The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-28
as to disarming Indians is re

rotary argues against the payment of cash an
nuities to the Indians, arguing that they should
be compelled to earn any money they receive
PENSIONS.
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions
shows that. at the close of the fiscal year 1884
there were 322, 756 pensioners, classified as fol-
lows:
Army inyalids. 1856
Army widows, minor children and dependent
relatives; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 70 $50
Navy invaids OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 26l6
Navy widows minor children and dependent
survivors S,fSSsS Of the war Of 1912 ..... 1858
Widows of those who served in the of
1S1Z.--.-.----.---.----.- 19,5l2
There were added to this roll during the year
the names of "a. 1872 pensioners, and 1921
previously dropped were restored to the rolls
making in the aggregate 80 413; and 16, 315 were
dropped for various causes, being net increase
on the roll of 10 098.
The average annual value of each pension at
the close OF the year is $06 70, and the aggregate
annual value of all pensions is $}4 456 600.35, an
increase over like value for the previous year of
So, I'll, 80.
The amount paid for pensions during the year
is 500 90S 1915 exceeding, as will be observed
the annual value of pensions several millions of
dollars which represents the first payments
generally in new claims, and known as arrears of
pensions. the amount paid during the year to
3l3O7 new pensioners was So, 4l3, SD. 10, and
Jnefe renamed IN the handS OF the several pen
sion agents 1908 cases of this class unpaid, in
which there was due 81, 949, 900 %.
All persons applying for pension prior to July
l. 1880, are entitled TO pension from the time of
discharge or the death of the person on whose
| account the claim is made, unless the disability
occurred after discharge In all claims made
subsequent to that daIe the pension must com
mence from the time of the filing of the applica-
ton. No good reason can be given why the
claimants who file their claims after July l. $780,
ought not to receive their pensions from the
time of discharge if such disability then existed,
or if not then existing, from the time such disa-
bilty originated. 1t is but just that all persons
who are able to establish the right to receive
pension should be treated alike with reference to
| time Of the commencement thereof.
1t has been urged in favor of this limitation
that the large amount of arrears is an induce
ment to applicants to apply and secure pen
sion, and that the large amount to be realized is
q temptation to commit fraud on the government
by means of false witnesses
The government has the means of detecting
fraud If attempted, and injustice should not be
done to the deserving and needy soldier for fear
the government may, in some few instances be
imposed upon and compelled to pay pension to
which the soldier is not justly entitled 1t is
impossible Tor a soldier to secure a pension for
disabilities not existing; it is often, however
question whether such disability is or is not the
result of service in the line OF duty. The rules
of the Pension Office for the determination of
this question are sufficiently strict, and with a
proper administration of the affairs of that Office
very few pensions will be allowed parties not en-
titled to receive the 1t is to be hoped that
the limitations imposed by the act of March, 3,
1879, will be repealed.
THE CIVIL SERVICE ACT.
AT the time of the passage of the act entitled
IAN act to regulate and improve the civil service
of the United States it was urged as an obiec-
ton to it that the examinations would be of such
technical character as to exclude from the public
service all except those who have had the advanU
ages of a liberal education. The experience of
nearly year and a half has demonstrated
that these fears were groundess, and that the
examinations have been conducted on sound
and business-like basis, calculated to secure
efficient clerks for the various grades of the pub
lie service Quite number of the employees of
the government, occupying grades below the
classified service, have been found qualified for
higher grades by the examinations of the COM
| mission. No call was made from the Interior
| Department the Civilservice Commission to
fill vacancies occurring in the clerical force until
May, 1884, because at the time of the passage of
! the act there were employed in the Census Office
large number of trained and experienced clerks
| from which | considered it duty to the public
service to select to fill the vacancies occurring in
other bureaus of the department.
Originally, the force of the Census Office con
| sisted of about eighteen hundred persons: as
| the work of that office advanced toward com.
! pleton there necessary reduction in the
! for rec; some were discharged, others transferred
to other bureaus, until the 10th of July, 1885,
! when the force had decreased to about us
| In making transfers and discharges the most
! efficient and valuable clerks had been retained
and it is doubtful whether there could have been
| found in the employment of this or any other
| government more trustworthy and capable clerks
than constituted this force. | did not think it
! advisable to allow disciplined force of this
| character TO be lost to the government and when
| any portion of this force could be spared from
! the work of the Census Office flied the vacan-
cies occurring in the several bureaus of the de-
! partment from such force. This was done with
the approval of the Board of Civil serviee Com
| mssoners
| Since the 23d of May last there have been ap
| pointed in the several bureaus of the depart
ment through the Civil service Commission a
| total of 2l3 clerks, eopyists. and special exam
liners. All persons engaged in clerical work have
been brought within the classified service save
| only those especially excepted by the statute
and rules made hereunder. Thus the classified
service in the Interior Department includes all
clerks Of class one, two three and four, clerks
receiving salary of Fl 600 and all copyists re-
! ceiving salary of 5000 and 1920
OF the number appointed | believe the most
have proved themselves efficient and valuable
clerks, but the length of their service has been
too short to speak with confidence as to their
general fitness for the work assigned to them
The law has in great measure relieved the de
partment OF the opportunities Of applicants and
their friends for Positions and WILL l think
when it is fully understood. save the heads of
! the departments much time heretofore lost in
listening to appeals for positions when it i'm
possible to comply with such requests. l think
the system valuable one, and one that should
have the hearty support of both executive and
Legislative departments of the government.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The report of the Commissioner of the General
Land office shows that sales, entries, and selec-
lions of public lands under various acts of Con-
gress embrace 26 s34, ell 03 acres, and of Indian
lands 697, 1887, aggregating 1881, 10, an in
crease over the year 1883 OF 910l, 1877 20 The
receipts for disposal of public lands are $ll s4O-
993 OF; Indian lands. 1898, 1926 or total of
$l2, 779, 100 33, increase over that of 1883 of