70 7 per cent in 1867 to 80 4 per cent in
1850. The report next dwells upon The i'ffi-
cultes experienced in disciplining the large
addluonal clerical force allowed: by congress 10
settle arrears Of pension cases. So large an
addition to the force OF the office consumed
time and attention Of more experienced ex-
aminers and clerks. Yet, 80 we'll WAS the work
u luSll uC1Il LEW ClSl h6 pCS1lEu lU'NaIu, lult
, they wero soon efficient. Not only were all
| CLAIMS involving Arrears examined and pro-
calls made fer evidence, but it was done sc
rapidly that like examinations aid calls for
testimony Of one character or another were
| made in upwards Of 100000 claims filed
since the arrears. Those entitled to arrears
have been shown to default III meeting Of
! fers fer tho prompt settlement OF their claims
by furnishing testimony eouired, while those
whose claims were filed daring three
years subsequent to tho arrears act have not
| been very generally afforded even opportuui-
ties to prove their claims until the past year;
yet they have so responded that but 70 per
cent of the claimants Of this class are in de-
fault upon calls made upon them fer evidence
! while those of the other class entitled to ar
rear5 are in default, for some cause. ia IS per
cent of the number pending. This staement is
made in explanation Of the fact that that so
| many claims have been allowed which were
filed subsequently TO tho arr ears period, while
so large number filed at al earlier period re-
| manned unsettled when they were presumably
| entilled to precedence.
CAUSES OF DELAY
An examination showed .u4 20Q cases were
delayed by claimants 9,9 3J by the adiutaut
generals office. 1902 by the surgeon gen.
erals Office, and "a, 523 by the pension office;
but q large percentage Of the cases delayed in
!; the pension office are in the hands OF special
| examiners or boards Of review. A large part
mendations made last year touching the amend
ment CT the pension laws. Ihe commissioner
says:
| The law recently enacted making it INSIDE
meanor both the part of the psedger and pledgee
to hypothecate pension certificate for debt, is al
ready bearing fruit by putting stop to this prac-
tice in large cities and essening the demand for
the duplicate certificates and permits. Anothe,
year OF aggressive enforcement of that law will ef.
fectually end the evils complained Of Attention
is called to the fidelity and ability with which the
| unprecedented disbursements of the bureau have
been made by agents FOR the payment Of pensions,
! an average Of So, 357,33l having been disbursed
from each of the eighteen agencies at an annual
expense of $l6,OO8. and without the loss of dol
lar to the government or complaint of delay from
benefciares.
Of the special examination system the COM
missioner speaks in commendatU1y terms, and
says lie will be disappointed if the saving to
the government effected by this division will
not be sufficient defray the costs Of its main
tenance. He does not think it incumbent upon
! the government to be at any further expense
in endeavoring to settle Indian pension claims
when the result of the special commission sent
out to the Indian Territory arc considered. The
resolution Of the senate calling for list of ali
| pensioners necessitated the employment OF the
whole clerical force Of several pension agencies
IN its preparation, and The report was
| handed in just before the adjourn
| rnent of congress, but remained IN
| touched at the government printing office.
| Will consist of seven octave volumes about $50
pages each, closely printed matter, and it is
| urged that congress provide for the widest DOS
slble circulation of the report. The secr, tary
| IS asked to recommend that the salaries Of the
| chief review board Of special examination divi-
old war and navy divisions BE- each advanced
to 81, 800, and those Of their assistants to
! So, 900 each and that of the chiefs of other
| divisions to 81, $50 per annuu,. OF the cler-
| lcal force the commissioner says if claimants
will do their part by responding to the calls for
( enough to expend, during the incoming fiscal
year, the full amount of the available appro-
priation. He expresses belief thai all claims
now outstanding will be disposed of by July l.,
| 1854, and trusts evidence may be Forthcoming
to enable the Office to accomplish this much
to-be.desired end. 80 that the t'high-water
! mark in annual expenditure for pensions may
be speedily known The report concludes with
a graceful complimentary reference to the
effective labors OF subordinates.
Indictment Of O'Donneu.
| O'Donnell has been indicted sn the charge
of numbering Carey. O'Donnell pleaded not
guilty, and the trial was postponed to Nov.
81. Sullivan read an affidavit of the pris-
oner's solicitor that the solicitor of ODon.
nell At Cape Colony had cabled that there
were important witnesses there who could
be called to testify in the case. Attorney
General James stated that he would not op-
! pose the application for the postpone1nent
of the trial il the names of witnesses were
inserted in the affidavit and the drift of evil
dence to be given by them indicated. After
remarks by Judge Denman, he decided to
postpone the trial. Previous to Sullivan's
application for postponemeRt, O'Donne.l was
brought into court, and, in response to @
question of the judge as to the charge Of
murder preferred against him. pleaded mot
guilty. in careless aid Indifferent n amer
Gen. noger A. Pryor, O'Dennells American
! counsel. was in court, seated behind the
| Junior counsel. He was an object of much
attention on the part of the spectators. Lux.
uries and food Of the best kind are daily
sent O'Donneli from tavern adjacent
to the prison. Machinery, an Irish lawyer
is coming to London to assist in the defense
of ODonnell.