The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-08-31
PENSION STATISTICS.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-The annual
report Of Pension Commissioner Black
shows that during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1888, there were added to the
pension roll 60, 252 names, the largest
annual increase in the history of the
bureau, making total of 452, 551 pen
sioners on the rolls at the close of the
year, classified as follows: S26, 1885 in
validS; 92,92S widows, minor children
and dependent relatives; 81 revolution
airy widows; SO6 survivors of the war of
Sl2; 10, IS7 widows of those who served
in that war; l6, $50 survivors of the war
with Mexico, and 3, 104 widows of those
who served in that war. The names of
s,U2S previously dropped were restored
TO the rolls, making an aggregate Of
o., $50 pensioners added during the year.
During the same period 10, $50 We're
dropped from the rolls on account of
death and various other causes.
Pension claims shave been filed since
1861 to the number of /, l66, 927, and
737 200 claims of all classes have been al
lowed sincG that date. The amount paid
444. Increase of pension was granted in
1916 cases. The average annual value
of a pension at the close of the year was
$l25.30. The aggregate annual value of
pensions is S56, 7U1, 20, an increase of
81, SS2, 5I9. The amount of pensions paid
during the year was SIS, 715, SCI, an in
crease over the previous year of So, 30S, =
$50 The average duration of the lives
of pensioners is 81 years; the average
length OF time served in the army by
those Who are receiving pensions on &C
count of the late war, is more than two
years.
There were filed during the year 4S7,
$40 applications for original pension;
IL, 7SS widows; ANS minors; ., 446 de-
pendent mothers, and / 1888 dependent
fathers-making a total of sos, 704. The
highest number OF claims on account OF
the late war was received from Ohio; In
diana followed next, then New York and
Pennsylvania, and from Montana, Utah
| and South Carolina none were received.
Up to June 80 last, 20, 5Sl claims were
| filed under the Mexican pension act,
| Is, 7SS being survivors and q, 1913 widows.
All completed cases of this class 16, 52S
survivors and 5,195 widow cases have
been allowed.
The work of the boards of review and
re-review is prac tically up to date. The
| army and navy survivors division has
| completed its roster OF medical officers OF
| the late war, containing the names and
service ana postoffice address of over
| 10000 volunteer army surgeons, a record
| which is invaluable in enabling claim
ants to obtain the necessary evidence
| The prisoner of war records and field and
| general hospital records are also well ad.
vanced. Over 80 per cent. of all pen
sioners are paid by the pension agents
within ten days after the quarterly pay.
ment is due and payments cannot be
paid 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
A table is furnished showing the total
number of special pension acts which
have became laws since 1861, as follows:
From 1851 to 1855, Al, Lincoln; from
1865 to 1869, 43l, johnson; from 1869 to
| 1877, 400, Grant; from 1877 to 1881, 303,
Hayes; from 1881 to 1885, 1856, Garfield
and Arthur; total, 2001; from 1885 to
1883, 1869, Cleveland; grand total, 8, $40.
1t appears that while during President
Cleveland's administration 1860 special
acts became laws, 191 were vetoed. In
this connection it may be interesting to
state that in the fiscal years from July
l, 1882, to June 30, 1855, there were
issued 81, 221 certificates of all classes,
and during the three following fiscal
years from July l, 1885, to June 30,
1888, 359, 537, making an increase for the
last three years of 16S, 1916 certificates.