The National tribune., 1892-12-08
ARMY.

The amount Of money paid upon pensions
issued under this law to Sept so, 1892, is the
sum Of SIC, l9l. 4435S
This law has brought relief to a host of
needy ana deserving persons-many who were
living upon charity; and thousands OF others
who were upon the verge of that condition
were relieved. Many claimants who were Sc
riously disabled from earning a living by man
nal labor, and who had endured the hardships
aud dangers of military life, could not estab-
lsh tie fact that their disabilities were Of SER
vice origin, and they were, therefore. unable to
obtain pensions under the old laws. This
disability bill gave pensions to thousands OF
claimants Of this description. From everything
that / have learned IN connection with the
enforcement Of this law / am satisfied OF It's
wisdom and justice"
NO DANGER OF BANKRUPTCY.
Gen. Raum combats the idea that the country
ig IN danger Of being baakiupted by pension
legislation. He states that since 1868 more
than $1,000, C00,000 have been paid to the public
creditor il interest and premiums and more
than 81 S00,000.G00 upon the principal OF the
public debt. The interest on the public debt
u August, 1863, Was over Sl5i,030U00 Atthat
time many intelligent persons throughout tile
country doubted tie ability Of the Government
ever to fay that debt; but during the pas; .
years ii has almost all been paid, and now the
credit Of the Government is such that il can
place q loan at two per cent. per aunum.
. II is Preposterous 10 say that the remainder
Of the public debt is now burden upon the
people. The, debt is now less than 50 per capita
and the interest less than 80 cents pcr capir. Of
the population. Tie remaining great obljga-
tiOn OF the war is TO the old soldiers who saved
the republic. No one can question the ability
ofthe country to pay the pensions now author
ized by law
THE ADJUDICATION OF CLAIMS.
g 1t has been the policy of the Office during
the past three years to pat larger part Of the
official force upon original claims than upon in
crease claims. and 2 result of this plan 224-
o47 certificates were issued in increase claims
under various laws during the past fiscal year
Il am of the opinion that if this policy is pur-
sued during the fiscal years 1893 aud 1894 the
adjudication of original claims will be SUBJ
stantially completed and made current and
that at the close OF the fiscal year 1894 the
highest numJer Of pensioners ever to be on the
rolls will have been placed there.
When il IS seen that at this tirae there are
zs9re1b original claims pending and that more
than 10000 OF these are apparently complcte.
IT would seem that if the business Of this office
could be pushed during the present and next
fiscal years with as much energy as was brought
10 the work during the fiscal year Just closed
this great mass Of original cases can be dis
posed Of.
testimony IN all just claims was in and the
work OF adJudicatiug claims was current II
is obvious, however, that inasmuch as there
are now over $4,000 claims apparently com.
plete and about $4,000 claims requiring addi-
tIonal evidence, claimants as well is the office
viii be deeply engrossed with the business Of
the bureau for some time 10 come
CERTIFICATES ISSUED DURING THE FISCAL
YEAR.
The total number of pension certificates
Issued during the fiscal year was 81. $50
There were added 10 the rolls during the year
222,S37 new pensioners and 2477 pensioners
VINO had bsen previously dropped from the
rolls were restored, making an aggregate OF
225,2l4 persons added TO the rolls during the
year. The total number Of pensioners dropped
from the rolls for the fiscal year for all causes
was 25,3e6. the aggregate annual value Of
whose pensions was S3,9Is, ss696.
During the fiscal year first payments were
made upon $50, 232 original claims. amounting
10 30, oo4 2ool6. There were first payments
made IN 6o,630 increase claims allowed under
the old laws, and additional claims allowed
under act of June %, 1890, amounting to
80 80, 5l5.05. There were first payments made
10 et53o reissue cases 10 correct rates aud dates
OF commencement OF pensions, amounting 10
sZ,flo, 1881 There were first payments
made IN 2,25l restoration and renewal cases
amounting 10 $67S,6l960 Total number OF
first payments. 3O6.463, requiring an expendi.
ture Of $i5 I44 I67.6S.
The average value of the original payments
was Sl6455. The average value Of original
payments under the act Of June %, 1890. was
Sl@7.l9, and the average value Of original pay.
mente IN Old law cases was ALA.
The aggregate annual value of the $40 06s
pensions on the rolls June 80, 1892 was SIG.
e79, 1924, and the average annual value o.
each pension ON the rolls at tile close of the
fiscal year was Sl33.4I.
The average annual value of each pension
on the rolls under the act Of June q, 1880
was $ll620, and the average annual value O
pensions under the old laws was $I4436.
4 "on the Both Of June, 1891, there were PA o.