The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-13
Washington Filled with an Anxious ThrOng
of 0ticeholders, Who Await the Re-
suit Of the Count in New York.
Report of the Chief Of the Bureau of An
imal Industry on the Cattle Disease.
Improvement in Business Looked F0r--Lieut.
Greedy Seeking Empl0yment-Gen
Swsim's Case-Cabinet SpecuatiOnS.
The Report of Comm sssioner Dudley-Modi-
fed Rules Recommends

The Report of Comm iSsiOner Dudley-Modi-
fed Rules Recommended.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-The Secretary of the
Interior has received the annual report of the
Commissioner of Pensions for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1884 The report is dated Nov.
20, aud is signed by w. w. Dudley, commits
sioner. 1t states that there were at the close of
the year. 322 7J6 pensioners. classified as fol
lows: 2lS,956 army invalids; IS, S36 army wild
ows, minor children and dependent relatives;
2,6l6 navy invalids; l, 938 navy widows, minor
children and depended relatives; 8, S98 survivors
of the war of 1872, and 1852 widows of those
who served in that war. There were added to
the roll during the year "a, 1872 new pensioners,
and ,22l whose pensions had been previously
dropped were restored to the roll. Sixteen thou
sand three hundred and fifteen were dropped
from the rolls for various causes The net in
crease to the number on the rolls is 1O,O9S. The
average annual value of each pension at the
close OF the year was $106 70, and the aggregate
annual value OF all PENSIONS S34, ,45G, 600, an in
crease over like value for the previous year of
1921 ,407 The amount paid for pensions dur
ing the year was $5G 90S 597 exceeding the
nual value of pensions by several millions of dol
lars, which represents first payments generally
in new claims. and known as arrears of pensions
pensioners was 1923 4l3.9l5 and there remained
in the hands of the several pension agents 1908
cases of this class unpaid, in which there was
due $4.947, 090 In the aggregate, since 1861
927. 922 claims have been filed, and 545, 1870 been
allowed. The Commissioner says that at the
rate CLAIMS have been filed the past two years, the
close of the year 1885 will undoubtedly show one
million claims filed for pensions since 1861
Since that year the total amount dsbursed is
$678, 346 S3l The report states that 50 per cent
of the whole number of claims pending await the
action of the claimant or their witnesses upon
answered calls from this Office But little over
/ per cent await action in the War Department,
the same being near up to date practicable.
Of the whole number pending IA per cent stand
chargeabe to delay in this office, IA. 7l9 of which
awaited special examination; 4.S1 awaited the
action of the Board of Review, and 622 the ac-
tion of the Medical branch Office. thus leaving
1850 claims which awaited the examination of
evidence which has been fled Upward of 80
per cent of the whole number of claims which
has been filed, carrying with them arrears of
pension, have been allowed. The claims pend
ing of this class constitute class which present
greater difficulties in the way Of settlement
With very large percentage of this number
which await the action of claimants it is evident
that they meet with great obstacles IN pro
curing such testimony as SHALL under the law,
the decision of the Sectresary of the In
terror and the Attorney general, and the practice
of the Office justify favorable action. The
Commissioner advocates the adoption of a
remedial Constitution by Congress which snail
take from the claimant some of the burdens
which in their operation amount to practical
denial of his claim. The Commissioner adds:
"Unless legislation applicable to them be adopted
modifying the character of the proof which shall
be doomed sufficient to entitle to pension, the
| result will be to practically deny pensions to
many thousands of brave and disabled soldiers
whose suffering and unfortunate social condition
appeal to the gratitude sympathy and merciful
consideration of Congress. Perhaps it would be
more to the purpose to say that the plea for and
in behalf of the veterans for justice, and
justice alone" OF the system OF special exam
nation. he says 1T cannot fail to oe gratifying
to show that the service has been more than
self-sustanng, with balance of 81, S02, l02 as
the net saving for one year.