New-York tribune., 1891-09-25
PENSION WORK FOR A YEAR.
COMMISSIONER R4UM's ANNUAL REPORT
SUBMITTED.
FIGURES WHICH SHOW THAT THE PENSIONERS
UNDER OLD AND NEW LAWS ARE NOT
SHORT TERM" MEN.

SHORT TERM" MEN.
washington, Sept o4-The annual report OF Com
missioner Rnum, of the Pension Bureau. submitted to
the Secretary Of the Interior today shows that on
June 30, 1891. there 676,16o pensioners borne
upon the rolls Of the Bureau being 216 more than
were carried on the rolls at the close OF the last fiscal
year. They are classified as follows Widows and
daughters OF Revolutionary soldiers. % Army invalid
pensioners, 4l3,597 Army widows, minor children,
ETC., 1os,537; Navy invalid pensioners $40 Navy
WIDOWS, minor children, etc, 256s survivors Of the
War Of 1912, 1890; survivors of the Mexican War.
lo3'9 wldows Of soldiers Of the Mexican War. 6,O76
Following are the number Of pensions Of the several
classes granted under the Act of June 81, 1s0o :
Army Invalid pensioners, 97136; Army widows. minor
children, etc., 122O9; Navy invalid pensioners 1876
Navy WIDOWS minor children, ETC., ,436. During the
last fiscal year first payments paid upon 1871 100
original claims, requiring S31 391 53s for their pay
mcm' Ihs Is an increase in the number Of original
payments over the year 1890 Of Ga j32. The aggre-
gate cost, however was 81 ,OS7 1902 less.
There were 222,521 first payments of every descrip
ton, requiring S3s,552274. The aggregate annual
value of the 676,16o pensions on the r6n June 81 1897
was So9,24172OO, and the average annual vaue Of
each pension was $130 90, and the average annual
value OF each pension under the of June 81 1890.
was Sl2l oil. There will be deficiency in the ap-
preparation for the payment OF fees aud expenses OF
examining surgeons of about 100000.
Inc toia amount dlsbursed on account OF pensions,
expenses, etc. during the fiscal year. was s1ls.54s,
$50 II, as compared with $lO6, 800 10 Gs0ursed
during the preceding fiscal year so that appears
that 1926 pensions added 10 the rolls during
the fiscal year just olOsed at increased cost to
the Nation Of 900 as compared with the ex-
penditurss for the previous fiscal year Pensions
granted in each OF the last four years follows
1888, 1918; 1850, 14j295; 1890, l5l, LOS; 1891,
250,565
II hach hnen a oIia
to put Is many cases as possible in train for com
pletion. With this end in view, GO3641 orders were
made for medical examinations, and 474,Gs0 medical
certificates of examinations have actually been re
ceived. The remarkable fact is disclosed that fifty
certificates Issued 10 men who served from 1G1
10 476 months. IL also appears that of the 71OO4
persons TO whom pensions granted under the
Act OF Jane o. 1870, 1,lG3 were issued 10 soldiers
who served six months aid under 26,O09 10 persons
who served year under and 44,9O5 to persons
who served thirteen months and over. and that the
largest number OF certificates issued TO any class was
4,633 10 men who served thirty nix months. The
age Of the greatest number Of pensioners under both
the old and law was f0rty-seycn years.
Il submit" says the Commissioner, " that these
data show that the pensions now being granted under
tine old well the law not to persons
whose terms were short and who but little ser
vice during the war. The great majority OF
tihcates being issued 10 the veterans Of the
great struggle for The Union and many OF these men
would have gone TO their graves in want but for the
just, humane and timely enactment Of the law Of
June %, 1902
During the last year 20,525 pensioners dropped
from the rolls for various causes and OF this number
1920 dropped by reason of deaih II is esti-
mated that l,oo4, ,65e soldiers we're killed in battle
died during and since the war. On june 30 last
124750 Of these dead soldiers represented on
the pension rolls by their widows other dependents.
There are about los lO7 soldiers OF the Union now
living and of the survivors 52Ol5S aIp now on the
pension rolls. There are. the efOfe 6s6,540 survivors
who are not pensoned and 619,JOs dead soldiers not
represented the pension rolls
in concluding his report the CommissioIer says that
on an average about $4,000 pension certificates
being issued each month AID that during the
year he expects that many 10000 claims will
be adudlcated for which he believes the present ap
Precipitation Of S133473O55 Will be amply sufficient.