Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-09-29
AT PENSION FIGURING,
Statement Showing the Total Mum,
Der of Pensions Granted Since
March 4, 1898.
The Board of Revision Now Dispos.
ing Of 1000 Suspended Cases
a Week.
Estimates for 1895 for Pensions, Etc
There Will Be Needed Some
$l62,63l,57O.

WASHINGTON. Sept. ga statement
prepared at the pension bureau shows
that since March 4. 1898. the total num-
Der OF pensions granted was SIS. 3YY. OF
these, 4. Us were issued since Aug. 26.
1898. and comprises 1913 original and
l,497 increase. OF the originals issued
to soldiers of the late war 1926 were for
disabilities contracted in the service.
and in line of duty, and 3l6 are issued
under the act of June ~, 1890. The
number issued for disability contracted
IN the service was therefore 20 in excess
of those issued under the dependent
act. The board of revision is now dis
posing of an average of about
1000 Cases Per Week
OF those suspended under the recent
orders of the bureau. AT this rate it is
estimated that practically all of those
heretofore suspended will be disposed
of by Oct. 10. It is also estimated that
at least IS per cent of those suspended
will be retained on the rolls, though
not all of them at their old rates of
pension.
But with this large number of pen.
slons restored, Commissioner Lochren
estimates that the amount appropriated
for this year will be enough and that
the only deficiency appropriations re.
quired will be $500, 900 for special ex-
aminers and another appropriation for
fees and expenses of examining sur.
geons.
Estimates for 1898.
The estimates for the year 1895 are
given as follows: For pensions, $780,
OO0, 900; for surgeons fees, g., 600. O0O;
for salaries of pension agents, So, 900;
clerk hire at pension agencies, $500, 900;
contingent expenses, $50, $50; total,
1852, 6Yl, $40.
The commissioner enumerates the
various reforms inaugurated-the aban-
donment of. the completed files system
and the modification of order 1854 of
October Is. 1890. as to disability PEN
slons, etc. He says on this latter point:
cit is apparently clear that under this
order 1854, in granting the pension under
this act of June -, 1890. the act itself
was set aside and disregarded, with the
result of granting pensions not author
lied by any law"
Regarding Temporary Suspension.
In regard to the temporary suspension
OF order 1854, he says: I'm cases here it
was believed that a pension could not
be sustained and another medical exam
lnation was thought necessary. The
payment of the pension was ordered to
be suspended pending investigation,
according to the practice of the bureau
from the beginning, and at the proper
time the usual 6Odays notice was given
to the pensioner, within which he could
ask for a medical examination or sun.
ply further evidence of his right to his
pension"
Precedence is no longer given to cases
under the act of June 81, 1890, but
claims for pension under the prior laws
for disabilities of service origin, are
now adjudicated in their order, where
the evidence is complete. So far from
holding back this class of claims the
commissioner thinks they
Should Have Precedence
as being older and more more meri.
torious. He calls attention to the act
prohibiting the payment of pensions to
non-residents who are not citizens of
the United States, except for actual
disabilities incurred in the service, and
asks that it be repealed. If all non.
residents, he says, were refused pay.
ments of pension, some plausible argu-
ment might be made in support of such
policy, but none a be urged in favor
Of this law, which, while giving annoy
ance 10 all, strikes only the most help
less.
POrtcr's Report.