The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-11-29
PENSION MATTERS.
"ork or the Board of Appeals-Some Reo-
 concentrations.

"ork or the Board of Appeals-Some Rec.
 concentrations.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-The work of the board of pension appeals durinp the fiscal year ended June 30. 1894 and from that date to November 1, 1894. is fully reviewed in the report made bv Assistant Secretary of the Interior John M. Reynolds to Secretary Smith. Tn summarizing his administration of the office, Mir. Reynolds says:
 Upon taking charge of the ofice of assistant secretary in April, iso3 found 4,965 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 5sIY ad- ultlonal appeals entered during that period the current appeals are being decided, and tardy justice no longer follows an appeal to thls department by any deserving soldier. Widow or orphan. Thus, 10000 cases have been considered on appeal and finally ruled upon, n greater number than was ever before disposed or In the same length of time, and more than double the number considered in any like pe- riod under my predecessor.
 The small balance of arrears is said to consist almost entirely of claims undergoing further investigation in the pension bureau, and of others which for their final decision awaits the determination of legal questions that will be decisive of all.
 Many decisions, Mir. Reynolds says, have been rendered by him by which a more liberal construction and one more in accord with the spirit of justice and liberality has been placed upon sundry laws. He recommends the following:
 First-That section 47ls of the revised stat utes be amended so as to extend the provisions relative to the payment of accrued pensions for reimbursement to the cases Of widows and dependent relatives of the soldier.
 Second-To apply the provisions of law rela- tive to widow pensioners who neglect to pro- vide for the minor children of the soldier. to the soldier himself who unlawfully abandons his family and neglects to provide for them.
 Thtrd-To amend section g. act June 27 1890, so as to clearly define title to pension to the minor children of the soldier where he does not leave widow surviving him.
 Fourth-Tne enactment of provisions of law which will make proof of marriage, in the prosecution of pension claims, Of universal ap- plication throughout the United States
 PENSION APPROPRIATION BILL.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-The sub. committee of the house committee on pensions met yesterday and after lis- tening for an hour to Commissioner Lochren's explanation of the require ments of his office virtually decided to report a bill providing for appro- priations recommended by the con- missioner in his estimate heretofore furnished except in the one item of fees for examining surgeons. The original estimate was that Sl,O0O, 600 would be required to pay these fees, but Mir. Lochren told the committee he thought $500, 900 would be sufficient, and that figure was decided upon.
 The pension appropriations as de- cided upon by the subcommittee will, therefore, be: For pensions, $40, ,O00,- 900; for surgeons fees, $500, ,OO0; for clerk hire at pension agencies, s15O,OOO; miscellaneous, s131,57O. Total, S141,- 3Sl 57O