Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-07
WORK. or TIE PENSION BUREAU.
Assistant Secretary Reynolds Issues
His Annual RcpOrt.

His Annual Report.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The report Of AS
slstant Secretary OF the Interior Reynolds
for the present year shows the policy pur-
sued in the administration of pension az
fairs. 1t states the important changes in
the rulings and practice of the department
and the enforcement of a general plan for
uniformity and justice in the determination
OF appeals. The assistant secretary says
the liberal and generous spirit which
prompted the enactment OF the pension laws
has been the guide of the department in
their construction. Former adjudica lions
have not been disturbed save where fraud,
error in law or mistake was apparent.
Figures are cited to show the significant
reduction of pending cases and to demon
strate that for the first time in eight years
the work of the office during the past year
was devoted to considering current appeals
The commissioner OF pensions was reversed
in 2,066 of the cases ruled. The report says
General satisfaction has followed the rec
ommendation OF last year for such legisla-
tion as would secure better protection to
the pension fund, due incompetents and 9th
ers followed by the law directing all quar-
terly payments to be made by check. Graf
flying results have followed the act of
March 2. 1895, which secured an extension
of cases wheron payments of accrued pension
could be made, as well as that OF the act
Of March G. 1896. relating to the commence
ment OF pensions under act of June Z, 1890
The suggestion Is again made as to the ad-
visibility of such legislation as will lodge
in the federal courts the right of any one
on behalf of the government to ask better
protection to the pension fund Of those la
boring under legal disabilities The fol-
lowing also are suggested: That justice
demands the universal application of the
common law rule in proof of marriage, state
laws governing and leading to denial of title
in cases which are equally meritorious.
That the pensonable rights of minor chill
dren who claim under the act Of June q.
1890. should be defined with more certainty
where the soldier dies leaving no widow
surviving. The act of August s, 1892, re
lates to pensionable title OF those women
who served as nurses during the war of the
rebellion. Title is confined to those who
served in regimental post, camp or general
hospitals. The refusal of the War depart
ment to recognize those as properly en-
ployed who served in the first three classes
mentioned tends to defeat their title and
renders this portion of the act nugatory.
Attention Is invited to this In order that
proper legislation may be enacted to relieve
any deserving claimants OF an unjust and
unlntentional discrimination.
On February |, 1896, a new division was
organized in the Office OF the secretary by
his order, and the board of pension appeals
was thereby merged In this new division,
which was designated the disposition of PEN
sion affairs BY this means all matters re-
lating to pensions were brought into a di-
vision and under the assistant secretary's
supervision. The result has been to har-
monte and systematic this work and has
also led TO its greater expedition in the
disposition OF business.