Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-23
PENSION BUREAU REPORT.
An Army Of Pensioners on the Rolls
Amount Paid During the Year.


An Army Of Pensioners on the Rolls
Amount Paid During the Year.
WASHINGTON, September q. The Com
missioner of Pensions under date of Sep
tember q, has. fled with the Secretary of
the Interior his report of the operations Of
the Pension Bureau for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1886. The report shows that
on June 30 last there were 365,6ss pen
sioners on the rolls, composed of 265, ,s54
army invalds; so, 162 army widows, minor
children and dependent relatives; 2,95S
navy inyaEds; 1,S7S navy widows, minor
children, etc; and 1, ,5S9 survivors of the
war of 1912. There were 1887 widows
of survivors Of the war of 1912, showing q
loss during the year in this class
of 1915. Twenty-four original
claims have been filed in
this class during the year, 3O4 new widow
pensioners were added on the rolls;
40, S57 new pensioners were added to the
roll during the year; 2, ,229 were restored
TO the rolls; p, QS9 pensioners' names were
dropped from the rolls on account Of death,
remarriage, frauds, etc, leaving q net in
crease to the roll Of 2O,6s5 names. The
annual average value of each pension is
Sl22.3 80, gain of $11.S5 over the average
value Of the preceding year. The aggregate
annual value is $44, 70S, OF. A, being an
increase in annual balue Of Sc, ,617, ,041:51.
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was $6S, 797. s31. 81, the difference in
the amount paid and the annual value
representing the accrued and arrearage
pensions paid this year.
Since 1861, 591, 102 invalid claims have
been filed; 34S, 799 claims of widows and
dependents; ~, ,S34 for pensions on account
OF service. During the same period there
have been allowed of the first-class 332, =
l4l claims and of the second-class 299, l7S,
and all other classes 60, 176, making q
total of claims allowed since 1861, Of62l,
154. 1t will thus be seen that nearly one
half of all that have been placed upon the
rolls have died, or their pensions have
ceased by reason of arrival at age, re-
marriage etc, ETC., 16l, ,416 certificates of
all kinds, including 79, 9S9 increase eertiti-
Gates issued to widows and dependents
under act of March 10, 1886, have been is
sued during the past year, showing vast
increase in the work of the Office.
The work of the special examination di-
vision in particular has been greatly &C
CELEBRATED. The Commissioner renews his
suggestions as to legislation contained in
his report of the previous year. Concern
ing the Mexican war pensions, he says that
the subject of pensions to soldiers Of that
war is before Congress and the people;
that he did not add one word in the way
of argument; that point has been passed
great aid has been given to claimants and
great protection to the Government by the
operations of the army and navy survi-
vOrs' division, which has obtained the
names and addresses OF 5000 surgeons OF
the war, and has furnished more than
! 100, 900 names of soldiers with their post
office addresses.
Of the appropriations provided for the
expenses Of the office $305, ,962, IL, has been
covered into the treasury Of the United
States. The clerical force during the year
has been diminished by one hundred clerks.
A statement of the chief clerk is added to
the report of the Commissioner which show
that during the proceeding fiscal year end
ed June 3Oth, 1885, there were 81, ,3l9 days
annual and sick leaves taken by the en-
plOyers of the Bureau, and that for the year
ended June Both, 1856, only 1862 days
were taken, showing d net increase in time
saved during the first year Ofthe admins
tratiOn nearly equal to the services OF 43
men for one year.