Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-11-01
RAUM GETS THE PLACE.
PRESIDENT HARRISON NAMES u1,,..
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

oonIMlSSlONER OF PENSIONS
the Illinois Mans appointment a surprise
TO The Politicians-His Previous Record
Inc Annual Report of the Pension Office
-ossip from the Nations Capital.
Washington telegraml
Inc President has appointed Gen. Green
d. Naolh OF Illinois as commissioner of pen
slo'.s, ahd ne has assumed the duties of his
pos,''pa inns action was q SURPRISE as
ently mentioned in connection with the Of
fee.
Green Berry Raum is native of flli-
nois and one of the best known politicians
in that State. He was born Golconda
Pope county, Dec. 3, 1929. After re.
celving common-school education he
STUDIED law, and was admitted to the bar
In 1905. Three years later he went to Kan
sas and affiliated with the free.soil party.
ms made him obnoxious to the pro-
slavery faction and he returned to Illinois,
settllng at Harrisburg.
AZ The beginning of the rebellion he
MADE many war; speeches, and subse-
quehely entered the army. He rose to the
rang OF Srigadier-General and took part
IN many important engagements, partic-
usariy distinguishing himself in the battle
OF Corlnth and the Atlanta campaign.
Az Missionary Ridge he was wounded.
buc Immediately upon recovering resumed
active service in the field.
Al the close of the war he went into the
railroad business for a brief period. In
looo ne was elected to Congress and served
from IRON March, 1867, to March, 1861. In
1870 he was president of the Illinois Re-
publican convention, and in the same year
was delegate to the national convention
OF that party in Cincinnati. He was ap-
pointed commissioner of internal revenue
Aug. 1876, and retained that office until
may 81, 1888. During that period he col
ieceed $500, O00, 900 and disbursed $50, O00,-
900 without loss.
Since 1883 Gen. Raum has been practice
ing law in Washington. He is the author
of work entitled sThe Existing Conflict
Between the Republican Government and
the Southern Oligarchy."
The annual report for the fiscal year
lsSS-S0 of the commissioner of pensions
has been submitted to the secretary of the
interior and is now In the hands of the
public printer. Following is summary
OF the main features of the report:
There were at the close OF the year 4S9, :
~ pensioners. There were added to the
rolls during the year the names of 1921
new pensioners, and the names of |. 754
whose pensions had been previously
dropped were restored to the rolls. making
an aggregate of $500 pensioners added
during the year; 1G, 5O7 pensioners were
dropped from the rolls for various causes.
leaving net increase to the rolls of 81, 1853
names. The average annual value of each
pension at the close of the year is shown
to have been $lsl. The aggregate annual
value of pensions is $64, 346, $50. The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was SSS, go, ll3. The total amount dis
bursed by the agents for all purposes was
$50, l3l ,9fs. In the aggregate 1,24S. 146
pension claims have been fled since 1861
and in the same period 7Sy, 121 have been
allowed.
Commissioner Tanner recommends the
establishment of two additional pension
agencies, to relieve the overworked offices
at Columbus, Chicago, Indianapolis, and
Topeka, Kan. He recommends that Con-
gress be asked to amend the act of June 6,
1879, so as to extend the benefit of all pen
sion laws as to rates to all pensioners
whose pensions have been granted by
special acts passed subsequent to said data,
and that the benefit of pension be granted
to the widows OF soldiers who died from
causes originating i'll the service prior tc
March 4, 1861, during the time of peace
He further recommends, as did his prede
cessor, that the act of March 5, 1877, be
amended so as to grant pension to those
who, having participated in the rebellion
against the United States, subsequently
enlisted in the navy and were disabled
therein.
The injustice and unfairness of the ac
of Congress approved June 16, 1870, the
report says should be corrected. This ac
limits the right of pensioners to receive
ST. per month to those who were receiving
$40 per month at the date of said act. NJ
provision is made therein for granting
said rate to those who were totally help
less on said date, but were not receiving
$50 at said tilne and none for those WIFI
have become totally helpless since tina
date. The anomaly is presented of two
men equally disabled possibly living side
by side, the one receiving $72 per montl
and the other $50 per month.
The commissioner asks attention to thu
fact that the act of Aug. Z, 1882, whicl
terminates the pension of widow on &C
count Of immortality, makes no provision
for continuing the pension to the mino
children of the soldier when the widow
Is l10 asks Una
Congress be requested to correct thi
palpable injustice.
The Commissioner earnestly recon
mends that whenever an invalid pensione
dies the usual pension be granted to hi
widow, Or, if he leaves no widow, the1
to his minor children, without regard tt
whether or not his death was due to any
ca rse incident to the service and line 0
duty.
The commissioner favors granting pen
sions to all soldiers who are disabled. H
says: 'As the war period recedes from u
and age and it's attendant infrmitie
affiict the veteran who served his country
faithfully and we'll a quarter of a centur.
ago, it is a very serious question whethe
the government does him justice in limit
ing the application of the pension laws t.
those disabilities only which were contract
ed in the service and line of duty. l ear
nestly recommend that a pension b.
granted to every honorably discharged
soldier and sailor who is now or may here
after become disabled, without regard
whether such disability is chaEgeable t
the service of the United States or ha
been contracted since discharge there
from"
The commissioner also favors pension
for army nurses and makes an earnes
appeal on their behalf.
Foreign Brevitios.