The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-24

would be emph ssized and observed by an
amendment of this section that would be
spplicabIe to cases of dependence ana dis
tress. and respectfully urge that such an
amendment be adopted by Congress."
AS TO HELPLESS CHILDREN.
General Bussey renews his recommends
ton made in his annual report of 1870 as to
the third section of the act Of June q. 1870.
which provides pensions for minor children
who are insane, idiotio or otherwise per-
maEently helpless" He says: THE clause
properly provides that the pension granted
to such children shall continue during the
life Of eald children or during the period of
such disability; but under the law as it
stands. in order that such children shall be
pensioned during life, or during the period
OF such disability, it must appear that the
iatner OF mother died prlor TO the expira-
tion of the limit affixed to the pensionable
minority period. namely sixteen years of
age, and. therefore. when the parent dies
If tho insane OF idiotIc, or otherwise perma-
nently helpless child, Is moro than, instead
OF under, sixteen years of age, minors PEN
sion cannot be allowed. In view of the fact.
respectfully suggest that tho act should
be amended to admit all insane. idiotic or
otherwise permanently helpless children to
minors pension. regardless Of the date Of
period to and including the age of twenty
'one years. The amendment here suggested
would be in keeping with the beneticient
purpose OF the act of June q. 1890.
The experiences or the past year impel
insane. idiotic or otherwise helpless
children Of deceased pensioners, the pen.
sionnble age limit be abolished SO as to
admit such children at any date to the pen
resulted from the practice OF pensIOning .
certain class of insane inmates of the gov
ernment hospital located in the District of
Columbia. This class consists of persons
who. having been admitted to the hospital
for treatment atthe expense of gov
child nor living parent dependent
on them for support. and having
no other relative near enough to occupy.
on their account, pcnsionable status, are,
nev. heless. pensloned for insanity, the
pension money being paid quarterly to a
guardian. My attention has been called TO
number OF instances wherein such per-
sons remained In the hospital many years
prior to tho appointments OF q guardian.
and then said appointment would appear to
have been instigated by either some friend
or remote relative of the person. with view
to filiDg an application and obtaining the
payment of large arrears of pension on ac-
cOunt of the alleged disability. Thus,
without either his knowledge or consent,
the inmate of the hospital having no de-
pendent relative legally entitled to PEN
sion, ls made the unwilling subject, or
means. of . speculative claim, the benefits
of which he can never enjoy, and the use
OF which he can never control. The inmate
at last dies, leaving IN the hands of the
guardian Q large sum of pension money,
constituting personal estate which goes.
perhaps. to some heir of the decedent. for
whom the pension system was not IN
tended. neither directly nor indirectly. TO
provide. The extent TO which this has
been carried-tbis method of obtaining
money-Is an abuse that should not be
longer tolerated in the name of pension"
In concluding this branch of his report
General Bussey says: Il am gratified to be
able to say that the pledge of the Nation
expressed a century ago-that if any per-
son. whether officer or soldier, militia or
regular. called into the service of the
United States be wounded or disabled
while In actual service he shall be taken
care of and provided for at public expense
has been redeemed with fidelity. In COM
pliance with the PROVISIONS of the various
pension laws. on June 80, 1892. there were
borne on the pension rolls the names of
S56.S97 pensioners, 1S9,92S more pensioners
than were carried on the same rolls at the
end of the preceding fiscal year. and 45T 050
!. Ilssrs than were on the rolls July 80, 1870"