St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-19
HALF A MILLION PENSIONERS
Work of Tanners Bureau During
the Past Year

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-The annual
report of the fiscal year, 1SSS-S9, of the
commissioner of pensions, has been
submitted to the secretary of the in
terror and is now in the hands of the
public printer. The following sum-
mary of the report will show the more
important details of the work of the
bureau of pensions during the said
fiscal year: There were at the close of
the year 4S9,725 pensioners. There
were added to the rolls during the year
the names of 5l,921 new pensioners, and
the names of 1.754, whose pensions
have been previously dropped. were
restored to the rolls, making an aggre-
gate of 53,675 pensioners added during
the year; 16,507 pensioners were
dropped from the rolls for various
causes. leaving net increase to the
rolls of 81. .l6S names. The average an
nual value of each pension at the end Of
the year is shown to have been S131.1S.
The amount paid for pensions during
the year was SSS.275.1 113.2S. The total
amount disbursed by the agents for all
purposes was $50, 131, ,96S.44. Amount
paid as fees to attorneys, $1,365, ,5S3.47.
There was disbursement of S14,515.72
for the payment of arrears of pensions
in cases where the original pension was
granted prior to Jan. 25, 1879, and the
date of commencement of pension was
subsequent to discharge or death. The
following shows the the number of pen
sioneIs in the rolls of each agency June
80, 1885: Columbus, 1851; IndianapO-
lis. 44,605; Chicago, 41,004; To
peka, $3.50; Washington. 30,330;
Des Moines, 29,256; Buffalo, 2s,-
.OR IaIr
1865; Milwaukee, 26. 5S4; New York,
Knoxville. 23111; Concord. 14,709;
Louisville, 1897; Augusta, 1898; San
Francisco, 1888. In the aggregate
1,24S, 146 pension claims have been filed
since 1861, and that in the same period
7S9, 121 have been allowed. The amount
disbursed on account of pensions since
1861 has been $1,052. .218, ,413.17. The
issue of certificates during the year
shows grand total of 1928. Of this
number 81, ,921 were original certificates.
The commissioner (Mr. Tanner) in his
report recommends new legislation to
rectify inequalities in rates.
Eighteen dollars a month"; he says, SIS
the highest rate of pension which may be
proportionately divided for different degrees
of disability, if such disability or disabilities
are not equivalent to the loss OF hand or
foot IL, however, pensioner has lost
hand, for which the existing law now pro-
vides the rate of $50 per month and if he
has also received in the service and line of
duty an injury of the back for example,
which would alone entitle him to pension
of S24 per month, he can receive no
rate in excess Of $50 month from the
combined disability resulting from the loss Of
his hand and his said injury, unless by
reason of them, he is totally helpless or so
nearly so as to require the constant aid and
attendance of another person, for which de-
gree of disability the rate of $50 per month
can now be granted. 1t will be seen that the
pensioner in such case actually receives
nothing for his said injury, as the loss of his
hand alone entitled him to the rate $50,
hieh is the highest allowable rate under
the law for both disabilities Numerous
other instances could be cited to show the
unfairness in rates now provided by law, and
think this statute should be amended so as
to permit the rate of S72 per month to be
proportionatelv divided for all disabilities
which are shown to have been incident to
the service and line of duty.
An adjustment of rates for total help
leSSnesS is recommended. The injuS-
tiee and unfairHess caused by the law
of June 16, 1850, should be corrected.
This act, he says. limits the right of
pensioners to receive S72 per month to