The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-10-18
PENSION EFFORT.
Annual Report of Commissioner Lochren- Amount Paid for Pensions--Disbonesty of Interruptions Agents.

Annual Report of Commissioner Lochren--
 Amount Paid for Pensions-Dishonesty of
 Interruptions Agents.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.--The report of Commissioner of Pensions Lochren for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1894, has been submitted to the secretary of the interior, and the following abstract has been given out for publication:
 The report states the number of pensioners on the rolls June 30, l893 was 9G6.012: that dur ing the year 39,0S5 new pensioners were added to the rolls, 7051 were dropped for death and other causes, and 2398 previously dropped were restored to the rolls The number of pensioners upon the rolls of June 30 1894 was v09,o94. The number of pension tickets issued during the year was S0,2l3, and l3?,H3 claims of all classes were rejected On July 1 189i there were undis- posed of and in different stages in preparation and advancement claims for pensions and for increase to the amount of 6l9027, for which 2S7,2O9 claims, originals, widows and depend- ents. are on behalf of persons not already on the rolls. These claims, save some recently hled have been examined more than once and found lacking in essential evidence They are the same cases that have come down through the past years
 The fact is referred that under the laws the allowances decreased from 50,l77 in 1878 to 9,977 ten years later. The arrears act brought in large number of new claims, increasing the allowances and the disability act of June 27 lS9O, caused 353,797 claims to be filed the next year. As most of these claims were meri- torious and simple as to proof under that law and under order l6i, which went beyond the law and rated disabili- ties as if of the service origin the work was easy, and an expert examiner could glance al tv pr m a day. Most of the force of special examiners were called in and put at this work. Difficult cases, and such as were lacking in proof, or suspicious in respect to merit, or requiring special examination, were passed over and now constitute large part of the cases coming up for adjudication.
 New claims of all kinds have fallen on from S03,799 in 1891 to 40,l4S in 1891, the fact being that original claims for pensions under the ex- isting laws are substantially akin and the bulk of new claims are for increase, or for widows and dependants. The old cases on which the most of the work is expended are, as stated, difficult cases in which proof is defective or lacking, requiring careful consideration or re- peated examination as any new piece of evil dence Is filed, or as often as the condition and status of the case is furnished to the claimant or his attorney or to member of congress.
 The answers to congressional calls alone ex- ceeded 95 0OO within the year. Nearly as care- ful an examination is required in each Of these cases as would have been necessary to adjudi- cate the case If the evidence were complete. With the class of work on hand the utmost diligence on the part Of the office force could not produce a large output of certificates.
 The amount paid for pensions during the year was Sl39.S0i46l, leaving a balance in the treasury of s25, ,205, ,7l3 of the appropriation.
 Much dishonesty and fraud, mainly attrib- uted to interruptions claim agents, was un- covered, and there were i74 convictions in the United States courts within the year for pen sion frauds, perjuries and forgeries.