The Colfax chronicle., 1888-10-27
THE SOLDIERS FRIENDS.
Interesting Facts Cleaned from the Latest
Pension Bureau Reports.

Pension Bureau Reports.
1t used to be the charge of Repub-
lican oracles and stump speakers for
many years previous to the accession
Of the Democratic party to power that
whenever the Republicans were driven
from National control the soldiers
who fought to preserve the Union
would fare badly at the hands OF the
opposition. and that there would be
great danger in that case of pensions
being entirely done away with. The
Republican party cry has always been:
"Take care of the soldier but when
II came to pensioning. the deserving
cases were left many PAGES to the rear.
The records are exceedingly interest
ing in this regard. The Democratic
party has been in power a period COW
ering more than three years. During
that time the Nation has prospered.
Its industries have not Jagged and the
civil service has been vastly improved
in character. Now, as to the pensions
to soldiers, their widows, orphans and
relatives, the reports OF the Pension
Bureau for the fiscal years Of 1888, 'S4
and '85 show that during this period
1O8. .12l original. 79,24S increase and
1852 miscellaneous certificates were
issued. Total claims admitted, 191,-
221. That was during the last three
years OF Republican rule. The three
years of Democratic rule show that a
total Of 1855, ,226 original, 1871 in
crease and 22,O55 miscellaneous cer-
tificates were issued, making total Of
$50, ,4m. The reports for 1886 and
1887 OF Commissioner Black are out,
but that for 1888 has not yet been
issued. Thus u will be seen that dur
ing three years of Democratic rule
l68, ,231 more certificates for pensions
were issued than in the three preced-
ing years, which were of Republican
rule The net increase on the pension
rolls during the Republican years o.
1883, 1884 and 1885 was SO, 428; the net
increase during the Democratic years
OF 1856. 1887 and 1888 was 104.S75; ex
cess over Republican in increase dur
ing three years, As, AT.
Coming to the amount OF money dis
tributed as pensions, the records show
that during the fiscal years Of 1888
1884 and 1885, $1SS, 500. 1861 was dis
bursed. This was under Republican
rule. During the fiscal years 1886
1887 and 1888, $217, 1870, 1880 was dis
tributed on account of pensions. Thu
three years of Democratic rule gave b
disabled soldiers, the widows, orphan
and relatives Of soldiers, $S4, 600, ,541.0
more than was given during the las
three years Of Republican rule, whs
great friendliness to the soldier wa
almost the entire stock in trade Of tn
G. O. p.
The number Of new names added t
; the pension rolls during the fiscal year
1883, 1884 and 1885 was 108, 121. Thes
include. however, 1896 new name
added to the rolls by General B!ac
from March II. 1886, the day on whic
he assumed charge of the Pensio
Bureau. TO June so, 1885. During th
fiscal years 1885. 1887 and 1888, 156
226 new names were added to the pei
sion rolls. II there should be added
this l56, 926. the names of the 1886
new pensioners added to the rolls b
General Black during the last thrt
months and . half of the year 1885,
makes total Of 172,1S2 new nam
added to the pension rolls since Gene
u Black assumed charge of the Pei
sion Bureau. Giving the Republics
Administration the benefit OF the II
COS new names added to the rolls du
ing the last three and half months
The iiscal year 1885, during which tin
tha P0sion Bureau was under Dem