Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-10

PENSION ROLLS.
Great Diligence in the Department That
Looks After the Payment of the vetec-
ans 'Annuities-Estimates for the Com
ing Year-Railroad aud Census Figures

Great Diligence in the Department That
Looks After the Payment of the veter-
ans Annuities-Estimates for the Com
ing Year-Railroad aud Census Figures.
The administration of the Pension Bureau
has been characterized during the year by
great diligence. The total number of pen
sioners upon the roll on the 30th day of
June, 1891, was 676, 100. There were al
lowed during the fiscal year ending at that
time go. so cases. OF this number, 102, ,3S7
were allowed under the law of June %,
1890. The issuing of certificates has been
proceeding at the rate of about $4,000 per
month, about 80 per cent Of these being
cases under the new law. The Commits
sioner expresses the opinion that he will be
able to carefully adiudicate and allow 35O,-
600 claims during the present fiscal year.
The appropriation for the payment of pen
sions for the fiscal year 1S9O-91 was S127,-
GS5 793 80, and the amount expended SilS,-
530,G49 25, leaving an uneXpended surplus of
50 l55, l4l 64. The Commissioner is quite con-
fident that there will be no call this year for
a deficiency appropriation, Notwithstanding
the rapidity with which the work is being
pushed. The mistake which has been made
by many in their exaggerated estimates of
the cost o. pensions is in not taking account
of the diminished value OF first payments
under the recent legislation. These pay
lnents, under the general law, have been for
many years very large, as the pensions when
allowed. dated from the time of filing the
claim, and most o. these claims had been
pending for years.
First Payments Growing Less.
The first payments under the law of June,
1890, are relatively small, and, as the per
cent of these cases increases and that of the
old cases diminishes, the annual aggregate
of first payments is largely reduced. The
Commissioner, under date of November l3,
furnished me with the statement that dur
ing the last four months ilS,iI5 certificates
were issued, q, ,S9S under the general law and
$3.50 under the act of June %. 1850. The
average first payment during these Jour
months WAS $l3l s., while the average first
payment upon cases allowed during the the
year ending June 20, 1891, was S239 33 being a
reduction in the average first payments dur
ing these four months of S10l IS.
The estimate for pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 20, 1893, is SAL
9JS,030, which, after a careful examination
o: the subject the Commissioner is OF the
opinion will be sufficient. While these dis
bursements to the disabled soldiers of the
great Civil War are large, they do not realize
the exaggerated estimates of those who op-
pose this beneficeGt legislation. The Secre-
tasy of the Interior shows with great full
ness the care that is taken to exclude fraud
ulent claims, ana also the gratifying fact
are going are men who rendered not slight
but substantial war service.
The report of the Commissioner of Rail
roads shows that the total debr of the sub
sidized railroads to the United States was
on December 81, $780, Sl!25l2,6l3 06. i large
part of this debt is now fast approaching
maturity, with no adequate provision for
its payment. Some policy Tor dealing with
tins debt, with a view to Its ultimate coiIec-
ton, should be at once adopted. 1t is very
difficult, well nigh impossible, Tor so large
Congress
sary negotiations and Investigations L
therefore recommend that provision he
made for the appointment of a commission
to agree upon and report Il plan for dealing
with this debt.
Census Bureau Work Well Advanced.
The work of the Census Bureau is now far |
in advance, and the great bulk of the
enormous labor involved completed twill |
be more strictly statistical exhibit ard |
less encumbered by essays than its immedi
ate predecessors. The methods pursued
have been fair, careful and Intelligent and |
have secured the approval OF the statis- |
ticianS who have follow ed them with Scicn- |
titic and non partisan interest. The appro- |
priations necessary to the early completion |
and publication of the authorized volumes |
should he given in time to secure against de- |
lays which increase the cost and at the same |
time diminish the value of the work
The report of the Secretary exhibits with |
interesting fullness, the condition of the |
States the great increase in farm products
and are bringing yearly large areas into cul-
tivation by extending their irrigating
canals. This work is being done BY indi,
viduals or local corporations and without
that system which Il full preliminary survey
OF the water supply and OF the irrigable
lands would enable them to adopt The
future OF the territories of New Mexico.
Arizona and Utah in their material growth |
and in the increase, Independence and hap
piness of their people is very largely de-
pendent upon wise and timely legislation,
either by Congress or their own Legisla-
lures, regulating the distribution OF the |
water supply furnished by their streams.
If this matter is much longer neglected,
private corporations will have unrestricted
control of one of the elements OF life and |
The patentees of the arid lands will be ten
lnts a will of the water companies
Water Sources Very Valuable Property.
The United States should part with its
OF the water sources and the