Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-15
MAINE PENSIONERS.
Some Facts and Figures from Annual
Report Of Agent.
Gain Of 1853 Over 1ss5-0nIy " Widow
Pensioners Marry.

Inc report Oh capt. X. W. Black
United States pension agent for Maine
was completed. yesterday, and sub
mitted to the auditor of the depart
ment of the interior at Washington
who audits the accounts
The fiscal year ended, June 20 1906
There were on the rolls at that time.
1865 pensioners, of whom 1854 live in
Maine, the remainder, 1924, in other
states. nearly every one containing one
or more pensioners.
There were 1915 pensioners. last
year, at the corresponding period
The gain during. the year over the
number lost by death and other causes.
such as re-marriage. failure to claim.
and minors arriving at the age of 16
years, is 1853
There were of the first class enumer-
ated of these-those who had no
claim on account of re-marria ge-
only Il out of the whole number This
is indicative of the Discrimination of the
widow to give up the pension money.
for husband; the money side of it
doubtless being of deeper Importance.
as the age increases.
There were 50 who failed to claim
pensions. This is not as significant as
it might seem, however, as many do
not draw their pensions oftener than
once year, and three years must
elapse before a pensioner can be
dropped. Should greater time elapse.
renewal is made only through the
Washington agency
The amount disbursed on account of
pensions was $1,000, 9O1. which is about
the same as for the previous year.
During the year, 719 have died.
There is only one survivor of the war
of 1872, and 20 widows of that war; 80
survivors of the Mexican war, and 80
widows.
In addition to the 1865 checks which
have to be signed and sent by the
agent. there are many more in the way
of renewals. and about 1000 in the form!
of attorneys fees. which are sent di-
rect from the office.
An interesting report was received,
yesterday, by Captain Black. from
Washington, d. c., stating the results
at hat ~
of paying by vouchers only, as COM
pared with the old way of paying on
personal application when required.
1t states that. of those who drew
March payments in Washington, H.
c., 66 were arrested for drunkenness,
while at the June payment, the latter
under the new system, there were only
six.
This bears out the advantage of the
present voucher system, right up to
the cstimations made as to it's results
In Augusta, has been noticed a sim
liar result, only not as pronounced, for
the agent says, only 400 or 1900 out of
the entire 1865 were paid by applica-
ton in person. 1t is in the large cities
where the advantage is most felt
Navy pensioners in Maine, and in
all New England, for that matter, are
paid from the Boston agency. The
number being comparatively small, it
was thought best to have it arranged
that way.
All those who have moved out of the
United States and settled in other
countries, are transferred. and paid
through the agency at Washington,
2. c.
The report of the Maine agent in
cludeS an accountal for all payments.
with the numbers of the several kinds
of pensioners. and the sums paid to
each. The total amount comes out
right to the cent-somethng of job,
but an interesting one. he says