New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-26
PENSIONS WITHOUT POLITICS.
WHAT GENERAL BLACK SAYS HE HAS DoNE-FACIs'
uIcI'pps AND OPINIONS.

FIGURES AND OPT NUNS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-lhe Secretary Oh
the Interior has received the annual report ot
John c. Black Commissioner of Pensions Tor inc year
cpded Inpc 20 There were at the close of the year
345125 pensioners during the year there were adueu
rs 76S new names and ,S35 rensatemehts' curing o
same period the names OF 15,233 pensioners "e'e
droppcd from the roll for various causes leaving net
increase of 1863 The annual value OF cach
nenslon at the close OF the year $40 49, aud the ag
rrecate annual value of all pensions is S3s'o9Oo93'
The amount paid for pensions during the year Is
s64 97s 435 Claims filed account OF disability mum
her 55j,O38, and account OF death alleged 10 nc
due to causes originating In the service 07o'Z9o'
The acts of 81 and 1873 provided FORA pension on
account Of service during the war of1S12 Since 1871,
~ SOC claims of this class have been hled-3l6|3 by
the surviving soldiers and sailors and 1883 by the
widows of those who served Ia that war OF this NUM-
ber-war of 1SI2-J9.s6S have been allowed 2oO'o 10
the survivors and 1872 the widows In the aggre-
gate since Sol, 96s $40 claims have been filed ana
$50 s97 have been allowed Tho amount PAID for pen
sious since S6I is $7i4,OiO,3n.
Commissioner Black, in conclusion says: " Al one
time the Pension Bureau all but avowedy political
machine hled from border to border with the uhcom
promising adhcrcnts Of single organization VINO hau
for the claimant other tests than those OF tue hw'
and who required, addition 10 service in the nelo
submission TO and support of party before pensions
granted. Not always but oten Was ln,s v'
openly, but surely were the tests appheu anu ne vast
party power Inc enormous array OF the medical Doarus
established in every quarter was also SOhuS PdIaa9
made so not openly but surely People OF one Ia.tH
filled every one of the great agencies. EhaihIheIH
trained INSCRIPTIONS schools tiaVersed INC Iahu as
recruiting sergeauts FOR Il party. ...-
"Chiefs OF divisions assistants, CLERKS messengers
messenger boys, watchmen and labOrers were All uu
entirely from the school Veteran service cOulu
not secure continuance III office and at the behest ana
demand of psrtsans beyond the office Old empoyG'
were cut adrift and Jealous ruers placed III thcr stead
leaves granted that the active men OF inc
partv might dominate over the elections. Wholesale
made for partisan enus, Iuc ol uich
and money poured by TINS ONCE lhlo tae SEC
lions where political struggle was progressing
IL WAS widely proclaimed that the pension system OF
the United States this vast and unma thed Oehen enCe
glory OF noble gratitude was taken from the people
and maze to masquerade as a party accompaniment
and ina taught that immense sums lcNcu on AL
our borders grateful reward Tor the veteran sOdlcy
and their dcpendents, were party contributions ana
would cease If change III governmental administrator
occurred,
f ba been the aim OF the Commissioner of Pensions
with the sol and approval OF the secretary OF lho
Interor 10 change these practices and destroy these de
usons He has retained special examiners ana hedcd
examiners OF opposite political pcleis. lie mas Sought
TO have all parties repre- scented among tho cnpIOJeS
TO mt the Bureau IA business basis, to let IN"
veteran know that the whole people were Wiling con
t1ihutors 10 The pension fun and that there were MONO
WHO opposed right thereiu that the cOttoh-sl"Wc
and the corn-raiser alike agreed IN the support p
OF the Union armies anu WIN lt7 Gnu
i'm vie he has called Into the service OF TINS Bureau
men from every and that withoutrcgard 10 former
political condition. 4,
me result is gratifying Accelerated business. In
creased results and diminished expenditures mara tue
martial emancipation SO accomplished, aud 1t begins
to appear that any citizen VINO pays MS smart 81 thc
pension fund without regret may De allowed without
danger TO aid in its application and disDursehoI t