The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-10
Fifteen Millions Saved in Pensions

Tho passage by the House Of the Pension
Supply bill substantially as made up by the
committee, insures an enormous reduction
in next years outlay for this purpose. But
the question arises whether the Senate can
safely concur In this economy. or whether
IL Is an inadequate provision. that will re-
turn 70 plague the next session with a
prodigious deficiency.
On this point there Is some very timely
and instructive testimony in the scknowi-
edgment even Of those who would like to
see more money laid out in pensions. The
bill. as presented to the House. carried
si5i.5sl.57o. Last years appropriation was
sleS.5sc.s5o. Thus is made a prospective
gain to the Treasury OF close upon $1,000
COO. Commissioner RArM. it will be
remembered. only Q little more than q
year ago estimated that the appropria-
ton now under consideration would have
TO be about $50. 900 900. and that this would
be the high-water mark OF expenditures
under existing laws. Now We find the
House contentng itself with an appro-
priAtion about s2s.Ooo.Ooo less than he
calculated upon. II might therefore at
first be suspected that the House has greatly
underestimated the current needs. But Gen.
RAUM's figures were based upon the theory
that the next fiscal year would see about
l.250 900 pensioners on the rolls. and IL 10
doubtful whether the number will very
greatly exceed 100000. On Dec. 81. 1893.
there were 90. l42 pensioners. The wedding
out OF fraudulent pensions and the policy Of
disallowinR. hereafter. rates not made in
accordance with law. account partly for the
recent slow increase Of the rolls.
In addition the penslon-makin9 ma
chinery is no longer turning out certificates
at the almost incredible speed and volume
achieved by RAUM. Mr.. GBoUr has given
some interesting statistics on this point
In a single fiscal year Commissioner RAUM
issued the prodigious number OF 81. $50
certificates. whereas in the first six months
OF the present fiscal year Commissioner
LocHRKS issued only g. $50. which is at the
rate OF 5000 In a year. In other words,
Gen. RAuM granted applications over four
times as fast as Judge LocHREs now grants
them. Again. from June 10 Dec. l. 1884,
RAUM allowed lilo. 266 claims and rejected
44.Ses. whereas LocHRES during the CORE
spending months OF 1898 allowed S5.T55 and
rejected 67.SsS. That's to say. RAUN allowed
more than twice as many As he rejected. and
as he allowed. Without considering the
question why this remarkable differ
enos in the fate OF applications oc-
CURED, the result on the condition OF the
pension roll is apparent. Whatever the
cause. the fact itself shows why nearly
50. 600 less is needed for pensions next
year than RAUa had anticipated.
Again. for the first six months OF the pres
ent fiscal year. in which LoCHRES issued
$500 certificates. the first payments on
those certificates were only a.76s. slO.4s.
whereas. for the corresponding six months
Of the previous year. under RAUM. when
lilo. ass certificates we're issued, the first pay
ments on them were SIS. 5OT. $50 SO. Here is
g difference OF nearly Sl5.0O0.OOO. The aver
age value on one Of RAUM's certificates was
sI75.57. and on one OF LoCHRES's IL was only
tll0.s3. The difference on the whole num-
Der issued by the latter amounts TO
s.. 3Ol.l6O. exclusive Of the saving due 70 the
smaller number OF certificates issued. Once
more. taking the 1900 reflections by Judge
LOCHRES in excess OF the reflections by
RAUM. in the same period. had these claims
been accepted the first payments on
them would have been nearly 100000
at LoCHRKS's rate, and above IS OOO 900 on
RAUA's. Finally. taking into view also the
issue OF fewer certificates. Mr, CIRCUIT thinks
that the six months work might have cost
the Treasury from $1,000. 900 TO So. OOO. 600
more Il performed By RAUM than as per-
formed by LOCHREs. Here. however, il Is
well TO note the point made by Mr.. O'SEIL.
that. In order not TO receive a false impress
sion as % the present work Of the Pension
Bureau, We must also observe the decreas-
ing number Of applications. These we're
S6s. 1913 in 1891. but only IS. s45 in lSS2. and
only 1873 last year.
To go into the question Of the new methods
of administration in the Pension bureau
would involve a wholly different branch Of
inquiry. but side light may bs thrown on
that matter by Mr GEoUT's statement that,
local Boards have not only e1-
amined the character Of the disability. but
have given their opinion on the rate OF
pension TO which the claimant is entitled.
whereas now this latter point must bs left
wholly TO the decision Of the BOARD Of
Medical Examiners in the Pension Once
upon the tActs reported BY the local sxamI.