The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06
DEPARTMENT. OF THE INTERIOR.
Effort to Retire Unworthy and Frau
duIent Pensioners-The Indians

duIent PensiOners-The Indians.
The secretary Of the interior has the
supervision of 50 many important subjects
that his report is of especial value and
interest.
on the SOth day Of June. 1893, there were
the pension rolls 966.0l2 names, an in
crease of S99H over the number on the
rolls June 80 1892. OF these there were
seventeen widows and daughters of revo-
lutiOnary soldiers, 5,425 survivors and wild
ows OF soldiers of the war of 1912, 2l5lS
survivors and widows Of the Mexican war,
3SS2 survivors and widows of Indian wars
PSI army nurses. and 1855 survivors and
widows and children of deceased soldiers
and sailors Of the war Of the rebellion.
The latter number represents those pen
stoned on account of disabilities or death
resulting from army and navy service.
The number of persons remaining on the
rolls June 80, 1898, who were pensioned
under the act of June p, 1880. which al
lows pensions on account Of death and
disability not chargeable to army service
was 459,155 The number added to the rolls
during the year was 1854, and the num-
Der dropped was 30 $50. The first pay
ments pensions allowed during the year
amounted TO S3S,1j6 5949S This includes
arrears, or the accumulation between the
time from which the allowance Of pen
siOns dates and the time of actually grant
ing the certificates. Although the law OF
1890 permits pensions for disabilities not
related to military service. yet as a requi-
site to its benefits disability must exist,
incapacitating applicants from 1.-The per
Torrance of manual labor to such de-
gree as to render them unable to earn a
support"
Execution of this law in it's early stages
does not seem TO have been in accord with
its true intention, but toward the close of
the last administration an authoritative
construction was given to the statute, and
since that time this construction has been
followed. This has had the effect OF limit
ing the operation of the law to its in
tended purpose.
The discovery having been made that
many names had been put on the pension
roll by means of wholesale and gigantic
frauds, the commissioner suspended pay
mentS upon a number of pensions which
seemed TO be fraudulent or unauthorized,
pending a complete examination, giving
notice to the pensioners, in order that they
might have an opportunity to establish, il
possible, the justice Of their claims, not
outstanding apparent invalidity
This, i understand. is the practice which
has for long time prevailed in the PEN
sion bnreau, but after entering upon these
recent Investigations the missioner
moulned this rule 50 as not TO allow, until
after a complete examination, interference
With the payment of a pension apparently
not altogether void, but which merely had
been fixed at a rate higher than that au-
thortzed by law. / am unable to under
stand why frauds in the pension rolls
should not be exposed and corrected with
thoroughness and vigOr. Every name
fraudulently put upon these rolls is a
wicked imposition upon the kindly senti-
ment in which pensions have their origin
EVERY fraudulent pensioner has become a
bad citizen; every false oath in support of
pension has made perjury more common
ana false and undeserving pensioners rob
the people, not only of their money. but
OF the patriotic sentiment which the sur
vlvors or war, fought for the preserva-
ton or the union ought to inspire Thou
sands Of neighborhoods have their we'll
known fraudulent pensioners, and recent
Developments by the bureau establish ap-
lfch
sion frauds. BY no means the least wrong
done is 60 brave and deserving pensioners
VINO certainly ought not TO be condemned
10 such association. Those who attempt.
ln the line OF duty 70 rectify these wrongs
should not be accused Of enmity or in
ulIerence 10 the claims of honesty.
The sum expended on account of mem
sions for the year ending June go 1893, was
$3.50. 740 467.14. The commissioner estimates
that SIS. will be required to paw pen
sions during the year ending June 30 1894
Condition of the Indians.
The condition Of the Indians and their
ultimate fate are subjects which are re-
lated to a sacred duty Of the government.
and which strongly appeal to the sense OF
Justice and the sympathy Of our people.
Our Indians number about 24s,O00 Most of
them are located on ISL reservations. con-
tanning s6.li6,53l acres of land. About 10000
Of these Indians have. to large degree.
adopted civilized customs. Lands in sew
eral territories have been allotted to many
OF them. Such allotments have been made
TO 10000 individuals during the last fiscal
year. embracing about one million acres.
The number OF Indian government schools
opened during the year was 1876. an Increase
OF twelve over the preceding year OF
this total 10 were on reservations. OF
which seventy-three were boarding schools
and ninety-seven were day schools Twenty
boarding schools and five day schools
supported by the government were not
located on reservations. The total number