Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-08


of this reserve of our military
force report that increased interest and
marked progress are apparent in the dis
ciplne and efficiency of the organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic
violence has called the army into service
during the year.
The ChickamRuga Battlefield.
The work on the projected Chickamauga
and Chattanooga national military park
has been prosecuted with zeal and judg-
ment, and its opening will be celebrated
during the coming year. Over nine square
miles of the Chickamauga battlefield have
been acquired, - miles of roadway have
been constructed, and permanent tablets
have been placed at many historical points,
while the invitation to the states to mark
the positions of their troops participating
in the battle has been very generally &C
cepted. The work of locating and preserv-
ing the lines Of battle at the Gettysburg
battlefield is making satisfactory progress
on the plans directed by the last Congress.
Post-Omce Department.
The business of the mails indicates with
absolute certainty the condition of the
business of the country, and depression in
financial affairs inevitably and quickly re-
duces the postal revenues. Therefore a
larger discrepancy than usual between the
pOst-ofiice receipts and expenditures is the
unavoidable result of the distressing strin-
gency which has prevailed throughout the
country during much of the time covered
by the postmaster generals report At
date when better times were anticipated it
was estimated by his predecessor that the
deficiency on June 80, 1893, would be but
a little over million and half dollars. 1t
amounted, however, to more than five mil
lions. The post-ottice receipts for the last
ilscal year amounted 10 ; 81, o"o' "1p.I 10, ana
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PENSIONS
On the 30th day of June, 1898, there
were on the pension rolls 900. OH names, an
increase of 50, 944 over the number on the
rolls June 30, 1892.
OF these there were l. widows and
daughters of Revolutionary soldiers, Sc
survivors of the war of 1872. j42j widows
of soldiers of the war, y ,51s survivors and
widows of the Mexican war. 3SS2 survivors
and widows of Indian wars. 9S4 army
nurses. and 40, 645 survivors. and widows
and children of deceased soldiers and sail
ors of the war of the Rebellion. The lat
ter number represents those pensioned on
account of disabilities or death resulting
from army and navy service. The number
Of persons remaining on the rolls June 30.
1898, who were pensioned under the act of
June -, 1890, which allows pensions on
account of death and disability not charge
able to army service was 45q. 30.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was Ia, 1874. and the number dropped
was b, $50.
Although the law of $500 permits pen-
sions for disabilities not related 10 military
service. vet as requisite to its benefits a
disability must exist. incapacitating appli-
cants from the performance of manual
labor to such a degree as to render them
unable to earn a support" The execution
of this law in its early stages does not
seem to have been in accord with its true
intention, but toward the close of the last
administration an authoritative construc-
ton was given to the statute, and since
that time this construction has been fol-
10 wed This has had the effect of limiting
the operation of the law to its intended
purpose.
The discovery having been made that
many names had been put upon the pen
sion roll by means of wholesale and riran-
tic frauds, the commissioner SUSPENDED
payments upon a number of pensions
which seemed to be fraudulent or unauthor-
lied, pending a complete examination, Civ
ing notice to the pensioners, in order that
they might have an opportunity to estab-
fish, if possible. the Justice of their claims.
notwithstanding apparent invalidltv. This.