St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-10-09
PENSIONS.

Statistics Taken From COMMISSIONS
Blacks Report Filed With the An'e'''A
Department.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-Commlssioher
of Pensions Black has fled with the oecre-
tarv of the Interior his report OF the opera
tons of the Pension Bureau for the nscaA
year ended June so, 1886. From the re-
port it appears that Oh june 80 last there
were 365, 1913 pensioners on the rolls. coih-
posed CT 265, S54 army lnvaiids s, l62 army
widows, minor children and dependent rela-
tves, 1888 navy invalids, 1877 navy WIZ
Ows minor children, etc, 1889 Survivors OF
the war of 18l2-shOwing a loss during tie
year Of 1,4O6 of this class. There were
1897 widows of soldiers Of the war OF
1912, showing loss during the year III
this class OF 3815. Twentyfour original
claims were filed in this class during the
year, the names of 304 additional widows
appeared on the rolls; 40,S57 new pension
ers were added to the roll during the year,
9, 229 were restored to the rolls, %, 0S9 pen
sioners' names were dropped from the Tolls
on account of death, remarriage, fraud, etc.,
leaving net increase III the roll OF 2O,6e5
names. The annual average value Of each
pension was 1929, gain of SlL8S over
the average value of the preceding year.
The aggregate value was S44,7o9, 027.44,
being an increase in annual value OF &c.
617,041.51. The amount paid for pensions
during the year was SG3, 797, 83l.6l, the
difference in the amount paid and the an
nual value representing The accrued and
arrearage pensions paid during the year.
Since 1861 591, 102 invalid claims have
been fled 34S,799 claims of widows and
dependents, 1889 for pension on account
of service. During the same period there
have been allowed of the first class 332, al
claims, and of the second class, 229, 435, and
Of all other classes, CO., l7S, making total
Of claims allowed since 1871, 62l, 754. 1t
will thus be seen thatyneatly onehaif 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 hundred and,
sixty-one thousand four hundred and sixteen
certificates OF all kinds. including 79,9se
increase certificates issued to widows ana
dependents under the act Of March 10, 1886,
were issued during the past year, which,
the report says, shows vast IN
crease in the work Of the office. This
is especially true of the special examination
division, which, the Commissioner says, has
saved the Government over 50, 600, 00O An
attached table shows that there are in the
United States in the poor houses about
5000 soldiers, of whom h3 per cent. are
pensioners and S6 per cent non pensioners.
The oldest soldier receiving public support
is 1913 years of age; the mean is 81 years.
Forty-eight per cent. of all the soldiers re-
ceiving support were native born, 81 per
cent foreign born; 45 per cent were mar
ried men, "a per cent. unmarried men; IL
per cent. blind or insane. The act increasing
the pensions of widows and dependents
from SIS to Sl2 was approved un the 10th
of March, 1886; OH the 4th of June
the total payments had been made
to this class without expense to the
benefciaries. Some 5000 of the cases of
increase under the amputation &C. of Aug
ust 4, 1886, have had certificates issued, and
the remainder are being disposed of with
great rapidlty. From January l. 1861, I'M
til December 81, 1885, 1867 private PEN
sions acts have been approved. Since that
date GA such acts have been approved and
certificates issued insnearIy every case. The
Commissioner renews his suggestion as to
legislation contained in his report of the.
previous year. Concerning the Mexican
war pensions he says that the SUBJ
iect of pensions to soldiers of that war
8 before Congress and the people, and that
he need not add one word in the way OF
argument. During the year more than 2,OO0,-
600 letters and packages were received IN
the office, and it is believed that nearly ail'6f
that number have been properly replied to.