River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-11-11
TIE PENSION BUREAU.
Interesting Extracts from Commits
sipner Evans. Reterf.

Washington, Nov. 6.-Tle first an
nual report of Commissioner of Pen
sions IL. Clay Evans to thesecretary of
the interior, was made public Friday.
a summary follows:
There were added to the rolls during the
year the names Of 80 l0i new pensioners and
the-e were restored to the r)lls 3,sIl pen
sioners who had been previously dropped
total Of H,052- During the same period
the losses 20 tho rolls were 9 $50 by death,
l,074 by remarriage Of widows and mothers
l,s45 by legal limitatl IN tmiIors). 2,6S3 for
failure to claim pensio for tree years and
..So for other causes, an aggregate of
4l,l22
The whole number of pensioners on the
rolls June SO, 1897 was s760li The net gain
over the previous year was 1886 Ii VIII
tnus be seen that the pension roll has not
yet begun 10 show any diminution, though
II has been anticipated by predecessors in
once that such would be the fact. Seven
widows OF revolutionary soldiers and nine
daughters OF revolutionary soldiers are
still on the rolls.
During the year 94.45i pension certificates
were issued, OF which number 50,l0i were
original allowances and the balance were
reissues, increases, reservations, etc. Dur
ing the same period Il, 2sl claims Of various
classes were disallowed. This number
however, does not include claims which
were made for higher rates of pensions.
The amount disbursed for pensions by
me pension agents during the year was
sig, Tg9. 242.l2 and the amount disbursed by
treasury settlement was $3.50, 475 %, Il total
of sl3s.s4s,I7S5. This exceeds the amount
disbursed during the fiscal year 1876 by
the sum of sl.5Si,4s0.l II 1861 certificates,
which were held in this bureau until July
l, 1897, had been mailed to the pension
agents during the fiscal year, they would
ret NO o inn n
s2.lSl ,694, besides the additional annual
value, which would also have been charge
upon the appropriation. This amount,
added TO that actually disbursed, makes an
aggregate of s14l. 990.s3 The appropria-
ton for the payment of pensions for the
fiscal year 1897 was only s140,O0o.000. The
average annual value OF each pension at
the close OF the year was sl33l7. The av-
erage annual value of each pension under
the general law was Sl69. o.: each under the
act OF June q. 1890. was s109.25 The aggre-
gate annual value of all pensions at the
close OF the year was sl29, 795.i2S.
Referring to the consolidation of agencies,
Commissioner Evans recommends that the
executive order of July last suspending
the operation of the order of February 6.
1897, the latter of which provided for the
consolidation. be continued Indefinitely
and adds: II am still of the opinion that
the reduction and consolidation of the
pension agencies al this time is not only
unnecessary but inexpedien.; that the dis
ruption of business in the agencies, the
business for the interior department and
the general Inconvenience Of the service
would more than offset the anticipated saw
ing to the government" Attention IS
called to significant saving in rentals of
agencies, a policy still being continued
In conclusion the report recommends the
publication OF a complete list OF pensioners
and the passage of a law to the end that
no pension be granted to the widow of
any soldier that shall marry hereafter.