Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-22
THE PENSION OFFICE.
An Abstract From the Report Of
Commissioner Lochren.
PENSIONS GRANTED Since MARCH 4,
Estimates Made Of Requirements
for the Next Fiscal Year.
THE SUSPENSION ORDER.

The formal report Of the commissioner Of
pensions. which Is now in the hands Of the
Secretary Of the Interior (and which was
this morning released for publication), is
supplemented by some later figures Of in
terest.
A statement prepared at the pension bu-
reau shows that since March 4. 1888, the
total number of pensions granted was S.
S2S OF these 4.12S were issued since August
26. 1888. and comprise M original and l. 497
Increases. OF the originals issued to SOL
diers Of the late war 326 were for disabili-
ties contracted in the service and in line
Of duty and 31S were issued under the act
OF June q. 1890. The number issued for
disabilities contracted In the service was
therefore, twenty in excess Of those issued
under the dependent act. The board of re-
vision Is now disposing OF an average OF
about 1.6C0 cases per week Of those sus-
pended under the recent orders Of the bu-
reau. At this rate 1t Is estimated that prac-
ucally all OF those heretofore suspended
will be disposed Of by October 10. It IL 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 pensions
restored Commissioner Lochren estimates
that the amount appropriated for this year
Will be enough and that the only deficiency
appropriations required will be 100000 for
special examiners and another appropria-
ton for fees and expenses Of examining
surgeons.
as follows: For pensions, $780, 900; for
surgeons fees. 81, 900, 900: for salaries of
pension agents, 81. 900: clerk hire at pen
sion SIC a. agencies, $500: 600: contingent expenses.
$o9.570: total, $l62. .631 $40.
The commissioner enumerates the various
reforms inaugurated-the abandonment Of
the completed files system and the modif-
ca ton Of order 1s4 Of October 15 1890. as to
latter point: 1T is perfectly clear that un-
der this order 184 in granting pensions
under this act Of June q. 1890. the act itself
was set aside and disregarded. with the
result of granting pensions not authorized
by any law"
The Suspension Order.
In regard to the temporary suspension Of
order 164 he says:
In cases where 1t was believed that q
pension could not be sustained ana another
medical examination was thought neces-
sary the payment Of the pension was or
dered to be suspended pending investiga-
tion, according to the practice Of the bu-
reau from the beginning, and at the proper
time the usual sixty-day notice was given
ask for medical examination or supply
further evidence Of his right to his pen
sion. This practice OF the bureau. always
followed, IL the correct practice. 1t Is not
the withdrawal or taking away Of q pen
sion, but the temporary Withholding of its
payment where 1t appears to be unlawful
pending a proper inquiry. Upon your sug-
gestion that even this temporary with
holding might work hardship where, upon
the face Of the papers. 1t appears that the
pensioner Is entitled to at least some less
rating, the practice has been modified and
changed as to the cases under this act so
far that suspensions of payment pending
the sixty days are only ordered when on
the face Of the papers 1t appears prima
facie that the pensioner is not entitled to
any pension"
The Question of Precedence.
Precedence Is no longer given to cases
under the act Of June q. 1890. but claims
for pension under the prior laws. for disa-
bilities Of service origin. are now adjudi-
Gated 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 meritorious. He calls attention
sions to non-residents who are not citi-
zens of the United States except for actual
disabilities incurred In the service. and
asks that it be repealed. If all non-resi-
dents, he says were refused payments Of
pension some plausible argument might be
made In support Of such policy, but none
can be urged in favor Of this law, which,
while giving annoyance to all. strikes only
the most helpless.