The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-23
he ROLL OF HONOR.
|fnmissioner Of Pensions MUIR
ply Makes His Report.
/ VETERANS DYING OFF.
- Commissioner Recommends an In
sssss TO Mexican War Veterans
I'D Other Liberal Provisions.

wasaing;oE City. Sept. Z-Dom,ric I.
zsvoay, commissioner OF pensions, made
~ annual report for the fiscal year end
-, lime %, issS. 10 Secretary Francis yes
Z~szv. and a brief synopsis appeared in
- Post-InieIligencer. among the feat
- Of his report are the following. There
- added 10 the rolls during the year
AZ new pensioners, and there were re-
H~srsd s,s1z. VINO had previously been
zsssped. a total Of Az. During the same
z..r.od the loses were 2, 80 by deaths and
m by remarriage (widows). 1.es4 by legal
zsrs;a lion frnInors). 2.5s2 because OF fail
-. 70 claim pension for three years, and
2ssa for other causes, an aggregate OF
Hua The net gain over the previous
! - vas only 1a. and IL may be safely as
Asur,ed that the roll forthwith Will show
Il. marked and steady dimlnutIon. unless.
Innsress should enact st.li more liberal
Nsoyisl0ns than are now upon the statute
asxka The rate OF mortality among our
zssosloners among those who served dur
II the war Of the rebellion. Ia steadily In
Nsreassng, the number reported deceased
Nsrr,ue the year far exceeding that OF any
zro-respondlng period In the history OF the
Ntuezu, The whole number OF pensioners
r. the roll June %. 1896, was s70.57s
4 while the rolls show a slight gain In
I.umbers over the year Immediately pre-
.eslng the amount discussed for pensions
- tl3s. ia 76l a decrease of 81. Sc, la5. "a
I,ampared with the previous year. There
Ive.e 1855 pension claims pending AT the
elo,e OF the fiscal year. z3s.S77 being ap-
Ascations for increase made by persons
}rou on the rolls
Although last years estimate OF $40. Co.,
n for pensions was sf.79o. s2o more than
- necessary for the past fiscal year, tho
Haumissioner duplicates the estimat to for
he next fiscal year. stating that he be-
! ;,syes that adjudication OF many items
VII. make the full amount necessary. II
Is h,s Intention 10 push the settlement OF
ezses as rapidly az possible. An estimate
au.218 $50 Is made for miscellaneous es-
ssnses.
The commissioner says me payment by
yyuchers has worked satisfactorily. and
spposes a return 10 personal payments.
eoue difficulty has been experienced In
ne execution OF vouchers In Germany and
Ne treasury department has been request
"A 10 furnish the bureau OF information
q 10 wha. persons have authority 70 aa
gsnister oaths. There are sol United
oa.ss pensioners In Germany.
i Regarding tho revision Of the pension
Isl. the commissioner says: There II no
fuar6aiion for the erroneous impression
| tat Il liz the intention stiii further 10 re-
GSe the ISIS. as TINS pufklnS OF hNe rDtls
Iesmmence5 IN 1899 has been entirely ac-
l esmpl.shed. II ought 10 be understood.
1toweyer. that there still exists the purpose
b maintain the pension roll as the nation's
ssl OF honor
/ Concerning prosecutions he says: "Of-
finders against the pension laws have been
. Vigorously prosecuted during the pas,
Gree years that the criminal work OF the
Aks division has been materially lesSened.
through the combined efforts OF the law
6vsion and the special examination iiyl-
ecn there has been refunded to the United
f1sss during the year s20.9 or which
G.sS was recovered as the outcome OF
Ae csvli suits. During the year 90 indlct
mats were found. and there we're I2
Recommendations for prosecution. The
lumber OF sentences was 100. and s. Of
Ar:ers against the pension laws were taxi
o. into custody.
y arm glad TO state that the rigorous
otasures Instituted by my predecessors
lave apparently discouraged violations Of
De pension laws and rendered the busi-
tess OF procuring fraudulent pensions I'M
NE and Improbable
Commissioner Murphy commends the
4 work OF the special examiners. and SAYS
Dat the additional force OF $50 should be
eeat.nued. The cost OF this force during
re year was s3a7.sss. He says the PEN
4 Son building IS entirely inadequate for The
work. and makes some suggestion IA TO
Improvement
i He recommends an increase OF 81 per
oon,h OF pensions TO widows OF officers
sni soldiers who died from causes or in
he service prior 20 March I. 1851. lie
! fcommends the passage Of the bill pend
hg In congress for the codihcauon OF the
oenson laws