The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-28
ESTIMATES FOR PENSIONS
THE COMING YEAR WILL REQUIRE
OVER Sal, 100000.
Recommendations for Changes in the
Present Baw-The New japanese
Treaty Signed by Secretary Gresh-
am and Minister KurinO.

WASHINGTON. Nov 23.-The sub
committee of the house committee on pen
sious met today and after listening for
an hour to Commissioner Lochrens ex-
PLANTATION Of the requirements Of the Of
fee virtually decided to report bill pro-
viding for the appropriations recon-
mended by the commissioner in his esti-
mate. heretofore furnished, except in the
one item Of fees for examining surgeons
The original estimate was that S1,OOO,O 900
would be required to pay these fees, but
Mr.. Lochren told the committee today
that he thought 100000 would be sufficient
and that figure was decided upon. The
pension appropriations as decided upon by
the subcommittee will, therefore, be:
For pensions 49,. ......... $140,0O0,Oo0
For surgeons fees ......... 900
For Clerk hire at pension
agencies .......... .......... 40O,OO0
Miscellaneous ...... ... 1850
Total .......... .......... Sal, 3S1,51O
Mr. Lochren stated TO the committee
that he did not believe that a smaller sum
could De safely relied upon to meet the
requirements Of the service. He said that
the expenditures for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1894. had been approxlmated
$40 600 and he expressed the opinion
that with no additional legislation the
figures would be about the same for the
next two years. After that ne thought
there would be a GRADUAL decline. The
subcommittee vii meet again on Mon
day, the Sd Of December, but II is not prob
abla that there viii be any change in
the decision reached by the committee to-
day. In case there is no change the BIZ
wiz be reported to the full committee so
as TO get it promptly before the house.
The work Of the board Of pension APP
pea.s during the fiscal year ending June
80. 1894. and from that date to Nov. l,
1894. is fully reviewed in the report made
by Assistant Secretary Of the Interior John
NJ. Reynolds TO Secretary Smith.
In summarizing his administration Of
the office Mr. Reynolds says: Upon TAX
ing charge Of the office Of assistant secre-
tary in April, 1898, / found 1866 appeals
pending on the docket, with the work Of
the board Of appeals more than two years
behind. In eighteen and one-half months,
with 5.Si7 additional appeals entered dur
ing that period, the current appeals are
being decided, and tardy justice no longer
follows an appea. 10 this department by
any deserving soldier, widow or orphan.
Thus 10000 cases have been considered on
appeal and finally ruled upon, greater
number than was ever before disposed
of in the same length Of time, and more
than double the number considered in any
like period under my predecessor.
The small. balance Of arrears Is said 10
consist almost entirely Of Claims under
going further investigation in the pen
sion bureau and Of others which. for their
decision. await the determination Of lega-
questions that will be decisive Of all.
Many decisions, Mr.. Reynolds says, have
been rendered by him by which a mora
,ibera, construction. and one more in &C
cord with the spirit of justice and liber-
atty. has been placed upon sundry laws.
He recommends the following:
81 That sec AIS of the revised
statutes be amended so as to extend the
provisions, relative 10 the payment of &C
crued pensions for reimbursement, to the
cases Of widows and dependent relatives
of the soldier.
"2. To apply the provisions Of law re,a-
tive to widow pensioners, who neglect to
provide for the minor children Of the
soldier to the solder himself who unlaw
fully abandOns his family and neglects to
provide for them.
80. To amend sec. 8. act June 81, 1890,
so as to clearly define title TO pension to the
minor children of the soldier where he
does not leave a widow surviving him.
"A. The enactment of provisions of law
which will make proof Of marriage in the
prosecution Of pension claims Of universal
application throughout the United States.