Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-09-05
PENSION FACTS.

Those Republicans who insist on
misrepresenting the Democratic admin
istration on the work it has done in the
matter of adjusting pensions, should
read the report of the commissioner of
pensions, just published. 1t shows that
there were, during the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1888, added to the pension
rolls 80, 252 new names, the largest an
nual increase in the history of the bu-
reau, making total of 452 ,557 pension
ers Oh the rolls at the close of the year,
as follows: Three hundred and twenty
six thousand eight hundred and thirty
five iuyalids; 92,92S widows, minors
children and dependent relatives; 81
revolutionary widows, minor children
and dependent relatives; SOC survivors
of the war of 1912; l0,7S7 widows of
those who served in that war; 1900
survivors of the war with Mexico, and
5lO4 widows of those who. served in
that war. The names of 2,02S previous
~ dropped were restored TO the rolls,
making an aggregate of $3.50 added
during the year. During the same per-
Tod 10, 100 were dropped from the rolls
on account of death and various other
causes, leaving a net increase to the
rolls of 46 $50 names; l,l66,926 pension
claims have been filed since 1861 and
737 200 claims of all classes have been
allowed since that date.
The amount paid for pensions since
1861 has been S963, OS6, IA. Increase of
pension was granted in 1919 cases.
The aggregate annual value of pensions
is S56, 707 ,22l, an increase of S3,SS2, $40.
the amount of pensions paid during
the year was S7S,775, 1852, an increase
over the previous year of S5,3OS, $50.
The total amount disbursed by pension
agents for all purposes was S79,646. l46.
The total amount expended for all
purposes was So, OBS, 1856, being 2li per
cent. of the total estimated gross in
come of the United States government
for the period. The total expenditures
1883 were S267 ,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. There
were filed during the year AZ $40 appli-
cations for original pensions; l1,7S9
widows, 2,446 dependent mothers and
1888 dependent fathers, making a total
of 65 7O4.
Over So per cent. of all pensioners are
paid by the pension agents within ten
days after the quarterly payment is due,
and payments cannot be made more
rapidly without multiplying the agen-
cies; 1904 cases of increase of pension
under recent legislation have been set
tied without expense or delay to the
pensioners. The Commissioner states
that he sent copies of this annual re-
port for 1858 10 the commanders of the
various military departments of the
United States with "A request that after
examination they would submit sug-
gestions looking to Improvements in
existing laws, which action was earn
estly approved by the President. a
majority Of these officers expressed
the opinion that the present pension
laws are amply sufficient for every
emergency, and nearly all were Of the
/ b;,,'nion that rigid physical eXamina-
ton sbouId M: conducted at discharge,
which shonld be certitie,. W coun'
Gil convention for the purpose anu =. ~'''ue
apart of the military record of each sol
der.
The total number of special pension
acts which have become laws from 1861
to 1885 Is 2,00l, and from 1885 to lSSS.
during the present administration, 1863,
a total of 1870. OF the latter l9l were
vetoed for reasons fully set forth in the
Presidents message made public from
time to time. In fiscal years from July
1, 1882, to June 30. 1885, there were is
sued l9l 81 certificates of all classes,
and during the three following fiscal
years from July 1, 1885, to June 80, 1855.
359, 537, making an increase for the last
three years OF l6S,3l6 certificates.