River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-09-28
THE PENSION BUREAU.


it's Work for the Year Reviewed by Conn
missioner Loehren.
WASHINGTON, Sept 25.--Pension Com
missioner Lochren has submitted his
annual report to the secretary of the
interior The number of pensioners
on the rolls of the bureau is 966, 0l2.
net increase of S9,944 for the
year. During the year 24,7i5 claims
for increase of pensions and 81. 800
for additional pension under the act of
June %, 1890, were allowed. In the
same time II j,22l claims for pension
and for increase We're rejected. Claims
pending considera ton July : num-
bered Ill. $50. The amount of money
paid for pensions during the year was
1856, 74O, az. and the balance at the
close of the year was 81. 1881.
Appropriations for the next fiscal
year. Commissioner Lochren states.
will be ample, and the estimates for
the fiscal year 1895 amount to sl62,
63l, $50, as follows:
For pensions a. 50 600 0o0
For surgeons fees...........-.... -. 20e0OO0
For salaries OF pension agents .....- 1000
Clerk hire at pension agencies. s00Oo0
Contingent expenses 5s.599
Toial............ 49,. ........,.. sies 6sI $40
The commissioner enumerates the
various reforms inaugurated- the aban-
Comment of the completed files system
and the modification of order 1874 of
October Is, 1890. as to disability PEN
sions etc. lie SAYS on this latter
point:
ut is perfectly clear that under this order
1874 in granting pensions under the act OF June
%, 1890, the act itself was set aside and disre-
Asa4
authorized by any law"
The board of revision is now dispos-
ing of an average of about !, 900 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 October 10. 1t 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.
In regard to the temporary suspension
of order 1874 he says:
'In cases where 1t was believed that PEN
sion could not be sustained and another
medical examination was thought neces-
sary the payment OF the pension was
ordered to be suspended pending in
vestigation, according TO the practice
OF the bureau from the beginning;
and at the proper time the usual sixty
day notice was given to the pensioner. with
in which he could ask for medical exam
ination or supply further evidence OF his
right TO his pension. This practice of the
bureau, always followed, is the correct
practice. II is not the withdrawal or
taking away OF a pension, but the tenn
porary withholding of its payment where IL
appears 10 be unlawful, pending a proper in
quiry. Upon your suggestion that even this
temporary Withholding might work hardship
where, upon the face OF the papers. il appears
that the pensioner is entitled 70 at least some
less rating, the practice has been modified and
changed as TO the cases under this act so far
that suspe nsions of payment pending the sixty
days are only ordered when on the face of
the papers IL appears prima facie that
the pensioner is not entitled 10 any pension
The sixty day notice in suspending pensioners
was not for the purpose of Withdrawing a PEN
sion, but temporarily Withholding il, where il
appears to be unlawful pending inquiry. Spe-
cial examiners are now investigating wholesale
frauds in New Mexico and Iowa"
The commissioner recommends
codifcation of pension laws, with few
changes; that promotions be made with
regard To merit alone, and in utter dis
regard of influence; and the repeal of
the act of congress providing that
no pension shall be paid to
nonresident who is not a citizen
of the United States, except for actual
disabilities incurred in the service.
Commissioner Lochren concludes as fol-
lows: II recognize to the fullest ex-
tent that my sole duty is to execute
and administer the laws as they are en-
acted, fairly and honestly interpretedn