The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-10
PENSIONS.
Commissioner Blacks Report-Soldiers of
1912 and 1861 on the List
Total Payments.

The annual report of Gen. John G.
Black, Commissioner of Pensions, for the
year ending June 80, 1886, shows that there
were at the close of the year 345,l25 PEN
sioners. During the year there were added
80, 767 new names and ,S35 reinstatements.
During the same period the names or To-
1913 pensioners we're dropped from the roll
for various causes, leaving net increase OF
20, 369. The average annual value of each
pension at the close of the year Is shown
to be $110.36, and the aggregate annual
value of all pensions is $3S, 09O, 9s5-an
increase over like value for<he previous year
of SO, GA, ga. The amount paid for pen
sions during the year is $64, 97S, 435, an in
crease in amount over the previous year Of
g, 069, 1888. The amount paid to 81, 839
new pensioners during the year upon first
payments was $27, 115.912, and there re-
NAMED in the hands of the several pension
agents S3,677 of this class unpaid, on which
there was due 50, 243, 567.
1t is shown that 555, 03S claims have been
filed on account of disability and 335, 1896
on account of death alleged to be due to
causes originating in the service, claims for
this latter class having been filed by the
widow, minor children, or dependent rela-
tives of the soldier. OF the invalid claims
800, 204, and of the widows and dependent
relatives 220,S25, total of SCI ,029 claims
on account of disability and death, have
been allowed.
The acts Of 1871 and 1878 provided for a
pension on account of service during the
war of 1912. Since 1871, 78,50e claims
of this class have been filed-34 ,673 by
the surviving soldiers and sailors and
43, S23 by the widows of those who served
in the war. OF this number (war Of
81 IN,
the survivors and "a, 1872 to the widows. In
the aggregate, since 1861, 96S, $40 claims
have been filed, and $50, 1897 have been al
lowed. The amount paid for pensions since
1861 is S744, 040, 541. Out of all army in
valid claims filed prior to July /, 1880, a
little more than 66 per cent. have been al
lowed, and at the close of the present year
there remained pending of this class 3,415
claims.
The Commissioner suggests that an in
creased pension should be given in cases of
total deafness and in those cases which In
lesser degrees approximate total deafness,
and recommends rating of $50 for total
deafness and proportionate ratings for
lesser degrees of this trouble. He al
SO suggests that the benefits of the
act of March 3, 1885, be extended
to soldiers and sailors who, while In
the line of duty lost an arm above the ell
bow joint or a leg above the knee joint, and
who in consequence thereof have been sub
stantially disabled to the same degree as
though amputation had been performed at
the shoulder or hip joint. Gen. Black calls
attention to the widespread feeling that the
limitation imposed by section 2 of the act
of March 30, 1879, is unjust In its opera
tons. If soldier was entitled to q pen
sion at any time prior to the first day of
July, 1880, no good reason is known to ex-
list why he should not now be allowed to
make proof thereof. Regarding fraudulent
and illegal claims, the Commissioner says
extended inquiries are being prosecuted
with view 10 purging the pension rolls of
the various agencies Of the names of those
fraudulently and illegally borne thereon, and
great success is attending the work. At the
same time the greatest care is exercised not
to disturb the rights of any worthy pen
giOpar