The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-12-08
The Interior Department.

Inc secretary OF the interior mas tne super
vision of so many important subjects that his
reports are Of special value and interest On
the 30 h day of June, 1893 there were on the
pension rolls 956 0l2 names an increase of 81
81 over the number on the rolls June SO, 1892
OF these there were seventeen widows and
daughters of revolutionary soldiers. the sur
vivors of the war of 1872 "A = widow of soldiers
of that over 81 als survivors and widows OF the
Mexican war, 3,sSs survivors and widows OF In
dian wars 2si army nurses and 475si surviv-
ors and widows and children OF deceased SOL
diers and sailo of the war of the rebellion
The latter number represents those pensioned
on account of disabilities or death resulting
from army and navy service
The number of persons remaining on the rolls
of June %, 1890, which allows pensions on &C
count of d cath and disability not chargable TO
army service was 4's l55.
The number added to the rolls during the
years was Ia, ,s34 and the number dropped was
sl69'. The first payments on pensions allowed
during the year amounted to s33.. ID, 549. IS
This includes arrears on the accumulation be-
tween the time from which the allowance of
present dates and the time of actually granting
the certificates. although the law II ls9J per-
mits pensions for disability not related to mill
tary service, vet as REQUISITE to its benefits
disability must exist incapacitatiug applicants
from the performance Of manual labor 10 such
degree as 10 render tnem unable 10 earn
support"
Execution of this law in its early stages does
not seem to have been in accord with its true
inten ion. but toward the close OF the last ad
ministration an authoritative construction was
given TO the statute and since that time this
construction has been followed 7 is had the
effect of limiting the operation of the law TO its
intended purposes The discovery having been
made that many names had been put upon the
frauds. the commissioner suspended payments
upon q 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 es ablish. IL pos sible, the justice OF their
claims Notwithstanding apparent invalidity.
This, 1 understand is the practice which has
for long me preva led in the pension bureau
but after entering upon these recent investiga-
tions the commissioner modified this rule so as
not 10 allow. until after a complete examina-
ton, interference with the payment of a
pension not aitog -ther void. but which merely
had been fixed at a rate higher than that au-
thorized b. law. l am unable TO understand
why fra uds IN the pension ONCE should not be
exposed and corrected with thoroughness and
vigor. very name fraudulently put upon
these rolls is wicked imposition upon
the kindly sentiment in which pen
sions have their origin Evers fraudu-
lent pensioner has become a bad citizen
affidavits to support OF pension have made
perjury more ommC n, and false and undeserv-
ing pensions rob the people not only of their
money but OF the patriotic sentiment which
the survivors of a war fought for tie p eserva-
tion Of the union ought to inspire Thousands
OF neighborhoods have their wei known fraudu-
lent pensioners. and recent Developments by
the bureau establish appalling conspiracies to
establish pension frauds. Bv no means the
lAa dnna iz tn hrlV
pensioners. VIII, ought not TO be condemned 10
such associations
Those who attempt, in the line Of duty. 70
rectify these misdoings should not be accused Of
enmity OF indifference to the claims OF honest
veterans. The sum expended on account OF