St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-20
His Loyalty as President to
the Brave Soldiers of
the War.
More Pensions Granted Than
Ever Before by This Faith
full Man.
The Official Records Bear
Grand Testimony to His
Work.
No Cause for Complaint on
the Part Of the Boys in
Blue.

For years prior to the accession of the
Democratic party to national power,
one OF the stack arguments of the Re-
publican press and speakers in every
campaign was that should the Demo-
cratic party be entrusted with the ad-
ministration of national affairs, the in
terests of union soldiers in the matter
OF pensions would be seriously jeopar-
died. Well, the Democratic party has
now been in power for more than three
years and what do the official records .,
show has been done in the way of pen.
slonS for union soldiers, their widows.
orphans and dependent relatives? Let
US see. Let us compare the new with the
| old. as shown by the official records of
| the pension bureau.
The annual reports of the commits.
sloner of pensions for the fiscal years
1855, 1854 and 1885 show that during
these years los, 12l original, 79,24S in.
| crease and 1852 miscellaneous certifi.
Gates were issued. Total claims ad.
mitted during the last three years OF
Republican rule, 1921.
Inc annual reports of the commits.
sioner of pensions for the fiscal years
1886 and 1887, and the records of the
| pension bureau for the fiscal year 1883
Vhe annual report of the commissioner
Tor the last year not having yet been
made), show that during those three
years 156,226 original, 1S1, ,173 increase
and 22,055 miscellaneous certificates
were issued. Total claims admitted
during the first three years of Demo
cratic rule, 359, ,452.
Excess of certificates issued by the
| Democrats, 16S,231.
Net increase to pension rolls: The
net Increase to the pension rolls during
the fiscal years 1888, 1854 and 1885 was
59,42S. The
NET INCREASE
to the pension rolls during the fiscal
years 1856, 1887 and 1888 was 4,S75.
Excess of net increase under Demo-
Gratis, 45, AT.
Funds disbursed: During the fiscal
years 1888, 1884 and 1885 SIS3. 399, ,216.3l
was diSbursed on account of pensions.
During the fiscal years 1856, 1887 and
lSSS S2l7, ,399, 1880 was diSburSed on ac-
count OF pensions.
Excess Of disbursements by Demo-
Gratis. S34, 600. 81 .01.
New names added to pension rolls:
During the fiscal years 1888, 1884 and
1885 los, 12l new names were added to
the rolls. This includes, however, the
names of 1896 new names added to the
rolls by Gen. Black from March
IL, 1ooo, lne udy on WHICH he
assumed charge Of the pension bureau
to June 80, 1885. During the fiscal
years of 1856, 1887 and 1888 156, ,226 new
| names were added to the pension rolls.
If we add to this 156, ,226 the names of
the 1906 new pensioners added to the
rolls by Gen. Black during the last
three and one-half months of the fiscal
year 1885 it makes total of 172, 132 new
names added to the pension rolls since
laG al, AffI fI,a
sion bureau. Giving the Republican
administration the benefit of the 1906
new names added to the rolls during
the last three and One-half months of
the fiscal year 1885, during which time
the pension bureau was under Demo-
cratic control, we find that the excess
| of new names added to the rolls by the
Democratic administration during its
| first three years exceeds those added to
the rolls during the last years of Re-
! publican administration by 4S, ,105.
General Pension ActS-Now, let us
see what the official records show has
been done by President Cleveland in
his official capacity for ex-Union sol
| diers, their widows, orphans and de-
! pendent relatives since his inaugura-
tion OH the 4th of March, 1885.
| Widows Increase-He approved the
act of March 10, 1886, which has in
creased to S12 per month the pensions
of 102,56S widows, minors and depend
ent relatives of of Union soldiers. The
total annual increase in money granted
| to these 102, ,56S pensioners by reason of
his approval of said act is 81, ,923, 264.
InvalidS' PenSiOnS-He approved the
act of August 4, 1856, which has in
creased the pensions of 1902 crippled
and MANNED
UNION SOLDIERS
| of the late war from S24 to $50, from $50
| to $40, and $50 and $3.50 to S45 per
month. The average increases in these
cases is estimated to be 50 per month or
| S10S per year, and the total annual in
crease in money granted to these 10.O92
pensioners by reason of his approval of
said act of Aug. 4. 1886, is therefore
| s, ,OS9. 1886. Mexican War Pensions
He approved the act of Jan. 80, 1887,
which has placed on the pension rolls
21,704 survivors and widows of the war
with Mexico at 50 per month, or 500 per
| year. The annual amount in money
which these 2l,704 Mexican pensioners
| will receive by reason of his approval of
said act is 81. .0S3, ,5S4.
Widows Arrears-He approved the
act of June Z, 1888, granting arrears of
| pensions to widows from the date of
| their husbands death in all cases filed
| subsequent to June 80, 1880. All those
| filed prior to July 1, 1880, were entitled
from date of death of husband. under
| the Arrears Laws of 1879; provided. of
course, they establish their right to such
pension. The approval of this act of
June Z, 1888, will Immediately affect
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
Qctj IN Of
each case, making total Of 81. .0SO. 900.
and the allowances of widows cases
which have been filed since June 30
1880, during the present fiscal year will
probably increase the amount paid to
such pensioners during the present
fiscal year to over 81, 100000.
SO it will be seen that since the in
auguration of President Cleveland he
has approved general pension acts
which directly and pecuniarily benefit
some 144,364 eX-Union and Mexican
soldiers, their widows, orphans and de-
pendent relatives. and that the money
value of this behefit will be over s9. .OO0'-
000 per annum.
Private Pension Acts-Since the in
auguratiOn of President Cleveland he
has approved, or allowed to become laws
by limitation, over 1000 private acts
granting pensions, while but 1924 pri-
Vate pension acts were approved, or al
lowed
TO BECOME LAWS
by limitation during the entire twenty
four years that the Republican parfv
was in power. There is little doubt
that before the present congress adj
lourns he will have approved or allowed