Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-24
VOL. VIII. NO. 4.
The PENSION BUREAU.

The PENSION BUREAU.
Report of the Commissioner Of Pensions
Numbor of Pensioners, Cases on File and
tho Amount Paid Various Recommends
atlons
WAsHIsoroN, Oct 20 Tho annual re-
port for tb0 Bscal year leSB,e0 Of the Com
missioner ofPensons has hses s.. ,;,stv,:
to the Secretary Of the Interior aud Is
now in the hands Of the Public Printer
The following summary of tho report
viii show the more important details OF
me work ef the bureau Of pensions during
said fiscal year.
There were at the close OF the year la9,-
i3O pensioners There were added 10 the
rolls during Tho year tho names Of 5l.92l
new pensioners and the names Of / ,75i,
whose pensions had been previously
dropped, were restored 10 the rolls, max.
INK an aggregate 4 6J GJ5 pensioners
added du Ing the year. Fully 1862 PEN
sionefs we're dropped from tho rolls for
various cases, leaving not increase 10
the rolls Of 81, lCa
The average annual value Of each pen-
sion at the ciosc Of the year is shown to
have been Sl5LlS The aggregate annual
value of pensions is sGi, 2i6 552 20 The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was sSs, 275, llJ % The total amount dis.
bnrsed by the agents for All purposes was
$50, l3l, 06S a, The amount paid as fees 10
attorneys was Sl,3G3 5s3i7.
There was disbursement Of Sil,5l5 72
Tor the payment Of arrears OF pensions in
cases whore the original pension was
granted prior to January %, 1919 and tho
dale of commencement Of pension was
subs' qnent to discharge OF death.
In the aggregate 1924, ,l4G pension
claims have been ed since 1861, and in
the same period 7s9 III have been allowed.
The amount disbursed ON account OF
pensions since 1861 has been 1902, 2le,-
il3l7
The issue Of cert flcates during the year
shows a grand total Of l45 29s OF this
number 81 ,O2l were original certificates
The report shows that at the close OF the
year there were pending and unallowed
i79, 900 claims Of all classes.
Commissioner Tanner recommends the
establishment Of TWO additional pension
agencies to relieve the overworked officers
al Columbus, O, Chicago, indianapolis
and Topeka, Kan. He recommends that
Congress he asked to amend the act of
June o 1874, so as to extend the benefit Of
all pension laws, as to rates, 10 all PEN
sioners whose pensions have been granted
by special acts subsequent to said date,
and that the benefit Of a pension be
granted to the widows OF soldiers who
died from causes originating IN the SER
vice prior to March i, 1851, during the
time OF peace lie further recommends
as did his predecessor, that tho act Of
March 3, 1887, be amended so as to grant
pensions to those who, having parties
pated in the rebellion against the United
States, subsequently enlisted Ia he navy
and were disabled therein. The act re-
ferred to confines its operations to those
only who, under the same conditions,
enlisted ia the United States army. The
Commissioner calls attention to many
Irregularities In the rates of pen
slons III ,hteen dollars per month,
ii appears, is the highest rate OF
pension which may be propoytionately d.
yided for ferent degrees Of disability II
such disabilities are not equivalent to the
loss Of a hand or foot II, however,
pensioner has lost hand fer which exist
ing law now provides the rate OF $50 per
month, and has also received in the SER
vice and line OF duty an injury Of the
back, for example which would alone en-.
title him to a pension OF SZi per mouth, he
can receive no rate in excess of 81
month for the combined disability result
ing from the loss Of bis hand and his said
injury unless by reason OF them, be Is to-
tally holpless or SO nearly so as to require
the constant aid and attention Of another
person, for which degree Of disability the
rate Of $50 per month can now be granted.
The injustice and unfairness caused by
the act Of Congress approved June H. 1850,
the report says, should be corrected. This
act limits the rights Of pensioners to re-
ceige Sl2 per month to those who were re-
ceiying $50 per month at the date Of said
act No provision is mado therein for
granting said rate to those who were
totally helpless on said date but were not
receiving SD at said time, and none for
those who have become totally helpless
since that date. The anomaly is presented
Of two men equal y disabled, possibly liv-
ing side by side the one receiving S72 per
month and the other $50 per month. 10
state this case is to make all the argument
necessary to show the absolute necessity
for an amendment OF this act
The Commit soner calls attention TO the
fact that the act Of August T. 1882, which
terminate, the pension Of a widow ON ac-
count of her immortality, makes no pro-
vision for continuing the pension TO the
minor children of the soldier when the
widows pension is terminated.
The Commissioner is also Of the opinion
hat The act OF Congress approved Febru-
lry y 1889 providing a rate Of 500 for
he loss OF both hands unjustly discrim-
mates against those pensioners who have
ost both feet or the sight Of both eyes
The Commissioner further recommends
hat the pension due TO "a dependent
ather should be made to commence from
he date Of the soldiers death, even
hough the mother survived the soldier,
,ut died without receiving the pension.
The Commissioner earnestly recon.
nends that whenever valid pensioneI
lies the usual pension bs granted 10 bis
widow, or II he leaves no widow then &c
lis minor children, without regard IA
whether or not his death was due to any
ause incident to the service aud in line OF
duty.
The Commissioner favors granting PEN
ions to all soldiers who are disabled. He
ays:
"As the war period recedes from US and
ge aud its attendant infrmilies sili ct
he veteran who served bis country, it is
very serious question whether the Gov
rnment does him justice in limiting the
pplicaton Of the pension laws to those
isablItias only which were contracted in
be service and line Of duty. earnestly
scommend that a pension be granted 10
very hono7ahly discharged soldier and
Tho is now or may hereafter become dis
bled, without regard to whether such
liability is ehargeable to the service Of
be United States or has been contracted
nee discharge thereirom."
POWDER EXPLOSION.