, 1890-10-07
MILLIONS IN 1T.
Thousands of New Pensioners
Added to the Lists.
Annual Report Presented by
the Bureau Commissioner.
Immense Amount of Mail Mat
ter Handled Daily.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 6.-The annual
report OF Pension Commissioner Raum
shows there were at the end of the last ifs
cal year 537, ga pensioners upon the rolls
classified as follows: Army invalid pensions
3e2, 500; army widows, minor children
and dependent relatives l04, 456; navy
invalid pensions 5,l74; navy widows,
minor children and dependent relatives
246O. Survivors of the war OF 1872, Alb;
widows OF the soldiers of the war OF 1912,
sl6. Survivors of the Mexican war
I7.I5s; widows of the soldiers Of the
Mexican war 6,T64.
There were 66.637 original claims al
lowed during the year, being l4,7l6 more
original claims than allowed during the
fiscal year 1889 and 1885 more than were
allowed during the fiscal year 1888. The
amount of first payment in those &C, 637
original cases amounted to $32, AIS. 04l,
being Sll, 036, 1872 more than the first
payments on the original claims allowed
during the fiscal year 1889 and $40. 49,,
225 more than 1888.
I'm June last" says the commissioner,
Il detailed ll6 persons as an additional
force for special examination, making in
all OOO Ou uubl III lnC uGlu- az "a ICSull
of those efforts the number of cases now
in the hands of the special examination
division has been reduced from l4,225 to
1924. OF these only about 5000 are in
the hands OF the special examiners, the
others being in transit to and from the
office.
TO the last day of June 80, 76l claims
we're placed upon completed files upon
requests made upon behalf of claimants.
This system has had the effect of en-
abling many thousands OF claimants whose
claims have been pending from five to
twenty years to bring their claims TO the
attention Of the bureau for adjudication
and allowance, and complaint of delay
has been reduced to a minimum.
The total number of certificates issued
during the year ended June 80, 1890, was
ISL, 659. The tot i number of certificates
issued for the gear ended June 30, 1889.
was las, 292, an increase IN 1890 over
1889 of 6, 1866 The total original certif
Gates issued for the year ended June 30.
1890. was 6 1851. The total original GER
~tiicates issued for the year ended June
80, 1889, was al. 1896, an increase of A.
TAI. There rave been received 400, 282
claims to September 30 under the dis
ability pension act OF June 81. The care
Of such an number Of claims re-
ceived in so short a time necessarily taxed
the resources OF the Office to the fullest
extent.
The work of the mail division ran up
to more than 80, 900 pieces Of mail per
day to be opened. classified and properly
disposed Of. At this writing (Oct. ~
the division is handling 10000 claims a
day. Ii is believed there are probably
O 1000 claims in the office which can be
properly allowed under the provision Of
the regulations approved Sept. 16. 1890.
In conclusion the commissioner says
the act of June ~, 1890, is the first dis
ability pension law in the history of the
world which granted to soldiers and sail
ors pensions Tor disabilities not proved to
have been incurred in the service aud in
line of duty. This law recognizes
higher obligation OF the people to these
disabled veterans than was ever formu-
lated into a law before. Nothing shall be
LETT undone BY thus bureau to give effect
to tho latest expression of the gratitude OF
the American people to the soldiers who
saved the republic.