Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-06
PENSION REPORT.
Annual Report of the Commissioners Of
Pensions.


Pensions.
WASHINGTON, Aug. SO-The annual report OF
the Commissioner OF Pensions shows that there
were during the fiscal year ended JuRe -, 1873,
added to the pension rolls %, S52 now names
the largest srnual increase in the history OF the
suyeau-nakiug total OF .5s, 5S7 pensioners on
sue rons at the close OF :-e yer, a. follows:
6.SS5 invnliGs, s2, ~ widows. minor children
aud drrends1S relatives; 81 revolutionary Wild
ews minor children and dependsns relatives;
500 survivors Of the war OF 1sa ard 1o.757 Wild
ous OF those who served in that war; 16,O6o
survivors OF the w~r with Mexico and ), l04
widows Of those who served in that ws<. The
names OF los previously dropped wero restored
TO the rolls, making aggregate Of ~. so added
during the yesr. During the same period Is, 30
were dropped On account of death and various
other causes, leaving n net increase TO the rolls
ef $3.50 names. Since 1851, 1.166,9-s pension
claims have been fled and 75s77as claims OF
al classes have been allowed since thar
date The amount paid for pensions
since 1861 has been S9S3,,S6. ~. In
crease Of pension was granted IN S,7is
eases The aggregate annual value OF pensions
Is 1861 7,-al an increase OF s. SS -519. Tho
amount OF pensions paid during the year was
s7S.1s3. So, al increase over the previous year
Of ;5.1S,2sl. The total amount disoursed by
pension agents for all purposes was s19,6i6, jS6
the aggregate s. 10, 50 it being a fraction le >
than 4 per cent. OF the total expenditures OF the
bureau. The total amount expended for al
purposes was -, OBS $50 being 2l>i per cent Of
the total estimated gross income OF the United
States Government for the period The total
expenditures of The Government for the fiscal
year 1888 we're S257, ,S24, 81, so that the amount
expended for and on account OF pensions was
nearly 81 per cent. OF the entire outlay of the
EnVarn17pOr There ilnd 1uriDU fha
year 47,Sp applications for original peus'on,
l1.7S9 widows, 2,446 dependent mothers and
1883 dependent fathers, making n total OF bS.-
704 The highest number OF claims on account
OF the late war was received from Ohio. Indiana
following xt, then Now York and Pennsyl-
varia- From Montana, Utah and South Caro-
lima none were received
Up to June a. last 265S1 claims have been
filed under the Mexican Pension act, 10, 1SS be-
ing survivors and 6,;93 widows All compl-ted
cases of this elass-16599 survivors and 5,l95
widows cases-have been allowed. The rejec-
tions were ASH survivors and COL widows
CLAIMS, mainly because the applicants had not
arrived at the required age OF - years. OF these
Mexican claims but l sG2 were unsettled June
90, the evidence fled being insufficient
The spirit OF the law division of the bu<eau,
says the report. is: No compromise with those
who wilfully violate the Pension law, an. no
anoe and who are willing to make restitution
when the same is d manded OF them" Over 81
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
pension under recent legislation have been
settled without expense or delay TO the pen
sioners.
The Commissioner states that ne sent Ipies
Of his annual report for 1887 to the comn0nd-
ers of the various military departments OF 1he
United States with request that sfter eyamt-
nation they wsuld submit suggestions looking
to improvements in existing laws which action
Wa: earnestly approved by the President. 4
majority OF these officers expressed the opinion
that the present Pen ion laws were amply sum
cient for every eInergenc-. and nearly al were
of the opinion that rigid physical exsmin alton
should be conducted at discharge, Nhich should
be certified to by 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 Jaws from 1851
to SS5 is 2,0;1, and from 1885 to 1888 during the
present administration, l. 369 total OF 331n. or
the latter 191 were veIOed for reasons fully set
forth in the Presidents messages made ps bie
from time to time. In the fiscal years from july
], 1882. to June ~, 1885. there were issued S9l-
22l certificates of all classes, and during three
following fiscal years from July l, 1885, TO JHue
So 1888, SO so. making an increase for the 1Ss
three years OF los, 316 cert tfcates.