River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-24
UNCLE SANS PENSIONERS.
What IL Costs TO support Wounded Vet
erans-Extracts from Commits siOner Tam
ner's Report Before His Connection with
the Administration Ceaseh


What 1t Costs TO support Wounded Vet
erans-Extracts from Commits sioner Tam
ner's Report Before His Connection with
the Administration Ceased.
WASHINGTON, Oct 10 The annual report
for the fiscal year lSSS-s9 OF the Commits
siOner OF Pensions has been submitted 20
the Secretary OF the Interior and Is now in
the hands of the Public Printer. The fol-
lowing summary of the report will show
the more important details of the work OF
the Bureau of Pensions during said fiscal
year:
There were at the close of the year 4s9,729
pensioners. There were added 10 the rolls dur
ing the year the names OF 81, 1921 new pensioners,
and the names Of l,554 whose pensions have
been previously dropped. were restored to the
rolls, making an aggregate OF 53.675 pensioners
added during the year. There were f6507 pen
sioners dropped from the rolls Tor various
causes, leaving net increase TO the rolls Of 81,
les names.
the close OF the year is shown 10 have been
sI3l.iS. The aggregate annual value of pen.
sions Is sgf $3.50
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was SSS,255, 113.2S The total amount dis
bursed by the agents for all purposes " $50
l31 96o.4i.
Amount paid as fees 10 attorneys, 81, 3o3, 5S347.
There was disburso ment OF Sl4,5l5 ~ for the
payment Of arrears Of pensions in cases where
the original pension was granted prior TO Janu-
airy %, 1879 and the date OF commencement Of
pension was subsequent to discharge or death.
In the aggre gate 1913 i46 pension claims have
been filed since 1861, and in the same period
$50 12i have been allowed
The amount disbursed on account OF pensions
since 1861 has been 81 .o52 2lS,41317.
1ne issue OF certificates during the year
shows grand total OF 1459as. OF this number
5l.Q2l we're original certificates.
The report shows that at the close of the
year there were pending and unallowed
479, 600 claims of all classes
Commissioner Tanner recommends that
Congress be asked to amend the act of
June 9, 1874 so as to extend the ben
eft of all pension laws as TO rates
to all pensioners whose pensions have
been granted by special acts passed
subsequent TO said date, and that
the benefit of pensions be granted to
the widows of soldiers VINO died from
causes originating in the service prior to
March T. 1861, during the time of peace,
He further recommends, as did his prede
eessor, that the act of March 3, 1871
be amended so as to grant pensions
to those who, having partici-
pated in the rebellion against the
United States. subsequently, enlisted In the
nav ana were NlisdDA1u therein. Inc OCb
referred to confines its operations to those
only VINO under the same conditions, en-
listed in the army Of the United States
The commissioner asks attention to the
fact that the act of August Z, 1852, which
te, inmates the pension of a widow be-
cause OF immortality, makes no provision
for continuing the pension to the minor
children OF the soldier when the widows
pension is terminated He asks that Con-
gress be requested TO correct this palpable
injustice.
The Commissioner is also of the opinion
that the act OF Congress approved Feb
ruary IL 1889 providing rate OF 500 for
the loss of both hands unjustly discrim-
mates against those pensioners who have
lost both feet or the sight OF both eyes
The Commissioner earnestly recommends
that whenever an invalid pensiOner dies
the usual pension be granted to his widow.
or, II he leaves no widow then TO his minor
children, without regard to whe her or not
his death was due to any cause incident to
the service and line of duty.
The Commi sioner favors granting PEN
sions to all soldiers who arc disabled He
saws:
AS the war period recedes from US and az,
and its attendant infirmities aflict the veteran
who served HIS country faithfully and well %
quarter OF a century ago 1t is a serious question
whether the Government does him jus.
tice in limiting the application Of The
pension laws to those disabilities only
which were contracted in the service and
line Of duty. | earnestly recommend that
pension be granted TO every honorably dis
charged soldier and sailor who is now or who
may hereafter become disabled. without re-
gard to whether such disability is chargeable
to the service OF the United States or has been
contracted since discharge therefrom.
The Commissioner also favors a pension
for army nurses and makes an earnest APP
peal in their behalf