The National tribune., 1891-10-01


The Commissioner compliments the War De-
partment upon the prompt and satisfactory
manner in which it answers calls for medical
and military history Of claimants.
Every effort has been made 10 bring the
work Of the Bureau up to the current stage
For months after tho passage OF the act Of June
- the Record Division was overwhelmed by
The great mass Of applications which poured
I'D. The forco Of the division was increased
from other divisions until it numbered 800
persons but it was beyond even the power Of
TINS number to dispose Of the work as fast as
IL came ia. However, il las been pushed for
ward encrseticaliy, and the applications have
been properly treated and distributed 10 the
various adjudicating divisions. The force has
now been reduced to lji persons and is able
to dispose Of the work az fast as it comes in.
Two years ago more than II 900 claims were
IN tho hands Of the Special Examination Di-
vision, but under the strong effort to bring up
this work 55,il6 claims have been examined
aud reported apon, and there remained at the
close of the year but 2.27O claims in the hands
OF special examiners in the field.
The work Of the Army and Navy Survivors
Division Is Of great value to claimants in aid
ing them to furnish proof, and its facilities
have been extended with that in view
The Bureau has made strenuous efforts to
secure the best class Of physicians for Boards
OF Examining Surgeons It's rulc is that ap.
pointees must be graduates Of some reputable
school and have hal AT least i've years practice
IL is believed that tine Boards. as p rule. arc
Of q lfTrfF rHn ~. 1
The Commissioner renews his recommeuda-
ton Of last year in regard to the difference be-
tween the rate OF so per month granted under
the act Of March 3 $50 for soldiers who have
become incapacitaiel Tor performing any
manual labor, aud the act of March :, 1890.
granting S72 a month 10 pensioners who re-
quire the constant aid and attendance Of au-
other person. lie urges that IL would be Just
to make higher rate than $50 a month for
pensioners who are iucaplcitated from perform
Ing any manual labor aud who only occasionally
require the Attendance Of another person.
Ia regard to the probable number Of sur
vivoTs Of tie late war and their widows, the
Commissioner says:
j. b. estimated that 81 the soldiers :. ho served tho
country during tile late war fUJI sls ,vcr. EiIird
fI day Of june last 10 80 o.! these ,Iece.cI SOL
der weT" represented Uu the pension rolls by their
widows or uincT dependents.
There are about / eos ~ soldiers 81 the Union
now living, and 20 those survivors $50 50 are now
." the pension rolls Ti4rTe are. therefore O., so
survivors who are not FeusiIuei, mud 80 gJs de-
ceased soldiers not represented on tho pension
rolls.
The average OF Issues in the Bureau Is now
about 10000 certificates per month. The Com
missioner is satisfied that the Bureau will 10
able TO carefully adjllicate aud allow 10000
claims FOR pensions during the present fiscal
year, aud after q careful estimate Of the prob
able cost Of these issues he has no hesitation in
saying that the present appropriation Of Sl33,-
1905 will be AMPLY sufficient.
The report closes with a statement that tie
Bureau Of Pensions IS thoroughly organized
for tie transaction Of this great work that the
divisions are well balanced and their Chiefs are
gentlemen OF ability who are eouseien,iousIy
devoted % their duties Tho Commissioner
pays compliment 10 the ability and industry
OF the force ia tbo Office. and returns his thanks
10 the Deputy Commissioners, Medical Referee
aud heads Of divisions for their assistance to
him IN carrying on tho work Of the Office.