New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-11
TO GET AT PENSION FACTS.
A PERTINENT RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY OF
FERED IN THE HOUSE.
HOW TIL, rrsouUTIoN MIGHT BE MODIFIED TO
PROVE THE ABsURDITY OF DEMOCRATIC
AND MUGwUMP PENSION APPRoL
PRIATION FSnTMATES
10y TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TkiBUSE.s

TELEGRAPH 10 TIE IklbtHt-S
Washington. March 1O-Reprcscntativc Brewer, of
Michigan has oIe rcd resolution of inquiry III REGARD
IN nenslons and pensioners Which. it IS hoped, Will
soon be adopted ly .he House. with or without amend
ments The resolution calls for variety OF inforina
ton which not only would be valuable to Congress IN
the consideration of general pension legislation but
which also would furnish a ready and sufficient means
TO refute many of the false and extravaganza statements
respecting the subject OF pensions which are daily
published in many newspapers and which frequently
find their way into The Congressional Record" there
by acquiring certain fictitious weight and authority.
Mr.. Brewers resolution asks a number OF pertinent
questions, classified as follows
l. What Is the total number OF original pension claims
which been filed for disabilities received contracted
during the late the first day Of January. $500
and how many such claims have been allowed to such
datcl What the total number Of claims that have been
filed for increase up said time, and in how cases
has an increase been granted How many claims up to
said time been flied for reratlng and in how many
cases claim for rerang been allowed or granted
How many claims have filed by widows. by minor
children and by dependent parents; and how many have
been granted and how pensioners were
on pension roll January l. 1890 of each class for ser
vice. etc.. arising the warl Wha~ is the total
money which has been paid out for pensions io
claims arising OF war? How much has been
paid such claims during the last fiscal year ana
how much will probably be required to meet the payment
Of such claims during the present fiscal yearl what
amount has been paid out in pensions for a'ageS uhcer
the 1879 and what is the probable amount s'i re-
Qulred to payments under said act what was
the amount paid out 10 during the last
fiscal yearl What will probably be required to
Iay arrcarages upon original claims filed since July l.
$780, which will be hereafter filed In other woiuN
about how would il probably take to meet aireaFSe
in the Limitations IN the Act OF 1871 shouu DC IT,
pcaledl
o How do the present rates Of pensions compare with
tho rates granted for similar disabilities received con-
tIacted in former in which our country has been
engaged, How do the fixed by law for pensions
to widows. children and dependent parents compare
with the rates fixed for classes Of pensioners in former
wars?
g. How do the rates Of pensions fixed by law for
pensioners compare with the rates for SINH
lar disabilities in England. France ana Germany
L. How many years elapsed after the close Of the Ee'o-
lutonsry WAL the War Of lsl2 and hc Mexican Wax De-
fore service pension granted and were such ser
vice pensions hased upon length q service or at iNd
amount all Of equal rank What would be the prob
able required annually 60 meet the payment OF -
per month to each honoaey discharged so4'er a. ser
vice pension, and the widows q those deceased
s. How many appealed cases were pending before the
Administrators on January l. 1890, aui low long
will 1t probably to dispose Of such APPEAL casesl
The scope Of the resolution might properly lie
modified somewhat by requiring Official estimates of
the probable increase Of the annual PAY mcns for pen
sons on account of each OF the several bills ncw
pending For weeks "estimat-s' of the cost
of such bills have been going the rounds Of Demo
cratic and Mugwump newspaper, as proof Of the in
tent Of the Republicans to d" loot the Treasury and
Congressman springer and Pierce and other states
men have sought to give the estimates SORT # quasi
official weight and value by Incorporating them IN
uttered unuttcred speeches which have been pub
lshed In Tho Record that Indispensable
wade mecum o. craftsmanship with which seia-
tor Blair would like to have every American family
supplied at the public expense. Tn; et.maies men.
iDned foot up IL .COO.oOO,0OO a, the extent 81
the probable looting" Of this Congress ana cAahl-
nation OF them Nv any intelligent. Uniformed man
Will him seriously to Clstrust the axiom ' TX
cannot lie r.
one fourth II the immense total is charged a. f'l-
lows Dependent Pension bill. slOJCOO.opO. service
Pension biz. $500 OOOODO one fourth more nearly
on all claims fled after july !. 1r-O. and allowed:
These are the estimates" ith'irf iN NJ Fierce, ~
Tennessee ana are extremely moderate a., compared
with other estimates Of the same description. when
charge t. pending and impending pension eel>ia-
tiOn an amour, Of IN" interest bearing purl'
debt To make such total NOT only The Alicaiae'''
bill but the service Pension Bill. tie Per pen scr
vice bill and the Dependent BIZ! must al become
laws and every rcn.lOuof must become uehruttfN
under the three. t~O Oi tile lat ttr DIS, ~
well a. under the first The most ,ur-oiN read
ing tho bills VIII show the ialsty of the Edicuous
assumptions upon which tie estimates are based.
While IL i probable that the Dependent Pension bill
the veto Of which President Cleveland has since re-
grcttcd-will become law at tii- session. the pros
pcct that either II the others VIII succeed is BY no
means bright. II f them s ud pas, the failure
Oi the other two would be Inevitable