Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-12-03
PENSION LAWS.
1ome Needed Changes Suggested by the
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Mono Needed Changes Suggest0u Dy tno
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.--The annual
report of Cyrus Bussey, assistant Sec
rstary of the interior, has been received
by Secretary Noble. The report Is
summarized as follows:
July 1, 1891, there were 5,03o appealed pension
cases on file with the board, and this number
June 30 1892, had been reduced 20 d3io. There
were 4, ,25S appeals filed during tho year. Of the
1880 cases acted upon during the year the de-
vision OF the commissioner was sustained In
3,865. Action was reversed In 4Bf cases, 2Ol
were dismissed and 400 cases were rcconsdered
by the commissioner pending appeal.
There are several defects In pension legisla-
ton. From an early date In the history OF our
pension system there have prevailed under dif-
ferent administrations conflicting opinions as TO
the power to enforce the reimbursement OF
money paid in excess for pensions IN con-
formity with either inaccurate or illegal GER
ti6cates issued through mistakes either
n fact or of law, In the adjudica'
ton Of claims by the bureau of'pensions. Con.
sequenuy the government has been compelled
to submit TO serious losses OF money, which,
having once been improperly paid either to
claimants or pensioners, were irrecoverabl6
under any established rule OF departmental
practice
In the list of applications for widows pen.
sions under section of the act OF June "a, 1890,
cases wherein, according to the law, the claim.
ant has been necessarily denied pension be-
cause the soldier on whose death the claim
was based, although serving NINETY days
moro In the army or navy" as
shown by tho evidence, had not been
.'honorably discharged" prior to death, but had
died WHILE for instance, on individual furlough
and absent from the technical line OF duty In
the service. 1t seems that both the spirit and
the object of the act of June "a, 1880, would be
emphasized and observed by an amendment OF
this section that would be applicable to such
meritorous cases OF dependence and distress
The third section OF the act OF June T 1890
which provides pension Tor minor chill
dren who ni'c "insane, idiotic, or otherwise per-
manently helpless" properly provides that the
pension granted 10 such children shall continue
during the life of said child or during the
period Of such disability; but under the
law as ip stands, in order that such
children shall be pensoned during life
during the period of such disability,
IL must appear that the father Or the mother
died prior TO the expiration of the limit afixed to
the pensonable minority period, viz: 10 years
Of oge, and therefore II, when the parent
dies, the insane or idiotic or otherwise perIno.
sentiy helpless child is more than instead OF
under l6 years of age, minors pension cannot
be allowed. In view of this fact respectfully
suggest that the nct should be so amended rs
to admit all insane, idiotic, or otherwise perma-
nently helpless children 10 minors pension, re.
g2rdleSs OF the date OF the parents death or re-
marriage, at any period prior TO and including
the age OF 81 years.
/ am giatihed TO be able TO say that tho
pledge of the nation Expressed a century ago)
that "if any person. whether officer or sol
dier. militia or regular, called into the service
OF the United States, be wounded or dis
ahled while in actual service, he shall
he taken care of and provided for at public
expense has been redeemed with tdel
ity In compliance with the provisions of the
various pension laws June 30, 1892, there was
borne on the pension rolls the names of S6a,OSi
pensioners, l1992S more pensioners than were
carried en- the same rolls at the end OF the pre-
ceding O seal year, and 45s05o more than were
on the rolls June 90, 1887.
ID, Gen. Bussey calls attention to the
fact that the appropriation bill for the
Indian service is usually passed SO late
IN the year that it seems impossible &c
let contracts for supplies in time fol-
delivery before winter sets in, anG
this. especially as to blankets and win
ter clothing, has caused much suffer
ing. He recommends that the appro
nriation for these supplies be made one
year ahead.