Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-09-06
PENSION REPORT.
Annual Report of the Commissioner Of
Pensions.

Annual Report of the Commissioner Of
Pensions.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S0.-The annual report OF
the Commissioner OF Pensions shows that there
were during the fiscal year ended June 60 1885,
added to the pension rolls 60, a52 new names
the largest annual increase in the history of the
bureau-making total of 452, 557 pensioners on
the rolls at the close of the year, as follows:
1868 invalids, 81, 92S widows. minor children
and dependent relatives; 80 revolutionary Wild
ows. minor children and dependent relatives:
SO6 survivors OF the war OF 1912 and 10.787 wild
Ows OF those who served in that war; 16 O6O
survivors OF the war with Mexico and 104
widows OF those who served in that war The
names Of ,02S previously dropped were restored
to the rolls, making an aggregate Of IL, $50 added
during the year. During the same period IS I'D
were dropped on account of death and various
other causes, leaving o net increase to the rolls
OF 46,560 names. Since 1861 1,166, 925 pension
claims have been filed and 737.s0O claims OF
all classes have been allowed since that
date. The amount paid for pensions
since 1851 has been 1866, Cs6. 44a. In
crease of pension was granted in 45,7l6
cases. The aggregate annual value of pensions
is $56. 7Os ,221. an increase OF $3 SS ,519. The
amount of pensions paid during the year was
G8,175, 862, an increase over the previous year
Of 5,3O8, $50. The total amount disbursed by
pension agents for all purposes was ss9,646146
The cost attending such disbursements was in
the aggregate 80 esq., 24, it being fraction lie
than per cent of the total expenditures of the
bureau. The total amount expended for all
the total estimated gross income Of the United
States Government for the period. The total
expenditures of the Government for the fiscal
year 1888 were $267, 924, 8O1, that the amount
expended for and on account of pensions was
nearly 81 per cent. of the entire outlay Of the
Government There were filed during the
year 41.840 applications for original pens on.
11,7S9 widows. 2,446 dependent mothers and
i. S83 dependent fathers. making a total OF 65.-
704. The highest number OF claims on account
OF the late war was received from Ohio, Indiana
following n xt, then New York and Pennsyl-
vania- From Montana Utah and South Caro-
lima none were received.
Up to June 30 last 26,5S1 claims have been
fled under the Mexican Pension act, 19, 1SS be-
c ing survivors and 6,193 widows. All completed
cases of this class-16,529 survivors and o,l95
widows caSes-have been allowed. The rejec-
lions were 1921 survivors and 601 widows
claims, mainly because the applicants had not
arrived at the required age of 62 years. OF these
Mexican claims but 1872 were unsettled juno
30, the evidence filed being insufficient.
The spirit of the law division Of the bureau,
says the report, is: mo compromise with those
who wilfully violate the Pension law, and no
prosecution OF those who Sinned through ignOr-
ance and who are willing to make restitution
when the same is demanded of them" Over IS
per cent. of all pensions are paid by the pension
: agents within ten days after the quarterly pay
ment is due, and payments can not be made
more rapidly without multiplying the agencies.
One hundred thousand cases of increase OF
settled without expense delay to the PEN
SionerS.
The Commissioner states that ne sent copies
of his annual report for 1887 to the command
ers OF the various military departments of the
United States with a request that after exami-
nation they would submit suggestions looking
to Improvements in existing laws, which action
was earnestly approved by the President. "A
majority of these officers expressed the opinion
that the present Pen ion laws were amply suf11-
cient for every emergency. and nearly all were
of the opinion that rigid physical examination
should be conducted at discharge, hich should
be certified to by a council convened for the
purpose and made part of the military history
of each soldier. The total number of special
pension acts which have become laws from 1864
TO sS5 is 2,O'1 and from 1885 to 1888 during the
present administration l. $780, a total of 1870. OF
The latter 191 were vetoed for reasons fully set
forth in the Presidents messages made public
0 from time to time In the fiscal years from July
=, 1882. to June 80, 1885, there were issued 49,
221 certificates of all classes, and during three
following fiscal years from July 1, 1886 to June
30, 1885, 359, 537. making increase for the last
o. three years of log, 316 certificates.