Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-11-24
PENSION APPEALS.
Report Of Gen. Bussey-he Calls Attention 70
the System's Defects.

1 WS>HINaruS, Nov. 23.--Ihe annual re-
port of Gen Cyrus Bussey, assistant secre-
tary of the interior, deals with the work OF
the board of pensions appeals, and with the
purchase of Indian supplies al New York.
! The report shows that July IL, 1891, there
were $3.50 appealed pension eases
on file and that of this number
I on June 80. 1892 had been reduced to 43+3
/ There were i25s appeals filed during the
year. of the 1889 cases acted upon during
the year the decision of the commissioner
was sustained in 3s65. Action was re-
versed in aga cases, POI were dismissed
and 40? eases were reconsidered by the
commissioner, pending appeal.
Gen Bussey calls attention to several
defects in the pension legislation. He says
that from an early date there has prevailed
under different administrations conflicting
opinions as to the power TO enforce the re-
endorsement of money paid in excess for
pensions, in conformity with inaccurate or
Illegal certificates, issued through mistakes
in the adjudication of claims. The govern
ment having no clear legal authority to
plead past overpayment as on Offset to the
current payments of pensions has thus been
compelled to submit to serious losses of
money.
memorable illustration of this fact is
given in the large number of applications
for re-rating and increase filed during the
years 1887, Is2s and 1889, upon which
considerable sums were paid improperly to
certain pensioners, by authority of the COM
missioner, in violation of both law and
practice, but without the knowledge or con-
sent of the secretary.
Gen. Bussey recommends that Congress
enact a law that shall expressly authorize
the department to treat all improper Illegal
and excessive payments of pension, To he
charged against current pension. with a
view to read djusting OF egualizing the cur
rent pension payments within direc-
ton of the secretary. The report
SAYS that number of applica-
tions for widows pensions have, under the
law. been necessarily denied, because the
soldier on whose death the claim was based
although serving ninety days or more in
the army or navy had not been "honor
ably" discharged, ''but died while for in
stance, on furlough.''
The report recommends that the law be
amended to make it applicable to such mer-
itorious eases. 1t also suggests that in
cases of Insane, idiotic or otherwise help
less tDliuTtH VI utCtdstu pctisiohSis tie
pensionable age limit be abolished so as to
admit such children at any date to the pen
sion roll
Gen. Bussey strongly objects to the prac-
tice of pensioning certain class of insane
inmates of the government hospital located
in the District of Columbia. These per-
sons have no one dependent on them for
support, and pension money is paid to the
guardian. When the inmate dies, the large
sum of pension money in the hands of the
guardian, goes, perhaps, to some heir, for
whom the pension money was not intended
to provide.
The report states on June 80, 1892, there
were borne on the pension rolls names of
s5,; or pensioners, l79, ,32s more than was on
the rolls at the end of the preceding fiscal
year, and 451 $50 than was on the rolls
June 80, 1887.
Gen Bussev recommends that the ap-
preparation for Indian supplies be made
one year ahead.