The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-10-27
PENSIONS.
ComM1ss1oNER DUpLEY's Rupopr

Il IAN
COMMISSIONER DUDLEY's REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Oct 19.-The report of ths
commissioner of pensions 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 the year the m Of
rs whose pensions had been dropped pre-
viously were restored to the roll, making
50, 95S pensions added during the year. an
excess Of 10,645 over the preceding wear.
The average annual value of each pension is
SlO6, and the aggregate anuuai yslue
Of all pensions was 1872, 245, 1872. an in
crease of $780, 09. The amount paid
for pensions was 500, 064, O09, exceeding
the annual value by several millions Il
dollars. The bulk Of this excess was on sc-
count Of arrears Of pensions covering the
period prior TO the allowance of claims. Tie
appropriation for salaries aud fees 10 pension
agents was exhausted, and there il a balance
due agents. The whole number Of claims
filed since 1861 was SS6, 1877, of which 81
93S were allowed During thu same time
%62, lO7, 237 were paid out for pensions and
cos 5 of disbursements. The percentage al
lowed OF army claims filed has decreased from
T6 7 per cent in 1867 10 80 1 per cent in
1880. The report next dwells upon the diff
cultiGs experienced in dlsciplining the large
addihona! 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, so well was the work
Of lnstructing new clerks pushed forward, that
they were soon efficient. Not only were all
CLAIMS involving Arrears eXamined and proper
calls made fer evidence, but it was done 90
rapidly that like examinations and calls for
testimony of one character or another were
made in upwards Of 100, q claims filed
since the arrears, Those entitled to arrears
have been shown to default in meeting of
fers for the prompt settlement OF their claims
by furnishing testimony required, while those
whose claims were filed during three
years subsequent to the arrears act have not
been very generally afforded even opportuni-
ties to prove their claims until the past year;
yet they have 50 responded that bnt 10 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 10 ar
roars are in default, for some cause, in So 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 10 the arrears period, while
30 large a number filed ar an earlier period re-
NAMED unsettled when they were presumably
entitled to precedence.
CAUSES OF DELAY.
An examination howed 2U4 3 cases were
delayed by claimants, $685. by the adjutaut
generals Office, 2,9O2 by the surgeon gen
erals Office, and 23, 523 by the pension office;
but a large percentage of The cases DELAYED in
the pension Office are in the hands OF special
or boards of review. A large part
of the report is devoted to a renewal OF recon-
mendations made last year touching the amend
m mt OF the pension laws. The commissioner
says:
Tho law recently enacted making it a misle-
meanor both on the part of the pledger anu PLEDGE
10 hypothecate a pension certificate for debt, is all
ready bearing fruit by putting a stop to this prac-
tice in large cities and lessening the demand for
the duplicate certificates and permits. Anosher
year OF aggressive enforcement of that law viii e.
~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 S. 357, 33I having been disbursed
from each of the eighteen agencies &c an annual
expense OF Sl6,00S, and without the loss of a dol
lar to the government or complaint Of delay from
benehciaries.
OF the special examination system The COM
missioner speaks in commendatory terms, and
says be viii be disappointed if the saving TO
the government effected by this division will
not be sufficient 10 defray the costs of its main
tenance. He does notth.nk 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 are considered The
Of the senate calling for a list Of all
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
OF congress, but remained nm
at the government printing Office.
until a recent date. When complete the report
VIII consist of seven octave volumes about 300
pages each, closely printed matter, and it is
urged that congress provide for the widest pos
sible circulation of the report The secretary
10 asked to that the salaries OF the
chief review board OF special examination diyi-
sion, eastern, middle, western, southern and
old war and navy divisions be each advanced
TO %, and those OF their assistants 10
each, and that of the chiefs Of other
divisions to $2,26O per amman. OF the cler-
lea! force the commissioner says If claimants
VIII 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 forthcoming
to enable the Office to accomplish this much
to-oe,desired end. so that the '~high-water
mark" in annual expenditure for pensions NAV
DC speedily known. The report conciudes with
o graceful complimentary reference to the
m ~