Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-10-22
NAT I0NAL.
completed

Washington, Oct. 16.-The report
of Commissioner of Pensions II. Clay
Evans, which will be given to the
public in a few days, will show the
government peusiOn list has increased
daring the past year both in the
amount of payments and IN the num-
ber of pensioners. Mr.. Evans has fig
uaed up the total number Of men, wO-
men and children who last year re-
ceivcd bOuntics from the Unite
States government as result Of he
recent war, and he tinds that 9S3,62
pensioners are carried on the rolls.
This is an increase ofabout $4,000 over
the previous year, when there were
but 91O.52i pensioners. The eXpendi-
lures during the fiscal year just ended
have amounted to 2,47IS41 50,
which over ops the record of lS9j-9G
by little o ,erS3. 0OO. 900. Theamount
expended during the ii n year l>9j-
80 was Sl39, 2SO,O7S. Commissioner
Evans states, however, that if the
record Of the disbursements ON ac-
count of pensions made during the
past year had been complied IN accord
anCe with the methods followed by
the last commission of pensions, the
pawn Ms tor 1896 would have been
less E. v they were i'm lS9j-9G.
Nv lie the report of Commissioner
Lochren.' SAYS Mr.. Evans. shows
that but Sl39.2SO. 900 was spent on ac-
count of pensions during lS95-96, this
Il 1es net include the entire amount of
money which should have been paid
under my predecessor. just before
the fiscal year ended June 30. 1896.
closed. Mr.. Lochrcn stopped The pay
mcnt OF pension, for about 80 day, i'm
June. These disbursements wore MOI
made until July. or lu the next fiscal
year. My administration had TO a,-
sumo the payment OF these claims al
though they maturcd during the ten an
of Mr.. Lochrcn II this were not the
$50, il would make the total cXpcpi-
jurc for the past year lbou, ctuV tc
that of lS9j-6. TIE nrs~cuec ali ad
dillonal pcn~ioner. tina cd now Sound
ON the roll is explained ~ the fact
that as / came INTO Office / decided io
take up and dispose ct as rapidly 1-
possible the old claims for arrears
There arc "a great number of the~C.aud
they have been uu the flies iDr many
years. The increase OF 5000 IN the
number OF pensioners is made up
almost entirely of Old claims which
have been allowed.
81 viii continue the consideration
OF these old case, during the next
year. OF until they are all cl.u a mo.
II is likely therefore, chat thc pension
list Will not increase. either In point
of numbers or IN the matter OF pay
meuts. during the curont year.
predict, he wever. that after 1895 10
Will begin 90 drop, and after it once
begins to drop, and aftcrito once begius
to go down il VIII bcgin 10 drop. mud
after 10 once bee ms 10 90 down will
! decline very rapidly. The soldier OF
the late war are getting old very fast.
! and many OF them passed away dur
ing the last year No gain was made
in the pension list, as their places
were mostly taken up widows.
Commissioner Evans will make an
important recommendation TO con-
gress i'm the way of pension legislation.
81 intend" he said today, p,
if possible, the practice when : no.
! tOriOusly general, of women marrying
old soldiers merely for the sake of Sc
curing a pension, which they will be-
come emit, I'd to upon the death OF
their husbands. IprOpose to recon
mend to congress that law be passed
providing that hereafter women mar
rying soldiers shall not be enlltlcd to
J a widows pension upon the dccease OF