The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-10-19
PENSION REPORT.
Annual Report of Commissioner Lochren-
Amount Paid for Tensions Dishonesty OF
interruptions Agents.

Annual Report of Commissioner Lochren-
Amount Paid for rensions-Dishoncsty OF
INSCRIPTIONS Agents.
WASHINGTON, Oct 1S.-The report OF
Commissioner of Pensions Lochren for
the fiscal year ended June 80. 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, 1893, was 966Ol2. that dur
ing the year 39.OSj new pensioners were added
TO the rolls 81 ISL were dropped for death and
other causes. and 2,S9s previously dropped
were restored to the rolls. The number OF
pensioners upon the rolls Of June 90 1884, was
s69. 59i. The number OF pension tickets
issued during the year was S02lS, ana
l32.s73 claims of all classes were
rejected On July /. 1884,, there were undis-
posed OF and in different stages in preparation
and advancement claims for pensions and for
increase to the amount of 619.027. for which
as7. 9Og claims. originals. widows and depend
ents. are on behalf Of persons not already on
the rolls These claims. save some recently
fled 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.lT in 1876 to
e.g77 ten years later. The arrears act brought
in a large number of new claims increasing
the allowances and the disability act Of June
~. 1890. caused 3637g7 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 1914, 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
over the papers and allow fifty or more IN
day. Most Of the force of special examiners
were called in and put at this work. Difficult
cases, and such 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 of from
S63 799 in 1891, to 4014s in 1894, the fact being
that original claims for pensions under the eX-
listing laws are substantially akin and the bulk
of new claims are for increase. or for widows
and dependents 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 fled. 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 a5 .OOJ within the year. Nearly as care
full 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 large output OF certificates.
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was S139. SO4.46l. leaving a balance in the
treasury of So. 205.7l3 of the appropriation.
Much dishonesty and fraud. mainly attrib-
uted to INSCRIPTIONS claim agents, was I'M
covered. and there were ia convictions in the
United States courts within the year for pen
sion frauds, perjuries and forgerieS