The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
PENSIONS FOR VETERANS.
Commissioner Black Submits
His Annual Report.
Over Sixty Thousand New Names
Added to the Rolls.

The annual report of Pension Commissioner
Black, which has just been issued, shows
that during the fiscal year ended June ~,
lSSS, there were added to tho pension rolls
6O, ,252 new names tthe largest annual increase
in the history of the bureau,, making a total
of 452, 557 pensioners on the rolls at the close
of the year, classified as follows: 800, ,S35 lit
yalds, 92,92S widows, minor children and de-
pendent relatives, 81 Revolutionary widows,
SUI survivors of the War Of 1872, 1U,7S7
widows of those who served in that war,
16O60 survivors of the war with Mexico and
5lO4 widows of those who served in that war.
The names of 20eS previously dropped were
restored to the rolls, making an aggregate OF
G2, $50 pensioners added during the year:
During the same period 1870 were dropped
from the rolls Oh account Of death and various
other causes. leaving net increase to the
rolls of 46, $50 names.
Since 1851, l,166, ,926 pension claims have
been filed and 737, 200 claims Of all classes
have been allowed since that date. The
amount paid for pensions since 1851 has been
sy63 OSt, ,444. Increase Of pensions was
granted in 45,716 cases. The average annual
value of a pension at the close Of the year was
Sl2530, a decrease of 81. 81. The decrease IN
average annual value is due to the fact that a
large number of Mexican war pensioners at
the rate of S. per month, which is below the
average rata, was added to the rolls during
the year and Furthermore, that the death
rate among high grade pensioners was
greater than among pensioners OF low rate.
The average annual aggregate of pensions is
Sh6, 7O7, ,220, an increase of S., ,SS2,5
The amount of pensions paid during the
year was S7S, IT'S, ,S6l, an increase OF 5,3oS,
$50 The total amount disbursed by pension
agents for all purposes was sly, ,646, l46. The
cost attending such disbursements was IN the
AGGREGATE S3,26S 524, it being fraction less
than per cent of the total expenditure OF
the bureau. The total amount expended for
all purposes was SS2, 2,U3s, 1885, SO, being 2lH
per cent. of the total estimated gross income
of the United States Government Tor the
period. The total expenditures OF the Govern
ment for the fiscal year 1855 were $267 924,.
SOL, so that the amount expended for and on
account of pensions was nearly 81 per cent: OF
the entire outlay of the Government.
The average duration Of the lives OF PEN
sioners is siXty-seven years. The average
length of time served in the army by those
who are receiving pensions on account or the
later war is more than two years.
There were filed during the year Al, $40 aP-
plications for original pensions-ll. ISO wld
ows, 27S5 minors, 2i46 dependent mothers,
and 1858 dependent fathers-maklng total
Of 65,704.
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 was received.
Up to June 30 last 26, 6,5S1 claims were filed
under the Mexican Pension Act, 10, 7SS being
survivors and 6793 widows. All completed
cases of this classic, ,529 survivors and 5l95
widow cases-have been allowed. The TeJec.
tions were 1921 survivors and COL willows
Claims, mainly because the applicants had
not arrived at the required age Of sixty two
wears Forty.three of these applications
were consolidated with claims already filed
under other laws. OF these Mexican claims
but 1892 were unsettled on June 80, the evi
dence filed being insufficient.
Over eighty-fve per cent. OF oil pension
ers are paid by pension agents WITHIN ten
days after the quarterly payment is due:
One hundred thousand cases of increase OF
pension under recent legislation have been
Settled without expense or delay to the PEN
sioners.
A table is furnished showing the total num-
ber of special pension acts which have be-
come laws since 1861, as follows: 1861 to
1865, Al (Lincolnl; 1865 to 1869, 43l John
son); 1869 to 1877, 490 Grant; 1877 to 1881,
3O3 (Hayes); 1881 to 1885, 1856 (Gardeld) and
Arthur; total, 200l, 1885 to 1888 1859 (Cleve-
land) Grand total, 1870.
In the fiscal years from July !, 1852, to
June 80, 1885. there were issued 19l, ,22l GER
tificates Of all classes, and during the three
following fiscal years 359, ,537, making an in
erase for the last three years OF l6S,ol6 GER
tifcates.