The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-10-24
UNCLE SANS PENSIONERS.

what It Costs to Support wounded Vet
orsns-Extracts from Commiss5snsr Tan.
ner's Report Before His Connsctlsa viz,
tho Administration Ceased.
WASHINGTON, Oct lathe annual renor1
tor the fiscal year 1850 Of the Commia-
sioner Of Pensions has been submitted n
the Secretary Of the Interior and ID now tn
the hands Of the Public Printer. Tho fol-
lowing summary of the report will lh0N,
the more important details Of the work al
the Bureau Of Pensions during said fiscal
year:
There were at the close Of the year 40. 7nq
pensioners There were added to the rolls dur
ing the year the names Of 81. Oh new pensioners
and the names OF 1854, whose pensions have
been previously dropped. were restored TO the
rolls, making an aggregate ofsb3,675 pensioners
added during the year. There were 165O7 pen
sioners dropped from the rolls for various
causes, leaving net increase to the rolls Of 81.
16S names. ~ !,
Tho average annual value Of each pension a,
tho close Of the year Is shown to have been
e131.la The aggregate annual value OF non.
sions is s64, 2as, 5ba.3d. "a
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was tS8, 275, 1899 The total amount dir
bursed BY the agents for ell purposes was go.
l31 ,06s.44. s H.. r.
Amount paid rs fees to attorneys, b, 363 $50 A.
There was disbursement of el4,6l57 = for the
payment OF arrears Of pensions in cases where
the original pension was granted prior to Janu.
ary 3, 1872 and the date Of commencement III
pension was subsequent to discharge or death.
In the aggre gate !, 248, l46 pension claims have
been 1led since 1851, and In tho same period
799, l21 have been allowed.
The amount disbursed on account Of pensions
since 1851 has been 81, O62 2l84 l3.l7 -
The issue Of certificates during the yeSlx
shows grand total of 145,2299& OF this number
81 ,0gl were 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 6, 1874, so as to extend tho ben.
eft Of nil pension laws a. 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 who died from
causes originating in tho service prior to
March 4, 1861, during the time of peace
He further recommends as did his prede-
cessor, that the act OF March 8. 1877,
bo amended SO a. to grant pensions
to those who, having partici-
pated in the rebellion against the
United States, subsequently, enlisted In the
navy and were disabled therein. The act
referred to confines its operations to those
only who, under the Same conditions, en-
listed In the army of the United StateeL
The commissioner asks attention to the
fact that tho act Of August Z, 1852. which
terminates the pension OF q widow be-
cause Of immortality, makes no provision
for continuing the pension to the minor
children OF the soldier when tho widows
pension is terminated He asks that Con-
gress be requested to correct this palpable
injustice.
The Commissioner is also OF tho opinion
that the act OF Congress approved Feb
ruary IL, lSS9. providing rate Of 500 for
tho loss of both hands unjustly discrim-
mates against those pensioners who have
lest 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, It he leaves no widow, then to his minor
children, without regard to wle her or not
his death was due to any cause incident to
the service and line of duty
The Cornni sioner favors granting pen
sions to all soldiers who are disabled He
says:
AS tho war period rccedes from US and age
and It's attendant infirmities afflict the veteran
who served his country faithfully and well 4
quarter OF century ago it is q 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. I earnestly recommend that a
pension be granted to every honorably dis
charged soldier and sailor who Is now or who
hereafter hnonYno lo1 vr{t
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 pension
for army nurses and makes An earnest al
peal in their behalf