The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-30
PENSION MATTERS.
Work of the Board of Appeals-Some REQ.
concentrations.


WASHINGTON. Nov. 24-The work of
the board of pension appeals during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1894, and
from that date to November /, 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 taking charge of the Office of assistant
secretary in April. 1893. found 1885 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,Si5 adj
ditional appeals entered during that period.
the current appeals are being decided. and
tardy justice no longer follows an appeal to
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 Pc
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, Mr.. 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 471s of the revised stat
utes be amended so AZ 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.
Third-To amend section 3, act June % 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.
Fourth-Tne enactment OF provisions OF law
which will make proof of marriage, in the
prosecution of pension claims, of universal ap-
plication throughout tbs 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 $1,000, 900
would be required to pay these fees,
but Mr.. 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, OOO,-
600: for surgeons fees, SsOO,OOO; for
clerk hire at pension agencies, S15O.OOO;
S13l,51O. Total, SAL
3S1,51O.