The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-09-07
a GRATEFUL REPUBLIC.
What Uncle Sam Is Doing for Those Who
Report of Pension Commissioners Black.

!
What Uncle Sam Is Doing for Those Who
Came to HIS Aid In the Tine of Need
Report of Pension Commissioners Black.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3O.-The annual re-
port of Pension Commissioner Black shows
that during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1888, there were added to the pension rolls
90, S25 new names tthe largest annual in
crease in the history OF the bureau), maxi
ing total of 49,, 557 pensioners on the
rolls at the close of the year, classified as
follower
Invalids, $40, S35; widows, minor children and
dependent relatives. %. 92S; revolutionary Wild
ows, 81; survivors OF the war of 1872, SO6 wId.
ows OF thoDe who served in that war; 10, 1871;
survivors OF the war with Mexico, $1,000; wild.
ows OF those who served in that war, 5l04.
The names Of 2o2S previously dropped
were restored to the rolls, making an ag-
gregate OF so, $50 pensioners added during
the year. During the same period, Is, 73O
were dropped from the rolls on account of
death and various other causes, leaving a
net increase to the rolls. of 46, $50 names.
One million, one hundred and sixty-six
Thousand, nine hundred and TWEEN
ty-six pension claims have been
filed since 1851, and 1920 claims
Of all classes have been allowed since
that date. The amount paid for pensions
since 1851 has been s963,OS6, IA. Increase
of pension was granted in 1916 cases.
The average annual value of pension at
the close Of the year was 1925 80, de-
crease of 81 80 The decrease in average
annual value is due to the
fact that large number of
Mexican war pensioners 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 the high
grade pensioners was greater than
among pensioners of lower rate. Thesag-
gregate annual value of pensions il $5d,4
707 go an increase of $685., 579.
The amount Of pensions paid.
during the year was SIS, 775, S61, an
increase over the previous year Of S., $685.
$50. The total amount disbursed by pen
sion agents for all purposes was $40, 646,
146 The cost attending such disburse-
ments were in the aggregate S2,26S, 525, it
being fraction less than por cent. of the
total expenditures of the bureau The to
tai amount expended for all purposes was
SS2, 05S 1856 SO, being 81 ~ 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 1883 were $267, 924, SOL, so
that the amount expended for and on &C
count of pensions was nearly 81 per cent.
of the entire outlay of the Government.
There were filed during the year AZ, $40
applications for original pensions; 11,789
widows, 2,785 minors, 2,446 dependent
mothers, and 1883 dependent fathers, maxi
ing total of IS, 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. ..sa.,
The average duration Of the lives of PEN
sioners is 67 years; the average length of
time served in the army by those who are
receiving pensions on account of the late
war is more than two years.
The report continues: H
Z : Up to June 30 last, 26,581 claims were filed
under the Mexican pension acta 10, 1888 being
survivors, and ,793 widows. All completed
cases Of this class. 1859 survivors and 5, 1875
widow cases, have been allowed The reflections
were z, 32l survivors and 6o1 widows claims,
mainly because the applicants had not arrived
at the required age Of 81 years; 43 of these APP
plications were consolidated with claims al
ready filed under other laws. OF these Next
can claims, but 1892 were unsettled on the
Goth of June, the evidence fled being insult
ficient.
1.-THE law division has submitted ITO cases to
the Department OF Justice for prosecution
90 for offenses by attorneys and ITO for offenses
nv 0fhpr p0r bor civ how
been acquitted and four ignored by grand
1uries, leaving 100 ava ting trial. The spirit OF
the bureau is mo compromise with those. who
,lfully violate the Pension law, and no prose-
cution OF those who sinned through ignorance
and who are willing to make restitution when
the same is demanded OF them
Z" Fifteen thousand three hundred and thirty
dollars Of Illegal fees have been recovered and
refunded to the pensioners interested.
BY the operations of the medical division
the number of rates has been decreased from
ISL to 103 The highest rate paid under the
general law was S72 per month: the lowest was
~ per month. Allowances by special acts of
Congress range from $40 to s41666 per month.
Over s. per cent Of all pensioners are paid by
the pension agents within ten days after the
quarterly payment 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 pensioners
COPIES OF the annual report for 1887 were
sent to the commanders of the various mill
tary departments of the United States with a
request that after examination they would sub.
NIT suggestions looking to Improvements in
existing laws, which action was approved by
the President. The majority of those officers
--Brigadier- Generals Crook, Ruger. Gibbon and
Z Merritt, and Colonies Anderson, Swain and
Brackett-in their responses expressed the
opinion that the present pension laws are
amply sufficient for every emergency, and
nearly all were Of the opinion that a rigid
physical examination should be conducted at
discharge, which should be certified to by a
council convened for the purpose, and m ade a
part of the military history OF each soldier the
Government being thereby protected from
fraudulent claims.
IA new feature of the report is the discussion
OF special pension acts and their relation to the
administration OF the general pension laws
Is shows the various stages through which q
spec al act passes from its receipt at the Elk
ecutive Mansion to the issue of certificates. In
addition, a table is furnished showing the total
number of special pension acts which have be
come laws as follows:
1851 to 1885, 81 nincolul
1865 to 1868, 431 (Johnson).
1903 TO 1851, 99O (lIFanJ).
1877 to 1881, 303 (Hayes).
1881 to 1885, 736 Garfield and Arthur.
1885 to 1888, 1859 (Cleveland).
Total, 1870. ~
OF the 1859 special acts passed during the
Cleveland Administration 1871 were vetoed fol
reasons fully set forth in the Presidents mes
sages made public from time to time. In the
fiscal years from July ], 1882. to June 30, 1885,
there were issued 91,221 certificates OF all
classes, and during the three following fiscal
years from July /, 1885, to June co. 1883, $50, 537
making an increase for the last three years OF
,316 certificates.
Millions Disposed Of
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3d. Charles
Crocker's will appoints the widow as exec
utrix and disposes of an estate worth
something over $25, 250, 600, as follows
Real estate, 50, 500, 900; stocks and bonds
s12 000, 900; accounts, 81, 500 900; promissory
notes, S. 800, 900; cash, $780, half OF
which goes to the widow, inclu aing the
residences in San Francisco anc Sacra
mento, and the other half is divided among
the three sons and one daughter, with pro
vision for other relatives and for family