Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-11-20
Dudley,s Report.

Commissioner of Pensions Dudley, In his an
nual report for the last fiscal year. says that at
the close OF the year there were % 100 pension
ers on the rolls, classified as follows: 2lS,956
army invalids, 1886 army widows, minor
children and dependent relatives, 2,6l6 navy
invalids, 1,93S navy widows minor children
and dependent relatives, 3,S9S survivors of the
war of 1912, and 1882 widows OF those who
served IN the war. During the year the names
OF 35 Alb pensioners we're added to the roll and
1875 were dropped for various causes, leaving
a net increase to the number on the roll Of
19,O9S. The amount paid for pensions during
the ear was $50 9JS, 597; since 1861 So s,324 dis
ability claims and 1874, 426 death claims have
been filed; Of the invalid claims 262, 624
and of the death claims 213,0S2 have
been allowed. At the rate claims have been
filed for the past few years, the close Of the
year 1885 will undoubtedly show 1,000,000
claims filed for pensions since 1861. TIE to.al
amount which has been disbursed to pension
ers since 1861 is $S7s, 346, S84
So general Las been the complaint from ap-
plicants for pension Of inability TO ascertain
the whereabouts OF company officers and COM
rades, often defeating the allowance Of a claim
for want OF testimony from these witnesses,
and the comparative limited resources of the
special examination service to supply the want
in the large number OF cases of tnis character,
that the commissioner deemed 1t necessary to
inaugurate some method whereby postoffice
addresses Of as large number as POSSIBLE OF
the surviving soldiers of the late war should
be procure and compiled into a permanent
record convenient for reference. Will,
his object IN view, suitably prepared print
ed slips for name, rank, company, regi-
ment and postofiice address were accordingly
sent out to Grand Army Of the Republic
posts, and as early as April last sufficient
plumber had been completed and received so
that their arrangement according to military
service could be commenced. In addition to
%hA Ia. H.. ,.fz a..
were required to note the names OF all
witnesses who had been In the service
which they met with In the examination
OF claims, so that from this source alone
some 10000 names were secured. IL Is
expected that by January next there will
erence q record Of between 609, 100 and 10000
names. The practical use OF this record be-
came Immediately apparent as soon rs refer
ence corld be made to It, and the informa-
tion furnished b. 1t has proved of material
service in the adjudication Of claims,
both as TO expediting the work and
the ascertainment OF the necessary facts.
Many instances arise which could be
cited, IL necessary, showing the In bilitv OF
claimants to procure material testimony for
want OF knowledge of their comrades wherea-
bouts, which the information OF the record re-
lieyes and often is the means, not only OF es-
tablIshing the right to q pension, but opening
the way to defeat an unjust claim.
The commissioner observes that the system
OF settlement OF pension claims has very prop
erly claimed the serious consideration of con-
Rress for the past two sessions. IL has not
thus Tar been deemed wise to change this sys-
tem imperfect as It may seem In Its operation
Ia some cases, and remedial legislation has
been proposed which ehould take from the
claimant soma Of the burdens which In their
operations amount TO practical denial of his
clsim. On the subject OF remedial legislation
the commissioner contents himself by briefly
referring to and recommending the passage
OF the bill embracing his recommendation re-
ported TO the Senate and placed on the calen-
dar In May last, where n still remains.