The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-23
Sixty-Four Million Dollars Paid During the
Past Fiscal Year to al Army Of Claimants
About Four Hundred Thousand Strong.
A Blunder Which Will Prevent Resump-
tion of Work on the Mississippi.
A Market for the American Dried Apple Quail
ity ofGen. John W. Fosters Republicanism
The Cause of Mr.. Manning's Illness.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
Facts, Figures aud Suggestions from TIN
Coming Report of Commissioner Blac ck.

Facts, Figures aud Suggestions from the
Coming Report of Commissioner Black.
WASHINGTON, Sept. .-Commissioner of Pen
sions Black has filed with the Secretary of the
Interior his report of the operations of the
Pension Bureau for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1856 From the report it appears that on
June 30 last there were 365. 7s3 pensioners on
the rolls, composed of 265, 854 army nvalids; SO,
l62 army widows. minor children and dependent
relatives; 1858 navy invalids; 1877 navy wild
ows, minor children, etc.; ,539 survivors of the
war of 1872 showing loss during the year of
1.406 of this class There were 1897 widows of
soldiers of the war of 1912, showing loss dur
Ing the year in this class Of 3815. Twenty-fou
original claims were filed in this class during the
year; the names of 304 additional widows ap-
peared on the rolls, and 40.857 new pensioners
were added to the roll during the year; 1920
were restored to the rolls 22,089 pen
sioners' names we're dropped from the
rolls on account of death, remarriage, frauds,
etc, leaving a net increase in the
roll of 90. 6S5 names. The annual average value
of each pension was $l2223 gain of $1l SO over
the average value of the preceding year The
aggregate value was $44, 7Os 027 A, being an in
amount paid for pensions during the year was
$63 1871 831 81, the difference in the amount paid
and the annual value representing the accrued
and arrearage pensions paid during the year.
Since 1861, 59l. 102 invalid claims have been
fled, 34S, 799 claims of widows and dependents,
78, S39 for pension on account of service. Dur
ing the same period there have been allowed of
the first class, 1892 141 CLAIMS of the second
class, 229, ,435 and of all other classes 60,178
making the total of claims allowed since 1861
62l, 754. 1t will thus be seen that nearly one
half of all the pensioners whose names
have been placed upon the rolls have
died, or their pensions have ceased by reason of
arrival at age, remarriage, etc. One hun
dred and sixty -one thousand four hundred and
sixteen certificates of all kinds, including TO- 989
increase certificates issued to widows and de-
pendants under act Of March 49, 1886, were
issued during the past year, which, the report
says, shows a vast increase in the work of the
Office This is especially true of the special ex-
animation division, which, the Commissioner
says, has saved the government over SO, 600, 000
An attached table shows that there are in the
United States in the poor-houses about 5000
soldiers, of whom Is per cent are pensioners and
sc per cent. are non pensioners the Oldest SOL
dier receiving public support is 1O3 years of age
and the mean is fifty seven years; 48 per cent of
all the soldiers receiving support wsre native
born, and 81 per cent foreign born; 45 per cent
were married men, and 81 per cent. un-
married men; 10 per cent are blind or insane
The. act increasing the pensions Of widows and
dependents from $8 to $12 was approved on the
Or &c
payments had been made to this class without
expense to the benefciaries. Some SIX thousand
of the cases of increase under the amputation
act Of Aug a. 1886, have had certificates issued
and the remainder are being disposed of with
great rapidity.
From Jan. l, 1861, until Dec. 81, 1885, 1867
private pension acts have been approved Since
that date, 644 such acts have been approved and
certificates issued in nearly every case.
The Commissioner renews his suggestions as
to the legislation contained in his report of the
previous year Concerning the Mexican war
pensions. he says that the subject of pensions to
soldiers of that war is before Congress and the
people: and that he need not add one word in the
way of argument
During the year more than 2,000 900 letters
and packages were received IN the Office, and it
is believed that nearly all of that number have
been properly replied to. The amount of ex-
penditures for stationery. printing and binding
has been diminished by $13 GS3 for the past year
Of the appropriations provided for the expenses
of the Office, 1906, 1862 has been covered back into
the Treasury. The clerical force during the
year was diminished by one hundred state
ment of the chief clerk is added to the report of
the Commissioner. which shows that during the
year 1SS4-S5 4,313 days annual and sick-leaves
were taken by the employees of the bureau, while
for the year 1885, 3S, G52 days only were TAKEN
showing saving of the time of one man for AZ
years, II days and hours.