The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-19
PENSIONS rOR ALL.
The Commissioner Favors Pensioning
Every Union Soldier.

Every Union Sofufef%
WAsHIseTos, Oct. 1s.-The annual re-
port for the fiscal year OF 1sss-'s9 of the
commissioner of pensions shows there
were at the close OF the year $50 729 PEN
sioners- There were added to the rolls
during the year named. $40 new pension
ersr il.75i were restord to the rolls and i6 :
507 dropped from the rolls for various
causes. The amount paid for pensions
during the past year was sss.275.il3. The
amount paid as fees to attorneys was 81 3,1S-
5s3. Since 1851 there have been filed l. 2ss.-
il6 pension claims of which .S9, l2l have
been allowed. the amount disbursed on
occount of pensions since 1861 being $685.
2ls,4i3. During the past fiscal year las, ,22as
certificates were issued. 81 sol beng
originals. At the close of the year there
were pending unailowed $4,000 claims of
all classes.
The commissioner recommended that
congress he asked To amend the act of
June Il, 1874, so as to extend the benefit of
all pension laws 10 all the pensioners whose
pensions have been granted by special acts
subsequent to said date, and that the pen
sions OF soldiers who died from causes
originating in the service prior to 1861,
during the time OF peace. He further
recommends that the act of March 5 1877,
be amended to grant pension To those
who. having participated in the rebellion,
subsequently enlisted in the army or navy
of the United States, and were disabled
there.
The commissioner recon- mends new iegis-
lation to reciify the inequalities in the rates,
and cites instances TO show the unfairness
in the rules now provided 10y law. He
thinks the statutes should be amended so
as to permit a rate OF $40 per month and
that it be proportionateiy divided for all
disabilities shown to have been made in the
line OF duty. The injustice and unfairness
caused by the law of June Is, isso, limiting
the right of pensioners TO receive So per
month TO those who were receiving SO per
month at the date of the law, should be
corrected No provision is made for grad
ing this rate for persons totally helpless on
that date. but not receiving $50 at the time,
and none for those who have become totally
helpless since that date.
The commissioner proposes TO pension
all soldiers who were disabled. On tiHs
point he says; AS the war period recedes
from US and age and its attendant infirmi-
ties are inflicted on Us there j. serioas
question whether the government does the
soldier justice in limiting the application
of pension laws 10 those disabilities only
which were contracted IN the service.
earnestly recommend that pension be
granted every houoraoiy discharged soldier
and sailor who IS now or who may here
after become disabled, and withou. regard
Ia whether such disability is chargable to
the service Of the United States or has been
CONTRACTED since his discharge therefrom. y
The Commissioner calls attention To what
he believes 10 be manlfestiy sufficient
sum Of 50 per month granted by the act OF
lsSss 10 widows for the care and support of
minor children under is years of are. The
commissioner also favors pensions for
army nurses and makes an earnest plea in
iheir behalf.