Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-30
AChapter Oh Pensions.
Statistics of Interest to Vet
erans and Taxpayers.
THE COMMIssIONER's REPORT.
Sixty thousand Two Hundred and Fify-
two Names Added to the Psnsion noiis
During the Last Fiscal Year-Presldent
Clevelnnd's vetoes Explained.

two Names Added to the Pension Rolls
During the Last Fiscal Year-President
Cleveiand's vetoes Explained.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30-The annual re-
port Of Pension Commissioner Black shows
that during the fiscal year ended June so,
1883, there were added 20 the pension rolls co.
252 new names (the largest annual increase in
the history Of the bureaul, making total OF
AZ, ,557 pensioners on the rolls at the close OF
the year, classified as follows; Sy8 SS5 in
valids, 92 92S widows, minor children and
dependent relatives, 81 revolutionary widows,
SOC survivors of the ewar OF lSlS, lO,7sI
widows OF those who served in that war, 49,
O60 survivors OF the war with Mexico, and
5lOI widows of those who served in that
war Tho names OF 202S previously dropped
were restored TO ths rolls, making an aggre-
gate Of 81, $50 pensioners added during the
year. During the same period l5, 80 were
dropped from the rolls on account OF death
and various other causes, leaving a not in
crease to the rolls of AZ, $50 namea One
million, one hundred and sixty-six thousand,
nine hundred ana twenty-six pension claims
have been filed since 1861, and 737, 200 claims
of all classes have been allowed since that
date. The amount paid for pensions since
1851 has been g9d3 0S5 IA Increase Of pen
8luI WAS EfhlNeA III III ~ NhvoH
The average annual yalue Of q pension at |
the close Of the year was Sls5. 30. a decrease
Of $3.50 The decrease in average annual I
value is due TO the fact that large number |
Of Mexican war pensioners, at the rate Of SS |
per month, which Is below the averages rate, !
was added 10 the rolls during the year, and, |
! furthermore, that the death rate among |
high grade pensioners was greater than
among pensioners OF low rate. The average
annual aggregate OF pensions is s56, 7O7, go |
an Increase OF s3,SS1,5T9 Tho amount Of
pensions paid daring tia ysar was s7S, 775-
S5l, an increase over the previous year Of
| s.. .30s, $50 The total amount disburaed by
/ pension agents for all PURPOSES was so GiB-
/ 14G Cost attending such disbursements was
/ in tho aggregate, SO, 259, 524, it being a frac-
ton less than 4 per cent Of the total OK
pendltwes Of the bure a. The total amount
4 expended for all purposes wa sS3 03s, $50 50,
hoing olls per cent of tho total estimated
gross income Of the United States govern
rnent Tor the period Total expenditures OF
the government for ths fiscal year 1883 we're
! S2G7 93i, Sol, 50 that tho amount expended
for and on account Of pensions was nearly
81 per cent % the entire outlay Of the gov
| ernment
Theaverage duration of the lives Of pens on
| ers is ca years; the average length of time
served ia the army hy those WIN are rsceiy-
ing pensions on account OF the later war is
more tian two years. There We're received
269G.00O letters during tho year. an enor-
nous increase over previous years, an aver
age OF 22f, ,S33 letters per month, or S, ,993 per
working day; "a 4ls letters being received
from members of congress alone Tho total
number Of lctters sent out was /, ,S36, 1872
Many inquiries We're answered by the issn-
ance Of p snsion rtifcates or by printed
circulars, and frequently single letter was
found to be sufficient TO answer several in
qpiries in the same claim.
There were filed during the year A., $40 APP
plicatons for original pensions, II $50 Wild
ows, 2. 7S5 minors, ., 446 dependent mothers,
and SIS dependent fathers, making a total
Of 65, 704 The highest number OF claims on
account Of the late war was received from
: Ohio, Indiana followed next, then New York
and Pennsylvania; and from Montana, Utah
and South Carolina none were received.
A new feature Of the report is the discus
sion Of special pension acss and their relation
to the administration Of the general pension
laws. 1t shows the various stages through
which a special act passes from its receipt at
the executive mansion to the issue of certif-
Gates In addition "a table is furnished show
ing the total number of special pension acts
which became law since 1851, as follows:
Prom 1861 toslS65, Al (Lincolnl; ls0JlSG9.
/ 43l tJohnson; lSG9-iST5, 400 GRANT; 1877
/ 1881, sos Hayes; lSS1-lSS5, l36 Garfield and
Arthur. Total 2,OOl. From 1885 TO 1888,
.36g cleveland. Grand total $3.50.
Ii appears that while during President
? Cleye'and's administration 1863 special acts
5 became law, l9l were vetoed Ol this mum
T Der IL were vetoed in the interests Of claim
ants, because they would ba entitled TO greater
Al. n
$ cases were afterwards allowed by the pension
s bureau, and saved the benehciaries Sl7, ,2l9
more than they would have received if the
special act became law.
Twelve were vetoed because Of charges Of
! desertion or dshonorable discharge. Two
: dependent fathers claims were vetoed be
). cause the fathers abandoned their sons in
infancy, and never resumed their care or
custody, nor manifested any interest in them
4 until their death; two cases because they
were duplicates OF precisely the same special
ncts already approved and in full force;
seven because the death cause was suicide,
+ and had no connection with the military
/ service; 12l because soldiers disability or
: deaths were in no wise due to the service, but
arose from causes entirely distinct therefrom
T, seventeen because causes were pending in the
pension bureau. where they were being prop
I
!, arrears; nine because the special act fixed
; no rate, and the claimants were now receiv-
ing pensions commensurate with the disabil
If ity found to exist by competent boards Of
q surgeons, and special act would bs Of nc
benefit; two more alleged dependent cases
~ because no dependence was shown by the
/ evidence; one because the president refuse6
). 10 set aside she limitation governing arrears
IT. and because the beneficiary was dead at th'
time OF the passage OF thespscial act. Ninety
u three Of these vetoed claims had been re
Is iected by tho pension bureau prior to July /
a 1885. and fifty-four subsequent to that time
. Thirty were pending unsettled in the pension
bureau, and no applications under the gen
U eral law had been in eleven.
l. In this connection it may be interesting (
sa state that in the fiscal years from July 1
1882. to June 80, 1885. there we're issued 191.
221 certificates OF all classes, and during To
three following fiscal years, from July
1885. to June so, 1888, $50, ,5S7, making a
increase for the last three years OF 1881
certificates