Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-01

NAVY Invalid pensloners...... ........... 5,21i
Navy widows, minor children and de-
| pendent relatives s........... ........... 2.46t
| Survivors of the War Of 1872 ...... Az
| Widows of soldiers of the W ar of 1Sl2 S,6lC
Survivors of the Mexican War, Il los
| Widows of soldiers of the Mexican War 6,76i
Total. 5S7.94l
At this writing October Is, 1901 there are
| claims pending, S92. z2l. OF these there have
been received under the act of June q, 1890,
| 4SS,27S. 1t may be explained that many of the
| new claims are by those who have old claims
| pending, so that the number of claims are
many more in number than the persons making
| them.
1t appears from the Commissioners report
| that there were 66 6S7 original claims allowed
| during the year, being l4,7l6 more original
| claims than we're allowed during the fiscal
| year 1889 and 63S5 more than were allowed
during the fiscal year 1888. The amount of the
first payment in these 66637 original cases
| reached S., 41S,Sl4 is. being Sl!.0S6 492 05
more than the first payments on the original
claims allowed during the fiscal year 1889. and
| 0,l19225 ~ more than the first payments on
| the original CLAIMS allowed during the fiscal
year 1885, The average value of the first pay
mentS on these original claims for 1880 was
500 IL The average annual value of each
pension at the close of the fiscal year was
Sl33 81
The appropriation for the last fiscal year was
but $50. 001 This as was pointed out in the
Secretary's last annual report, was not only
inadequate, but must have been known to be
so when made: for the estimate of the year be-
fore was $50 000.0O0 and there had been then in
CURED deficiency of at least S. 000 000 and, as
the pension list was constantly increasing. it
was apparent that this additional sum, if added,
woui,s 'eet be enough to meet the obligations to
accrue before the end of even that fiscal year.
A DEFICIENCY THIS YEAR.
The appropriation for the present year is
S97, 900. 76l, but such has been the great number
of pensioners added to the list by special acts
OF Congress and the energetic work of the
i
required, the amount OF which cannot yet be
accurately stated. The energetic work under
the present administration of the bureau has
been already specified. But its force has been
largely increased, and its work will be much
greater than even heretofore. By the act of
June q, 1880, the employment of an additional
forcs OF 4SS medical examiners, clerks, and
other employees was authorized. in addition to
which 175 clerks have been ordered from the
field where they were employed as special ex-
aminers. thus adding, with the 43S above men,
toned, 6l3 20 the force employed in the office
on September ]: and the whole number of
officers and employees on the roll is l,G62
The estimate for army and navy pensions for
this bureau, the results OF which draw so heav-
ilyupUn the National Treasury and should
therefore be scruunized with the utmost care,
is done at present upon thorough business
basis. All claims upon which large first pay
ments may accrue are carefully examined by
the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner
opened only upon order of the Deputy Com
missioner. Tie Medical Division has been re-
organized, strengthened and put under stricter
rules. The Finance Division scruIinzes all ac-
counts pertaining TO the bureau, and especial
care is taken that all letters from claimants be
replied TO without delay. The Board of Re-
review, that operated rather to obStruct the al
lowance of Just claims than to advance the in
IereSts of the Government. has been abolished
and the force distributed among the other
divisions. BY extraordinary efforts the cases
C.,Fc nio1a fIa old
have been reduced in the last year from II 225
to 1884, including those passing from and 10
the Office.
The work under the law of June q, 1890. has
been SO arranged that dependent pensions will
be adjudcated as rapidly as they are com
pleted without interfering with completed
claims under the old law. Under order No l62.
September 26, 1890. claimants under the de-
pendent pension law are given the benefit of
all proofs that may have been filed in CLAIMS
made by them under other laws. The details
are furnished In the very carefully prepared
and accurate report of the present Commits
sioner of Pensions. 1t is deemed l00 600 claims
already in the pension office thas eau be
allowed under this order.
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
The Secretary concurs IN the following
amendments suggested by the Assistant Secre-
tary:
In the second section of the act of June q,
1899, it is provided that, "persons who are now
whose claims are pending in the Bureau of
Pensions, may. by application to the Commis-
soner of Pensions. in such form as he may
prescribe, showing themselves entitled thereto,
receive the benefits of this act" In view of
this provision, that, in many cases wherein
"ciaIms are pending in the Bureau of Pen
sions." but wherein appeals 10 the Secretary
would be greatly facilitated. and the ends of
Justice sooner reached, if the aforesaid
section should be so amended as to authorize
the Secretary. when adjudicatlng said appeals
under the old laws, to allow pension under the
new law without a formal application to the
Commissioner, where, from the evidence in the
papers, 1t shall be clear that the claimant was
entitled to pension under the new law. The
amendment thus suggested would save expepse,
labor and delay to many worthy claimants, and
relieve the Bureau of Pensions of heavy
burden in the administration of the law.
"WitlI reference again to this act. attention
is called to that clause in its third section which
provides pension for minor children who are
insane. ldlotlc or otherwise permanently help
less, The clause properly provides that the
pension granted TO such children shall con-
tInue during the life of said child. or during the
period of such disability:' but, under the law as
it stands. in order that such children shall be
peDsioned during life. or during the period of
such disability 1t must appear that the father,
or the mother. dled nrior to the expiration OF
the limit athxed to the pensionable minority
period. W., IL years of ages and, therefore, If.
when the parent dies. the insane or idiotic, or
otherwise permanently helpless child is more
than, instead of under, l6 years of age
minors pension cannot be allowed. In view of
this Fact the act should be So amended as to
admit all insane. idiotic or otherwise perma-
neDtly helpless children TO minors pension. re-
gardless of thu date of the parents death, or
remarriage, at any period prior 10 and includ-
ing the age OF q years."
THE CENSUS DISPUTE.
Upon the subject of the census the Secre-
tary, smong other things. says
.Thara was great cara IN the selection of the