The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-04
CLEVELAND'S RECORD
VIII Send CONSERVATION to
Bloody Shutters.
RECORDS OF THE PENSION BUREAU.
Showing the Large Number of Pensions
Granted Ey the Democratic Admins
traion-Carry the News to Foraker.


WASHINGTON, August 20-The commissioner
OF pensions has completed and sent to the pub
lie printer his report of the operations of the
pension bureau for the year ended june so,
1888.
1t contains much that is interesting.
1t shows that there were, during the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1883, added to the pension
rolls G0252 new names
THE LARGEST ANNUAL INCREASE
In the history of the bureau-making total of
49,, 557 pensions on the rolls at the close OF the
year, classified as follows:
S26,SS5 invalids; 9292S widows minor chill
dren and dependent relatives 81 revolutionary
widows SOS survivors of the war of 1912; 10.-
7o7 widows of those who served in that war !;
$1,000 survivors of the war with Mexico; and
5,104 widows OF those who served in that war.
The names of 2.02S previously dropped were
restored 10 the rolls, making an aggregate OF
62.2S0 pensioners added during the year,
During the same period TO- $50 were dropped
from the rolls on account of death and various
other causes, leaving q net increase to the rolls
of %, $50 names. One million one hundred and
sixty-six thousand nine hundred and twenty
six pension claims have been filed since 1861,
and 737 900 claims OF all classes have been al
lowed since that date.
THE AMOUNT PAID FOR PENSIONS
since 1861 has been 1868, 0S6,444. Increase of
pensions was granted in 45,716 cases. The
average annual value of pensions at the close
of the year shows a decrease of $4 so. The de-
crease in the average annual value is due TO
the fact that q large number of Mexican PEN
sionerS at the rate of eight dollars per month
which is below the average rate, was
added to the rolls during the year; ;
and Furthermore that the death rate among
high grade pensioners was greater than among
pensioners of lower rate.
The aggregate annual value of pensions is
$56,707,22l, an increase of $5SS2579. The
amount of pensions paid during the year was
$78,T75, 1862, an increase over previous year of
S5,300, $50. The total amount disbursed by
pension agents for all purposes was 49, sac, Jas.
The cost attending such disbursements was in
the aggregate S., 262, 524, it being fraction
less than four per cent oil the total expendi-
lures of the bureau. Tho
TOTAL AMOUNT EXPENDED
for all purposes was SS2, 03S, 1856, being 218 per
cent Of the estimated gross income of the
United States government for the period. The
total expenditures of the government for tho
fiscal year, 1888, were S267, 424 SOL so that the
amount expended for and on account of pen
sions was nearly thirty-one per cent of the ell
tire outlay of government.
The average duration of lives of pensioners
is siXty-seven years. The average length of
time served in the army by those who are re-
ceiving pensions on account of the late war is
more than two years.
DEPARTMENT WORK.
There are received 2,698,000 letters during
year, an enormous increase over previous
years. an average of 224 1888 letters per month,
or 1898 per working day. Ninety-four thous-
and four hundred and ninety-eight letters
were received from members of congress alone.
The total number OF letters sent out was $780,
1S2. Many inquiries were answered by the
issuance Of pension certificates or by printed
circulars, and frequently a single letter was
found to be sufficient to answer several inquir-
les in the same claim.
FILED DURING THE YEAR.
There were filed during the year II $40 an
plicatons for original pension; 11.789 widows,
446 dependent mothers and 1913 dependent
fathers, making a total of 65,704.
The highest number of claims on account of
the late war was received from Ohio; Indiana
follows next; then New York and Pennsylva-
mia and from Montana, U tab and South Caro-
lima none were received.
Tho work of the board of review and re-re-
view is practically up to date.
The law division has submitted 40 cases to
the department of justice for prosecution
sixty for oHenses by attorneys and 10 for
offenses by other persons. OF this number six
have been acquitted and four ignored by grand
JurieS, leaving l60 awaiting trial. The
SPIRIT OF THE BUREAU
is mo compromise with those who willfully
violate the pension law, or no prosecution of
those who sinned through ignorance or who
are willing to make restitution when the same
is demanded af them" Fifteen thousand
three hundred and thirty dollars of illegal fees
have been recovered and refunded to the pen
sioners interested.
A new feature of the report is a discussion
of special pension acts and their relation to the
administration of general laws.
1t shows the various stages through which a
special act passes from its receipt ct the exec
utive mansion to the issue of the certificate.
In addition, table is published showing
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIAL PENSION
acts which have become laws since 1861 as fol-
lows:
1861 to 1865, al Qincoln) 1865 to 1869, 431
Johnson 1869 to 1877, 400 Grant; 1877 to
1881, 303 (Hayes) 1881 to 1885, 1856 Garfield
and Arthur; total, 2,001; 1885 to 1885, 1869
(Cleveland); grand total, 1870
1t appears that while during President
Cleveland's administration 1863 special acts
became laws.
ONE HUNDRED AND NIHErY-ONE WERE VETOED.
OF this number seventeen were vetoed in the
interest Of claimants, because they would be
entitled to greater amount under the general
law. The seventeen cases were afterwards
allowed by the pension bureau and saved the
beneticiaries SIT ,249 moro than they would
have received had the special act become laws.
Twelve were vetoed because of charges of
desertion or dishonorable discharge. Two de-
pendent fathers claims were vetoed because
the fathers abandoned their sons in infancy,
never resumed their care and custody nor
manifested any interest i'll them until the pen
sion was involved. Two cases because they
were duplicates of precisely the same special
acts already approved by the executive and in
full force. Seven because death was suicide
and had
NO CONNECTION WITH MILITARY SERVICE.
One hundred and twenty-one, because the
soldiers disabilities or deaths were in no wise
due to service but arose from causes entirely
distinct therefrom II, because cases were
pending in the pension bureau, where they
were being properly investigated.
These cases also involved arrears; because
special act fixed no rates and claimants were
now receiving pension commensurate with
the disability found to exist by competent
boards Of surgeons and a special act would be
OF no benefit Two more alleged dependent
cases because no dependence was shown. One
because the president refused to set aside tho
Limitation fixed by the law of 1879 governing
arrears. and one bpcaf1Cp tha ,trac