The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-01
THE PENSION OFFICE
Work Accomplished During the
Last Fiscal Year.
COMMISSIONER BAUms REPORT.
The Maximum Number of Pensioners Viii
hot &c Reached Until 1884 Deficiency
Appropriation asked For

WAsHINGToN, Nov. 30.--The annual re-
port Of Commissioner of Pensions Green
j. Raum shows that there were on the
pension rolls June 80 last, SIC, 1853 pension
ers, an increase during the year Of 1879 90sl
There were added 10 the rolls during the
year 222, 937 new pensioners and 2, Az pen
sioners previously dropped were restored
TO the pension lists. During the year 25.
800 pensioners were dropped from the
rolls. The total amount expended for pen
slons during the year were Sl3s,O55, OH.
For the present fiscal year Sl44, $50, OvO is
appropriated and taking the cost of pension
allowances during the first four months OF
this fiscal year as basis of calculation the
commissioner estimates that a deficiency
appropriation Of SIC, 5OS, 62l VIII be neces-
sary TO supply the needed funds.
An estimate of Sl65 600, 600 is submitted
fer the next fiscal year. The commissioner
says, however. If as many pension allow
Ences are made this year rs last. this will
not De enough. Under the dependent and
disability acts 920, y5o claims were 1lec, OF
which 403 SIS were allowed. Pension pay
ments under the law Of Sept 30, amounted
10 S16, 40, 143. TIE commissioner heartily
commends the disability act.
The commissioner admits that since the
passage Of the law there has beea a great
deal OF unfavora0le comment upon the pen
sion system in general and that IL had been
SAID the country was in danger OF being
Dankrupted by extrasagant and undeserv-
ing pension Legislation. but" he com
ments, casual consideration Of the great
change IN the mode OF living of these men
and the conditions 90 which military life
In time OF war subjected them must sug
gest that the strain upon the life powers OF
soldier was so great as TO make perma-
nent inroads on the vital forces which
would necessarily result IN the develop
menJ OF multitude Of ailments ana dis
abilities beyond the reach OF medicine.
Il IS this class Of citizens who now con-
stitute the great body who are on the pen
sion rolls. Good health and ability to per-
form labor were their capital ana when
these were gone they were IN = great meas
ure deprived Of the means OF support. 4
large proportion OF the men who carried
muskets have been unable to keep up with
their nelghb0rs who remained a home IN
The great struggle Of lille ana the claims OF
these persons for assistance from the gov
ernmeat rest upon the broadcast foundation
Of justice.
The commissioner says the policy Of th g
Office for three years hes been TO use a
larger part OF the force upon original
claims, believing it Just and proper that
those VINO never received pension should
have their cases considered in advance of
slCS6 persons seeking an ADVANCE OF pen
yiou.
During the past fiscal year 81, OF certif-
Gates were issued ii original cases and "a
Isl ia increased claims. The commissioner
is Of tue opinion tuaJ il THIS policy is pur-
sued untn the close OF the fiscal year of
1874, the adjudication OF original claims VIII
be substantially completed, aud at the
close Of 1894 The highest number of pen.
siouers that ever are 10 De Oh the rolls will
have been placed there.
There are 449, SO original claims pending.
The revolutionary and 1872 way rolls are
rapidly dwindling, only twenty widows
and two daughters of revolutionary veter-
ans being on the former roll Tue survi-
vors Of the war OF 1872 on the rolls number
only 1o5 against 2S4 the year before. The
commissioner closes with & comparative
statement OF The work done under Cleve-
lands and Harrison's administrations. He
SAYS The total number of original certiti-
Gates issued from March 4, 1889, TO Oct. 81,
1882. was $40, 565, and the total number Of
pension certificates of all classes issued
during said period was S35, 04S, while dur
ing the period from March 4 1855, to Oct.
81, 1858, the number of original certi ticates
issued was lS5, 76O, and the total number Of
certificates issued during that period vi as
s1s. $50. The average cost 10 the govern
ment OF each certificate granted during
Cleveland's administration vas sd 81 and
during the present administration S104l.