River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-06
A GRATEFUL REPUBLIC.
What Uncle sam Is Doing for Those Who
Came to HIS Aid In the Time of Need
Report of Pension Commissioner Black.

What Uncle Sam Is Doing for Those who
Came to HIS Aid In the Time of Need
Report of Pension Commissioner BLACK.
WAsHINeroN, Aug. s0-The annual re-
port Of Pension Commissioner Black shows
that during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1SSS, there were added to the pension rolls
60,325 new names che largest annual in-
crease in the history of the bureaul, max
ing total Of 49,. So pensioners on the
rolls at the close Of the year, classified as
follows:
Invalids. ss0Ss5; widows, minor childrea and
ssTendcnt relatives, o. 9ss; revolutionary wid-
oWs, 81; survivors Of the war OF 1872 SO; wld.
ows d those who served in tlat war, l07S7.
survivors Of the war with Mexico, 10000; Wild
ows o. those who served in that war, s. l0l.
The names of > o2s previously dropped
were restored % the rolls. making an ag-
grega e Of G. 80 pensioners added during
the year. During the same period, Is, $50
Wee dropped from the rolls on account Of
death and various other causes, leaving "A
net increase to the rolls of 40 $50 names.
One million, one hundred and sixty six
thousand, nine hundred and TWEEN
ty-six pension claims have been
filed since 1851 and 1920 claims
of all classes have been allowed since
that date. The amount paid for pc siOns
since 1851 has been S963. OS6 AZ Increase
Of pension was granted in 1916 cases.
The average annual value OF a pension at
the close of the year was Sl25 80 de
crease of 81 %. The decrease in average
annual value is due to the
fact that large number Of
Mexican war pensioners at the
rat ~ saifv a "a
below the average rate, was added TO the
rolls during the year, and furthermore
chat the death rate among the high
grade pensioners was greater than
among pensioners Of lower rate. The ag-
gregate annual value of pensions is S56
1O1,22O an increase Of S3,SS2, $40.
The amount of pensions paid
during the year was SIS, ia, Sol, an
increase over the previous year Of S5,30s,-
2S0. The total amount dsbursed by pen
sion agents for all purposes was S1g, CO.
l46 The cost attending such dlsburse-
ments were in the aggregate =, 2do, 525, it
being fraction less than per cent Of the
total expenditures of the bureau. The to
tai amount expended for all purposes was
$s2, OBS 1856 80, being p per cent of the total
estimated gross income OF the United
States Government for the period. The
total expenditures of the Government for
the fiscal year 1883 were S267 y94, sol, so
that the amount expended for and on ac-
count of pensions was nearly 81 per cent.
Of the entire outlay of the Government.
There were filed during the year A., $40
applications for original pensions; IL, 7S9
widows, ass minors, 2,446 dependent
mothers, and !, SS3 dependent fathers, maxi
ing total of g. 704. The highest number
of claims on account Of the late war was
received from Ohio; Indiana followed next;
then New York and Pennsylvania; and
from Montana, Utah and South Carolina
none were received.
The average duration Of the lives of PEN
sioners is 81 years; the average length of
time served in the army by those who are
receiving pensions on account Of the late
war is more than two years.
The report continues;
up TO June 30 last, % 5s1 claims were filed
under the Mexican PENSION act, l9,7SS being
survivors, and G193 widows. All completed
cases ot ia class. 1883 survivors and ;. 1875
widow cases. have been allowed. The reflections
were ,32l Survivors and Gil widows claims,
mainly because the appl cants had not arrived
at the required age Of O. years; - Of these APP
plicattons were consolidated with claims al
ready filed under other laws. OF these Mex
can claims but ,S92 were unsettled on the
fcent.
The law division has submitted 10 cases to
the Department OF Justice for prosecution
20 for cffensC by attorneys and 10 for onenses
by other pc sons. OF this number six have
been acquitted and four ignored by grand
Juries, leaving lG0 ava ting tr al The spirit Of
the bureau is no comprom Sc with those who
w.lfully violate the Pension law, and no prose-
cution Of those who sinned through ignorance
and who are willing TO make restitution when
the same is demanded Of them
Fifteen thousand three hundred and thirty
dollars OF illegal fees have been recovered and
refunded TO the pensioners interested.
by the operations OF the medical division
the number OF rates has been decreased from
i5l to l03 The highest rate pad under the
general law was S72 per month; the lowest was
So per month. Allowances by special acts OF
Congress range from so to s4l6.66 per month.
Over 81 per cent OF all pensioners are p aid by
the pension agents within ten days after the
quarterly payment IS due, and payments can
not be m tde more rapidly without multiplying
the agencies. One hundred thousand cases OF
nereas3 OF pension under recent legislation
have b zen settled without expense or delay to
the pensioners.
COPIES OF the annual report for 1887 were
sent to the commanders of the various mill
tary departments OF the United States with a
request that after examination they would sub
N Z suggestions LOOKING 10 fIONtutnNH IN
existing laws, which action was approved by
the President The majority OF those officers
-Brigadier-C Generals Crook, Ruger, GibbOn and
Merritt, and Coiouels Anderson, Swan and
Brackett-in their responses expressed tho
opinion that tbs present pension laws are
amply suffic emit for every emerg ency, and
nearly all wee OF the opinion that a rigid
ply steal examination should be conducted at
discharge, which should be Ger ined 10 BY
council convened for the purposs, aud made
part OF the military history Of eae soldier, the
Government be ug thereby protected from
fraudulent claims.
"a new feature Of the report is the dis cussion
OF special pension acts and their relation to the
administration OF the general pension laws.
Is shows the various stages through which a
spec al act passes from its receipt at the Elk 70
ecutive Nansio0 to the issue OF certificates. In
addition, table is furnished showing the total
uumDer Of special pension acts which have be-
come laws as follows:
1851 20 1875, II G.incolnl.
1865 to 1861, 49, Johnson.
1869 to 1887, 400 Grant.
1877 to 1851. BOB Hayes.
1881 . ISIS. 30 Garfield and Arthur.
1855 10 1888. 1919 Cleveland.
fetal, $50
OF the 1859 special acts passed during the
I Cleveland Administration l9i were vetoed for
/ reasons fully set forth in the Presidents mes
/ sazes made public from time 70 time. In the
fiscal years from July ], 1882, to June -, 1888.
[ there were issued 1gl,23i certificates OF all
classes, and during the three following fiscal
years from July I, 1885 70 June 20 ISIS SJ0,o31,
7 I9s3l5 certificates.
Millions Disposed OF
! SAN Francisco. Aug. 30. - Charles
/ Crockers will appoints the widow as exec
/ utr,x and disposes Of an estate worth