The National tribune., 1886-07-22

That is 9,26s more original and increase
certificates were issued last year than in
1885 more than in 1884 and 1868
more than in 1888. And to these must be
added $4,000 widows certificates hereafter
$4,000 certificates!
To put il in another shape:
The working efficiency of the Office is
shown to be about ii per cent. greater than
il was last year, about 10 per cent greater
than it was in 1884, and nearly 80 per cent.
greater than in 1883.
Gen. Black entered upon the duties of his
Office March II, 1885, and during the period
from that date to June 80, 1856, the end Of
the fiscal year, As per cent of the pensions
which were allowed during the entire fiscal
year were allowed under Gen. Blacks adj
ministration.
Formerly, if at any time after the pension
was granted, the pensioner came into posses
sion Of property, or was able to take care of
himself without the pension, it ceased and
he could not be thereafter pensioned, even
though he should be in condition of abso-
lutte want.
Another very liberal ruling of Gen.
Black was TO the effect that dependent
mothers and fathers were entitled to their
pension whenever it again became necessary
as means Of comfortable support, or deduct
ing only for the period when they were able
TO maintain themselves without it. Thus
the pension could cease, and in after years
could be resumed, providing, of course, they
were otherwise entitled.
This is a showing in which any official can
take just pride.
As this enlarged efficiency meant granting
long-denied justice and relief to more than
10000 deserving soldiers, their widows and
orphans, ministering to their sore need, and
lifting them in most cases from abject penury
to some degree of comfort; as it meant
great Fastening of that relief which, to be
of any value, must be given quickly; as it
meant a breaking down of that cruel policy
of delay which, to the helpless veterans
heart is sharper than serpent's tooth, it is
something over which the whole body of the
veteran soldiery Of the country should re-
joice and give thanks that at last there is
found Commissioner of Pensions who has
the viii and the power 10 redeem the Oft
broken promise Of the Nation to care in his
hour of need for him who has borne the
battle, and for his widow and his orphans.
Nor il it alone in the number Of pensions
granted that Gen. Black has done well.
Greater liberality is shown by the increased
average amount allowed. In the year before
he came into Office the average value Of each
pension was S1O6.75. The first year after
he came in this was raised to sl10.36, and for
the year just closed will show still more
notable increase.
Gen. Blacks rulings have ever tended to-
ward relaxation Of iron-b bound technicalism
in favor of just hberality. Conspicuous
among these are his rulings in regard tc
disabilities in rebel prisons No record;
exist Of most Of the rebel prisons, and con
sequently there is not shred of document
airy evidence extant TO show that nine-tenthI
Of the men who suffered imprisonment evel
received medical examination and treatment
such as is necessary to make up the record
Another ruling no less creditable TO III,
Commissioner and just 10 those affected b.
it, is that where a pensioner husband die
from the disability for which he was pen
stoned, he has decided that his widow
shall not be called on TO show that he
husbands pension was properly issued, o
TO fight over again his long struggle. Sh
is only required to prove marriage an
death from the disability for which pen
stoned or some other disability equally du
TO the service The insistence upon thi
caused great hardship to hundreds Of deser'
ing widows, before Gen. Black abolished i
Healso ruled that where the husband and vii
!, had lived in reputable wedlock for term {
0 years it should not be necessary to speciicall
n prove that they had been married at give
II date by particular clergyman. The fact tha
d they had maintained marital relations for
9 considerable period without question b
d their friends and acquaintance should
Is regarded as sufficient proof Of legal marriag
p This is eminently just. 1t would great
c, inconvenience at least half Of our people
IA absolutely prove their marriages 10 or
d years after the same had been solemnize
il and this was still more the case in the pas
" when our people were more migratory, al
as when less care was taken than now in pr
ID serving documentary evidence.
of An illustration Of his executive capaei
H. was shown al the time of the passage of Il
tn bin raising the pension of widows and d
or pendent relatives before adverted TO. I'll
d. took place the 10Th OF March last BY the 4
ly of June every one ofthe % 600 persons of II