The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-09
SOLDIERS PENSIONS
RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC,
ADMINISTRATION.
In Providing Handsomely for Our
Country's Defenders.

COLUMBUS, O., July 22.-ISpecial.l- For
years prior to the accession of the Democrats
party to national power one of the stock ar.
guments Of the Republican press and speak
ers in every campaign was that should the
Democratic party be intrusted with the ad.
ministration of national affairs the interests
OF union soldiers in the matter of pensions
would be seriously jeopardized. Well, the
Democratic party has now been in power for
more than three years, and what do the off.
cial records show has been done IN the way
of pensions for union soldiers, their wild ows,
orphans and dependent relatives? Let us
see. Let us compare the new with the old,
as shown by the official records of the pen.
sion bureau.
WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW.
The annual reports of the commissioner of
pensions for the fiscal years 1888. 1884, 1886,
show that during these years 1Os, 121 original,
9,24s increase and 1852 miscelI aneous cer-
ti6cates were issued. Total claims admitted
during the last three years of Republican
rule, 191 ,221.
The annual reports of the commissioner of
pensions for the fiscal years 1886 and 1887
and the records of the pension bureau for
the fiscal year 1888 (the annual report of the
commissioner for the last year not havins
yet been made) show that during those three
years LOT, ,226 original, 1s1,173 increase and
22,O55 miscellaneous certificates were issued.
Total claims admitted during the frat
three years of Democratic rule, $50, ,452.
Excess of certificates issued by the Demo.
erats, 16s, ,23i.
NET INCREASE TO PENSION ROLLS.
The net increase to the pension rolls dur
ing the fiscal years 1883, 1884 and 1885 was
%, 42S. The net increase to the pension rolls
during the fiscal years 1886, 1887 and 1888
was 104. s75. Excess of net increase under
Democrats, 45,447.
FUNDS Discussed.
During the fiscal years 1883, 1884 and
1885, SIS, ,399, 1861 was disbursed on
account of pensions. During the fiscal years
1886, 1887 and 1888, $217, 1893, 757 80 was
disbursed on account of pensions. Excess
of disbursements by Democrats, SS4, ,00o,-
541,O1.
NEW NAMES ADDED.
During the fiscal years 1888. 1884 and
1885, los, 121 new names were added to the
rolls. This includes, however, the names of
1906 new names added to the rolls by
General Black from March II, 1885, the day
on which he assumed charge of the pension
bureau, to June 80, 1885. During the fiscal
years Of 1886, 1887 and 1888, 15e, ,225 new
names were added to the pension rolls. If
We add to this 156, 226 the names of the 15,.
906 new pensioners added to the rolls
by General Black during the last
three and onehalf months of the fiscal
year 1885, it makes total of 172, 1872 new
names added to the pension rolls since Gen.
eral Black assumed charge of the pension
bureau. Giving the Republican administra-
ton the benefit of the 15;906 new names
added to the roll during the last three and
onehalf months of the fscalyear 1885, during
which time the pension bureau was under
Democratic control, we find that the excess
of new names added to the rolls by the Dem.
ocratic administration during its first three
years exceeds those added to the rolls during
the last three years of Republican admins.
tration by A. Jos.
GENERAL PENSION ACTS.
Now let US see what the Official records
show has been done by President Cleveland
IN his official capacity fer ex-union soldiers,
their widows, orphans and dependent rela-
tives since his inauguration on the 4th Of
March, 1885.
Widows Increase.-He approved the aot
of March 10, 1886, which has increased to $12
per month the pensions of l02, sos widows,
minors and dependent relatives of unlen
soldiers. The total annual increase in money
granted to these 102, SOS pensioners by reason
of his approval of said act Is s., ,923, ,264-
1nvaiids' 1ucrease.-He approved the act
Of Uxt A 1226 which has fha
pensions of 1902 crippled and MANNED
union soldiers of the late war from $24 to $50,
from $50 to $3e and $50 and $3.50 to $45 per
month. The average increase in these CAGES
year, and the total annual increase in money
granted to these 1902 pensioners by reason
of his approval of said act of August 4, 1885,
Is therefore 81 ,089, 1856.
Mexican War Pensiens.-He approved the
act of January %, 1887, which has placed on
the pension rolls q, ,704 survivors and widows
of the war with Mexico at $S per month, or
500 per year. The annual amount in money
which these p, ,7o4 Mexican pensioners will
receive by reason of his approval of said act
is s., ,0S3, ,5S4.
Widows Arrears.-He approved the act
of June q, 1888, granting arrears of PEN
sions to widows from the date of their hus-
bands death in all cases filed subsequent to
June 80, 1880. All those filed prior to July
], 1880, were entitled from date of death Of
AuSOduu uuOcE tue dETcdES laws OI 1913, pro-
vided of course they establish their right to
such pension. The approval of this act Of
June z, 1888, will Immediately affect some
10000 widows of the late war whose claims
have already been allowed from the date Of
the filing of the same. The average amount
in money which these 10000 will receive by
reason of his approval of this act will amount.
it is estimated, to an average of S10S in
each case, making total of 81 ,0S0, 900, aud
the allowances of widows cases which have
been filed since June 80, 1880, during the
present fiscal year will probably increase
the amount paid to such pensioners during
the present fiscal year to over 81, 900, 900.
So it will be seen that since the Inaugural
tion of President Cleveland he has approved
general pension acts which directly and Pc
cuniarly benefited some 144, 364 ex-union
and Mexican war soldiers, their widows,
orphans and dependent relatives, and that
the money value of this benefit will be over
$9,000,O00 per auuum.
PRIVATE PENSION ACTS.
Since the Inauguration of President Cleve-
land he has approved or allowed to become
laws bV limitation over 100 private acts