Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-01
PENSIONS.

| no VI yes Legislation On Inc point.
| PENSIONS.
| The report of the commissioner Of pensions
| shows that ut the close IF the Last fiscal year
there were Sc3, $50 pensioners, classified as fol-
/ lows:
| Army invalids 1868
army widows, minor children, and de-
pendent relatives Observation-Disclosures. 1874
Navy invalids ...... ........... 2,468
| Navy widows, minor children. and de-
| pendent relatives ...... 1907
SURVIVORS of the war of 1872 .......... 1881
Widows of those who served in the war
III -, iot ........ ...... ....... Zi,S36
There were added to the pension oil durin @
the year the names of SO, l52 new pensioners,
and 73o whose names had been previously drop
ped from the pension roll were restored, making
the total number added to the roll during the
year S8,95s, being an excess over
the number added the previous year of
Iv,645. DuTing the year 20,997 pen
sloners were dropped from the rolls foc various
| causes. leaving net Increase over the rolls
of 1851. The nuInb5r Of persons dropped
from the rolls included the names OF those who
| have been carried CT the rolls after death until
| hnal settlement and payment OF the amount due
| such pensioner The average annual value of
each pension at the cios3 OF The year is $IU6 10.
| and the aggregate value of al pensions is 1872
| ylous year OF 81, 504 ,050.Sl. The total amount
| paid out for pensions during the year
WAS S60,G64, GU9.23. The excess on
the annual value of pensions is
mainly for arrears of pensions covering the pc
| rod prior to the allowance OF the claim. The
total number OF claims fled for disabilities in
CURED while IN the service amounts to 1876, 72i,
OF which 2i5,2l0 have been allowed; and by
| widows on account of deaths chargeable to the
service BIZ ,O29, of which 206, III have been al
lowed. The total number OF claims fled since
1861 Is a6s, 1877, of which number $40, 9S8 sshave
been allowed. During the same period there
has been paid for pensions, with cost OF disburse-
ment, the sum Of 1921 ,o7s, 1880. The com-
missioner says:
Of the whole number of army invalid claims
hled from 1851 to 1865, both inclusive, repre-
sentlng the first period, FIVE years (while the
war OF the rebslhon wac yet in progtess), 76.7
per cent. have bean el;owesi; from the next five
years to 1870, 50 per cent. have be IN allowed
! for the next five years q, SIS, G4 per cent
have been allowed: the next five years to 1880,
which Terminates the arrears peril d, IS. 4 Der
cent. have been allowed, and fer the next period
OF three years to 1888 ito date), 4.6 per cent
have been allowed; or of all the claims of this
class Of army invaIids filed within the arrears
period (prior to July, 1880 574 per cent.
have been allowed, and there are still pending
IL ,730 army invalid claims at the close Of the
fiscal year.
The number Of cases appealed from the COM
missioner of pensions to the secretary during
the past pear is TAG. hese cases involve much
labor and attention on the part of the secretary
and his assistants. The commissioner reports
that the system of special examination in the
hed Is OF great Importance both to the office
and to claimants, and that results obtained
through 1t have heen satisfactory
The passage of the arrears of pensions act OF
March 3, 1879, caused the filing of large num-
ofr OF additional claims by parties who did not
before that tune consider the amount to be paid
sufficient to compensate them for the trouble or
annoyance of securing pension. great
numoer Of persons have esteb-
hshed pension agencies, SO called
Tor the procuring Of pensions, and il has. been
tscertalned that number of them ha resort
ed to various devices aud tricks to induce the
soldier or dependent relative to apply for pen
sion. Circulars have been sent out advising the
soldier that a large amount hsd been approprlat-
ed, and that all soldiers would receive pensions
who should apply, and various methods have
been pursued 10 induce the applicant to pay the
fee or a part of 1t. The Office has been embar-
raised by such proceedings, and, in many cases,
the SOLDIERS have been sw1ndled by paying fees
to parties who well knew the soldier was not
entitled to q pension. Evidence collected has
been withheld by such pension
agents or attorneys until the soldier
would pay them a fee. A number of per-
SONS detected in such evil practices have been
suspended and disbarred from practcing be-
fore the department OF the interior. The evil
complained Of Is one of considerable magni-
tude, and congress should provide by suitable
legislation for their punishment.
Payments ara made to pensioners once in
three months. Very many pensioners are
wholly dependent on the amount received from
the Government for their support. The amount
paid is generally small that it is exhausted
before the next pay day, md the pensioner re-
SORTS to the money lender to secure a small
loan, at exorbltant rates, to be paid at the next
pay day. In most cases the in
terest e1acted is from five to
zu per cent. per month. Congress having pro-
hlolsed the use OF the certificates security for
money loaned, the lender has no security, and
makes that the excuse for eztortiDg such con-
scIenceless interest from the needy borrower
Ii the sensloner was allowed to pledge his GER
uhcate for the payment of small loans, he
would doubtless be able to get such loans at bet
ter rates; but the impro7ident and needy wou d
IN someJnstanees be robbed of the real value OF
their pensions. The government for the pro-
lection OF the pensiOner, having denied to him
the opportunity of using his certificate
as a security for the money he
may need to carry him to the next pay day,
ought 10 provide for the payment OF the money
as II becomes duo each month whenever it can
be done SO, without great inconvenience and
loss to the government. l Think the agent
should be allowed by Law to advance at the end
Of each month the amount the pensioner issen-
titled to per month. BY doing the pensioner
viii be relieved from the necessity of submit
ting to such eItoruonate rates. 1t may not be
Practicable for the agent to make payment in all
cases; but the agent should be authorized to do
so whenever in his judgment the necessities of
the pensioner demand it. 1t can be done with
but little extra labor whenever the pensioner re-
sides in the vicinity of the agency; SO the pay
nents can be made in person.