The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-22
MANY VETERANS DYING
OVER 10000 PENSIONERS PASSED
AWAY IN THE LAST YEAR.
COmmis ssiOner Dominic I. Murphy's
Report the Work of His Bureau
-Overstreet's Law Success.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21. - Dominic /.
Murphy Commissioner of Pensions, has
made his annual report for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1896, to Secretary Francis
The report shows there were added to the
rolls during the year ,374 new pensioners,
and there were restored 3,S73 who had been
previously dropped a total of "A, ,247 Dur
ing the same period the losses were e, 1893
deaths, 1,141 by remarriage (widows), 1854
by legal limitation (ninors), 2,552 because
of failure to claim pension for three years
and 1928 for other causes, an aggregate of
44,O93. The net gain over the previous year
was only 154, land it may be now safely
assumed" Mr.. Murphy says, that the roll
from this time forth will show marked
and steady diminution, unless Congress
should enact still more liberal provisions
than are now upon the statute books. The
rate of mortality among our pensioners,
particularly among those who served DUR
ing the war of the rebellion is rapidly in
creasing, the number reported deceased
during the year far exceeding that OF any
corresponding period in the history of the
bureau"
The whole number of pensioners the
roll June 30, 1885, was 97067S. While the
rolls show slight gain in numbers over
the year Immediately preceding, the
amount disbursed for pensions was SI38,2l4,-
with the previous year There were 495 664
pensions claims pending at the close OF the
fiscal year, 234, 33l being applications for in
crease made by persons now on the rolls.
Although last years estimate of $1,000 900
for pensions was 81, 100 620 more than was
necessary for the past fiscal year the Com
missioner duolicates the estimates for the
next fiscal year, stating that he believes
the adjudication of many cases will make
the full amount necessary. 1t is his in
tention to push the settlement of cases a 5
rapidly as possible An estimate of Sl,22e, :
$50 is made for miscellaneous expenses
The Commissioner says the payment by
vouchers has worked satisfactorily and op-
poses return to personal payments. Some
difficulty has been experienced in the ex-
ecution of vouchers in Germany, and the
State Department has been requested to
furnish the bureau information to what
persons have authority to administer oaths.
There are COL United States pensioners in
Germany.
the commissioner says: There is no
foundation for the erroneous impression
that it is the intention to still further re-
wise the lists as the purging of the rolls
commenced in 1873 has been entirely ac-
ssompshed It ous f to be fh
to maintain the pension roll as the Nation
roll of honor.
Concerning prosecutions he says: of
tenders against the pension laws have been
vigorously prosecuted during the past
three years that the criminal work of the
law division has been materially lessened
Through the combined efforts of the law
division and the special examination di-
United States during the year $20,982, of
which $40, 726 were recovered as the outcome
of eight civil suits. During the year 339 in
dictments were found and there were 242
Recommendations for prosecution. The
number of convictions was 167, the number
of sentences 160 and eighty-two offenders
against the pension laws were taken into
custody. l am glad to state that the rigor-
Gus measures instituted by my predecessor
have apparently discouraged violdtorS of
the pension laws and rendered the business
of procuring fraudulent pensions unsafe
and unprofit4 Bile.
Commissioner Murphy commends the
work of the special examiners and says the
additional force of $50 should be continued
The cost of this force during the year was
SAT- 95S. He says the pension building is at
present inadequate for the work and makes
some suggestions relative to the improve
ments. He recommends an increase to $l2
per month of pensions to survivors of the
Mexican war and also recommends pen
sions to widows of officers and soldiers who
died from causes originating in the service
prior to March T. 1861. He recommends the
passage of the bill pending in Congress for
the codification of the pension laws.
Ihe report of the Commissioner shows
the number of pensioners on the roll for
Indiana during the fiscal year was 6S,S36
and the amount paid $l0,5Sl, $751;
Treasury Circular No. 123.
WASHINGTON. Sept. I.-A second re-
vised edition of Treasury Circular No 123
was issued from the department to-day. 1t
contains sixty-eight pages of matter relat-