The Dickinson press., 1883-10-27
PENSIONS.

ouuluR june 0U, 1855, SHOWS tn8G tn0ro were
3O3,65S pensioners on the rolls at the end OF
the fiscal year. During the year the m 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 lO,645 over the preceding year.
The average annual value of each pension is
$le 81 p pend ss' ws sss sgs' s45 s lss' an value In.
crease Of $500. 400. The amount paid
for pensions was 500, O64, UO9, exc ed.ng
the annual value by several millions ef
dollars. The bulk of this excess was on &C
count of arrears of pensions covering the
appropriation for salaries aud fees to pension
agents was exhausted, and there ia q balance
due agents. Tue whole number of claims
filed since 1861 was 1886, 1877, of which ST.
3 WIRE allowed. During the same time
$62, 1O7, 237 we're paid out for pensions aud
lowed Of army claims filed has decreased from
rs 2 per cent in 1867 to 80 4 per cent in
1880. The report next dwells upon the diff
culties experienced in discipiining the large
additional 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 OK
amlners and clerks. Yet. 80 wolf was the work
Of ins,rucling new clerks pushed forward, that
they were soon efficient. Not only were all
cAa.Als AuvolVAus Arrears examined ana proper
calls made fer evidence, but it was done &c
rapidly that like examinations and calls for
testimony of one character or another were
made in upwards of 10000 claims flied
since the arrears. Those entitled to arrears
have been shown to default in meeting Of
by furnishing testimony required, while those
whose claims were filed during three
years sub -equent to the arrears act have not
been very generally afforded even opportuni-
ties to prove their claims until the past wear:
yet they have SO responded that but 10 per
cent of tho claimants of this class are in de-
fault upon calls made upon them fer evidence,
while those of the other class entitled 10 ar
r6ars are in default, for some cause. in 80 per
cent of the number pending. This staement is
made in explanation of the fact that that so
many claims have been allowed which we're
filed subsequently to the arrears period, while
80 large q number filed at IN carrier period re-
NAMED unsettled when they were presumably
entitled to precedence.
CAUSES OF DELAY
An examination showed 2U4. 299 cases were
DELAYED by claimants, 1895 by the adjutaut
erals Office, and %, 523 by the pension Office;
but a large percen age of the cases delayed in
The peusion Office are in the hands of special
examiners or boards of review. A large part
of the report is devotedt to a renewal OF recon-
mendations made last year touching the amend
" . UAV PCASxSA AdW6s IL COuuLulSSlOn6T
says:
The law recently enacted making it a misde-
meanor both on the part of the pledger and Pledge
to hypothecate q pension, certificate for debt, is al
tice IN large cities and lessening the demand for
the duplicate certificates and permits. Another
year OF aggressive enforcement of that law will ef-
is called to the fidelity and ability with which the
unprecedented disbursements of the bureau have
been made by a agents for the payment Of pensions.
from each of the eighteen agencies at an annual
expense of $l6,O0S. and without the loss of a dol
lar TO Inc government or complaint of delay from
OF the special examination system the COM
missioner speaks in commentators terms, and
says lie will be disappointed if the saving to
the government effected by this division will
not be sufficient 10 defray the costs of its main
.enance. He does n%otth:nk it incumb'n Mt upon
the government to be at any further expense
IN endeavoring to settle Indian pension c. GAINS
when the result of the special commission seut
out to the Indian Territory are considered. The
resolution of the senate calling for q list of all
pensioners necessitated the employment of the
IN lts preparation, and The report was
handed in just before the adjourn
ment of congress, but remained I'M
touched at the government printing Office.
until a recent date. When complete the report
will consist of seven octave volumes about 300
~ 1900 S.SS|AS PAAAASo AisVsCA oAu ! Y 40
urged that congress provide for the widest pos
sible circulation of the report The secretary
ls asked to recommend that the salaries of the
chief review board of special examination divi-
sion, eastern, middle, western, southern and
old war and navy divisions be each advanced
to = 800, and those of their assistants to
$4,000 each, aud that of the chiefs of other
divisions to So. 25O per annum. OF the cler-
lcal force the commissioner says if claimants
WILL do their part by responding to the calls for
evidence, PRESENT force can easily settle cash
enough to expend, during the incoming fiscal
year, the full amount of the available appro-
priation. He expresses belief that all claims
now outstanding will be disposed of by July 1,
1884. and trusts evidence may BE- forthcom ng
~ enable the Office to accomplish this much
tn-be.desired end. so that the 'high-wa,er
mark" in annual expenditure for pensions may
be speedily known. The report concludes with
a graceful complimentary reference to the
effective labors of suboriinates.