Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-14
WASHINGTON Notes.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. l2.-The presi-
dent appointed Caleb II. Barney commits
sioner. and Joseph H. Reynolds alternate
commissioner, to represent New Jersey at
( the New Orleans exposition.
! The Washington monument to-day reached
greater height than that of any other struc-
! ture in the world, being $40 feet 10 inches
| above the floor of the monument. The next
highest structure is the spire of the Cologne
cathedral. which towers 5l5 feet above the
| floor Of the building. 1t is estimated that
| il will take but twenty-five working days to
complete the monument, so there is no
doubt of its being finished in time for dedi-
cation on the 22d of February.
The secretary of the interior received the
annual report of the commissioner of PEN
sions for the fiscal year which ended June
80, 1884. The report is dated Nov. 10, and
is signed By w. W. Dudley, commissioner.
1t states that there Mt the close of the year
3,022 756 pensioners, classified as follows: 3D.,
956 army invalids, 49, 1886 Amy widows, minor
children and dependent relatives, 2,6l6
navy invalds, 1888 navy widows, minor
children and dependent relatives, 3S9S sur
vivors of the war of 1872 and 1852 widows
of those who served in that war. There
were added to the roll during the year 34192
new pensioners and l22l whose pensions had
been previously dropped were restored TO
the roll. Sixteen thousand three hundred
and fifteen were dropped from the rolls for
various causes. The net increase to the
number on the roll was 1909s. The average
annual value of each pension at the close of
the year was Sl0615 and the aggregate annu-
al value of pensions was was 3i,345,60O, an
increase over like value for previous year Of
S2,2ll ,40f. The amount paid for pensions
during the year was S56, 90S,597, exceeding
the annual value of pensions by several mil
lions of dollars, which represents, first, pay
ments generally in new claims and are
known as arrears of pensions. The amount
paid during the year TO the 3l2,O01 new pen
sioners was S23,4l3,S15. and there remained
in the hands of the several pension agents
S7,263. Several cases of this class were I'M
paid in wich there was due Si,929,090 in ag-
gregate since 1861.
Nine hundred and twenty-seven thousand
nine hundred and twenty-five claims
have been filed and 545,130 been
that at the rate claims have been filed for the
past few years the close of the year 1856 will
undoubtedly show one million claims filed
for pensions since 1894. Since chat gear the
total amount disbursed is SOS ,346, 1874. The
report states that SIS per cent of the whole
number of claims pending await action of
the claimants or their witnesses upon I'M
answered calls from this office. But little
over one per cent. await the action of the
war department, the same being as near up
to date Us practicable. 0fthe whole number
pending IA per cent. stand chargeable TO
delay in this Office, l4.7l9 of which awaited
special examination, ASP awaits the action
of the board of review and 60 the action of
the medical branch of the Office, leaving
1850 claims which awaited the examination
Of the evidence which has been filed.
The president accepted the resignation of
Judge Hezekiah G. Mills, of the court of
commissioners of Alabama claims, and APP
pointed Judge James Harlan, of Iowa, to
succeed him as presiding Judge of the court. |