The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-07-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
July 2, 1883.

Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
July 2, 1881
The Commissioners of Pensions in
his last report presents a mass of
interesting statistics, and he also in
dulges in some curious estimates.
After presenting several tabular
statements, he add: "As'near as l
can ascertain there are about $4,000
representatives of deceased soldiers,
who have not yet applied for pen
sion." And again: "The general
proposition. however, is presented,
with the best available information
at hand, that there is a surviving
soldier population of a little over l.
OO0, 900, out of which claims for pen
sion in the future may be made by
those who incurred pensionable dis
abilities"
1t is evident that the restless spirit
of Mr.. Dudley will never be at ease
until he shall have granted O pension
to every surviving soldier of the civil
war, and to the relatives of those
who are dead. Alexander wept for
more kingdoms to conquer, and Mr..
Dudley weeps for more pensions to
bestow. Unfortunately as the law
now stands there is no authority for
the Commissioner to grant a pension
until an application is made. The
volume of business of the office could
be greatly increased by making it
obligatory upon persons to receive
pensions.
The present system of drumming
up business, after the manner of com.
mercial houses, by means of several
hundred special examiners is work
ing admirably, but the scheme is de-
fcient in several particulars and hard.
ly comprehensive enough in its
scope. Some claims, through the
unsympathetic natures of special ex.
aminers, are unavoidably rejected.
and it occasionally transpires that
no individuals can be found to an
swer the names Of claimants and
witnesses, in Which case the pension
lapses and the money remains un'
expended. -,
On the whole, it is an ~undispute6
fact that there is a vast amount o.
money in the Treasury that CANNOT
under the present laws be circulated
among pensioners, or disbursed il
the expenses Of the Pension Office
Though there are still over 1000, 00(
persons who may be induced by
proper canvass of the country to fill
claims for pension, yet the cash il
the Treasury is constantly accumu
lating and more than supplies thu
demand. Here is a grand opportun
ity for timely legislation. A bill t.
facilitate the granting Of pensions t.
those who will not apply for them
ought to receive the earnest supper
of every true patriot in the presen
Congress. "There's millions in it,
Pensioners are p~roverbially a long
lived class, but the last report OF tn,
Commissioners of Pensions shows
death rate among them so low tina
it hardly seems credible. 1t appear
that on June 30, 1882. there were Oh
the rolls 175,499 invalid pensioners
and during the year ending on tina
date the names Of 1885 invalid pen
, sioners were dropped by aso o
death. This shows an annual deaf
rate of 11.2 per thousand. In ord
nary healthy communities the annu
al death rate is about % per thou
sand, or in other words "impartia
Fate" is about twice as apt to knee
at some other PERSONS gate than q
the gate of an invalid pensioner.
among the pensioners of the wa
: of 1912, We find that, with a total {
81, 795 pensioners, there were durin
the year 1,45O deaths, an annus
> death rate of As per thousand or {
bout twice as great a death rate O
E among the entire population. Ye
y the former class of pensioners, if Il
gally such, are afflicted with wounds
injuries or diseases, and the latte
class must be we'll advanced in year
for the war in which their service
e were rendered closed sixty-eigf
a years ago. Our war-scarred veteran
are evidently destined to stay wit
US and enjoy the bounty of Govern
ment many years to come.
PHoNo.