The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-11-14
SOMETHING ABOUT PENSIONS.
The Commissioners Notwithstanding
Figures for Veterans and Others.

Figures for Veterans and Others.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov a. = The score
tary Of the interior has received the animal
report Of the commissioner Of pensions foi
the FISCAL year cndsl June 30, lSS4. The re
port is dated Nov, 70, and is signed
hy W. W. Dudley, commissioner. Ii
states that there were at close Of
the year 81, 756 pensioners, classified
as follows: 2lS,9jG army invalids; a. s3t
arny widows, minor children. and dependent
islitive, 2,6lj navy nvalds; l,a8S navy
widows, lnia,r children. ard dependent
relatives; &Ni' survivor, Of ths war of 1872;
an! 10 81 "u."a5 OF those who erved IL
thar war ihrre WsI'. ai.i-t to the
roll dn.Tag lie year 5i,l9t new pen
siuuer,, and i.y2l whose pen-ion3 ha'
t.aeA 'rsviousIy dropped were restored
To In, roll; l6,@l5 were dropped from
the roll Tor varions causes, The net increase
t. The number on the roll IS 19,09S. The aver
az annual value of each pension at the clos,
ot the year was SlO5 75, and the aegregat,
annual value of all pensions $@4, ,45G, 900, al
increase over like value for the previous yeal
Of s., ,2ll, 400 The amount paid for pensions
daring the year was Sj6,90S, ,595, exceed
ing the annual value of pensions sey
eral millions of dollars, which repre-
sents first payments, generally Ii
new claims, and known as arrears of pen
sions The amount paid during the year tc
81, ,207 new pensioners was S23, 4l3 SIS, and
there remained in the hands of the severa
pension agents 1903 cases OF this class un
paid, i'll which there was due $4 5000 II
the aggregate since 1861 g27, ,922 claim:
have been filed and 545, 13O have
been allowed The commissioner say
that at the rate claims have
been filed the last few years the close of the
year 1856 will undoubtedly show 100000
claims filed for pensions since 1861. Since
that year the total amount disbursed is
S67S, 80 S34. The report states that s.. {
per cent. of the whole number of claims
pending await the action Of the claimants OF
their witnesses upon unanswered calls from
tins Office. But little over l per cent. await
the action Of the war department. the same
being as near up to date as practicable
OF the whole number pending IA per cent.
stand chargeablo to delay in this Office Il,
10 of which were awarded special examina-
ton, 1872 awaited action Of the board of
review, and G32 the action of the medical
DIallcn OF llit biuct, tiltiS leaving 1D,bit
claims which awaited the examination of ey-
idence which he's been fled Upward OF 81
per cent Of the whole number of claim,
which have barn fled, carrying with them
arrears of pension, have been allowed. The
| claims pending of this class constitute q
| class which present greater diffcuItia.
| in the way Of settlement With the very
| large percentage of this number which avail
| the action OF claimants it is evident they
meet with great obstacles in procuring sucl
| testimony as shall under the law, the decis
| ions of the secretary of the interio!
| and the attorney general, and the prac
| tice of the office justify favorable
| action. The commissioner advocates th5
| adoption OF remedial legislation by con
gress which shall take from the claimant
| some burdens which in their operation
amount to practical denial of has claim
The commissioner adds: unless Legislation
| applicable to them be considered, the same
to specify the classes to be affected, and the
character of proof which shall be deemed
| sufficient to entitle to a pension
the result will be to practically deny
| pension to many thousands of brave ant
| disabled soldiers whose suffering anC
| unfortunate social condition appeal to tn,
! gratitude, sympathy, and merciful conSidera
| ton of congress Perhaps it would be NOR,
to the purpose to say that plea for and il
behalf of veterans was for justice and justice
alone" OF the system of special examina
| tions, he says: 1t cannot fail to be CRAFTY
| ing to show that the service has beon more
than self-sustaining, with balance O
| 81, ,S02, l02 as the net saving for one year"