The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-12-04
THE PENSION PAYMENTS.
Commissioners Blacks Report on the OPP
erations of Hfr Bureau for the Year
Just Past.

Commissioner Blacks Report on the OPP
erations Of HIS Bureau for the Year
just Past.
The secretaryof NE interior has received
the annual report Oh Gen. John G. Black,
commissioner OF pensions, for the year
ended June 80, 1885. 1t shows:
There were at the close OF the year 345,-
125 pensioners. During the year there
were added 35,767 nsw names and
1885 reinstatements, and the names
Of 1928 pensioners were dropped
from the roll for various causes
leaving a net increase o %, 369. The az
erage annual value Of each pension at the
close of the year was $110.36, and the az
~gregate annual value OF all pensions was
S3S, 090, 9S5; an increase over the value for
the previous yea OF SO, 1874, 3S4. The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was $64, 97S,435, an increase in amount
over the previous year OF $S,069,S30.
The amount paid to 1889 new pension
ers during the year upon first payment
was $27, 115,9 12, and there remains IN the
hands OF the several pension agents 1867
OF this class, unpaid IN which there vas
due So, 243, 567. 1t is shown that $780,
038 claims have been filed on account OF
disability and S35 ,269 on account Of
death alleged to be due to causes originat-
ing in the service, claims for this later
class having been filed by the widow, minor
children or dependant relatives OF
the soldiers. OF the invalid claims
800. 204 and OF the widows and
dependant relatives 220, S25. a total
OF 521, 029 claims OIL account OF dis
ability and death, haye been allowed. The
acts OF 1871 and 1878 provided for a pen
sion on account OF service during the war
of 1912. Since 1871 IS, 500 claims OF this
class have been flied, 81, 675 by the sur
viving soldiers and sailors and 43, 1873 by
the widows of those who served in that
war. or this number 59,86S nave been
allowed; 20, 976 to the survivors and 34,-
1872 to th' widows,
IN HI AGGREGATE SINCE 1861,
96S, $40 claims have been fled and $780,
S97 rave been allowed. The amount paid
for pensions since 1861 is 744, 040, 541.
Out OF all army invalid claims filed prior
to July /, 1880, a little more than 66 per
cent have been allowed, and at the close OF
the present year there remained pending OF
this class 70, AIS claims. The commissions
err suggests that an increased pension should
be given in case Of totaldeafness and in those
cases which in lesser degrees approximate
total deafness, and recommends a rat
ing OF $50 for total deafness and
appropriate TaplHbS LOT leS0eE uc-
grees OF this trouble. He also suggests
that the benefits ofthe act OF March3, 1885,
be extended to soldiers and sailors who
while in the line OF duty lost an arm above
the elbow joint, or a leg above the knee
joint, and who, in consequence thereof,
lave been substantially disabled in the
same degree as though amputation a
been performed at the shoulder joint or
hip joint. Gen. Black calls a~ttentionto the
widespread feeling that the litigation i'm
posed by section 2 of the act OF
March 80, 1879, is unjust in its
operation. If q soldier was entitled
to a pension at any time prior to
July L, 1880, no good reason is known to
exist why he should not be allowed to make
proof thereof. Extended inquiries are be-
ing prosecuted with a view to purging the
pension rolls OF the various agencies OF the
names OF those iraudulently and illegally
borne thereon, and great success is attend
ing the. work. At the same time the great
est care is exercised not to disturb the
rights OF any worthy pe%nsioner.