Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-01
BLACKS REPORT.
Report of Business Done by tho Pension
Bureau.

Bureau
Commis sioner of Pensions Black has
filed with the secretary OF the interior his
report OF the operations of the pension
bureau for the fiscal year ended juno ~,
1856. From the report IL appears that on
June 30 last there were 3O3, 1H3 pensioners
on the rolls, composed of 10, Nj army IN
valids. 81, 1872 army widows, minor children
and dependent relatives; LOB navy IN
valids, 1871 widows, minor children, etc;
1889 survivors of the war of ISL, showing
loss during the year OF 100 or TINS class.
There were 1891 widows OF soldiers OF the
war of 1872 showing "A loss during the year
in this class OF 3sl5. Iwenty-four
original claims were hled IN
this class 90 during the year
peared ON the rolls; 40 S51 new pensioners
were added To the roll during the year; p
30 were restored To the rolls 2,OsJ pen
sioners' names were dropped from the ron
on account of death, re-marrlage, frauds.
etc, leaving IA net increase in the roll OF
2O,6s5 names. The annual average value
of each pension was Sl223; gam OF
Sil.SS over the average value OF the pre-
ceding year. The aggregate annual value
S44, 1Oo, 0!1 A. being an Increase IN annual
value Of S6,6lI0n.5l The amount paid
for pensions during the year was SOB ~
S3l. 81; the difference in the amount paid
and the annual value representing the
accrued and arrearage pensions pau dur-
ing the year. Since 1861, 59l, l03 invalid
claims have been filed, 3fS.7D claims Of
widows and dependents, and Io,S3i FOR
pension on account of service. During
the same period there have been allowed
of the first class SG, l4l claims
and of the second class 30 433; and of all
other classes, COILS; making total OF
claims allowed since 1851, 6Zl,'5l. IL will
thus be- seen that nearly one hair OF al the
pensioners whose names have been placed
upon the rolls have died or their pensions
have ceased 10y reason of arrival at age
marriage etc, One hundred ana sixty
one thousand, four hundred and sixteen
certificates of all kinds, including 199S9
increase certificates issued to widows and
dependents under act OF March ~, lss5
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 examination division
which. the commissioner says, has saved
the government over S3,OOO,OO. An at
tached table shows that there are in the
United States in the poor houses about
1900 soldiers, of whom l3 per
cent. are pensioners; 50 per
cent. non pensioners; the Oldest
soldier receiving public support Is lob
year, of age; the mean age Is % years; d
per cent of all the soldiers receiving sup
port were native born, 81 per cent foreign
born - per cent were married men, - per
cont unmarried men, 10 per cent blind or
Insane. The act increasing the pensions OF
widows and dependents from - TO Sl2 was
approved on the 18th day of March, 1876;
on the 4th of June total payments had
been made 70 this class without expense
to the beneficiaries. Some G,C0) of the
cases of increase under the amputation
act of Aug. !. lSS6, have had certificates
issued, and the remainder are being dis
posed OF with great rapidity.
From Jan. l, 1861, until Dec. 81, 1855, 1857
private pension acts have been approved.
Since that date GA such acts have been APP
proved and certificates issued in nearly
every case. The commissioner renews his
suggestion 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
and that he need not add "A word In the
way of argument. During the year more
than ., 0O00JO letters and packages were
resolved IN the office. and il is believed
that nearly all of that number have been
properly replied to. The amount Of ex-
pendltures for stationery, printing and
binding has been diminished by Sl36S3 for
tn past year.
OF the appropriations provided for the
covered into the treasury. The clerical
force during the year was diminished 10y
100. \ statement of the chief clerk is add
ed 70 the report of the commissioner which
shows that during the year OF lSSi-Nj, d,3l3
days annual and sick leaves were taken 10y
the employees of the bureau, while for the
year lso5 ~, 81 i2 days only were taken,
showing a net saving OF the time Of one
man for forty-two years. eleven months
and four days.