Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-06
ROLL IS INCREASING.
Five Thousand Pensioners Were
Added to the List During the
Last Twelve Months.
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS EVANS

AotAi lost for the Year Was Really Nearly
e14e,OOO.OOO. About 100000 More
Than Was Appropriated-Averag Value
of PensiOns-No Consolidation of Aren.
cies Canadian Statesmen Coming d
Talk About Reciprocity and Seals.
Washington, Nov. 6.-Tbe first annual
report Of Commissioner of Pensions H.
Clay ss'ans to the secretary Of The in
terror Vas made public yesterday. A
summary follows: There were added to
the rolls during the year the names of
So.lOl new pensioners, and there were
restored to the rolls (, 81 pensioners who
had been previously dropped, a total Of
s4.o12. During the same period the losses
to the roll were 1850 by death. 1,074 by
remarriage of widows and mcthers l.
s45 by legal limitation (minors), 2.6s3 for
failure to claim pension for three years
and 1900 Tor other causes, an aggregate
OF 4l,l22. The whole number of pension
ers on the rolls June 80. 1897. was $751;
9li. The net gain over the previous year
was 1856. 1t will thus be seen that the
pension roll has not yet begun to show
any diminution, though it has been an
ticipated by Evans predecessors in Of
nee that such would be the fact. Seven
widows Of revolutionary soldiers and
nine daughters of revolutionary soldiers
are still on the rolls
Disbursements for the Year.
During the year 94,454 pension certifl-
Gates were issued. Of which number 90. =
l0l were original allowances and the bal
ance were reissues. increases, restora-
ions. etc. OF this number 14,671 certi-
ncates Of various classes were held in
this bureau until July 1. 1897, and are
accordingly not credited to the past fls-
cal year. During the same period q, 234
claims Of various classes were disal-
lowed This number, however, does not
include claims which were made for
higher rates Of pensions. The amount
oisDursed Tor pensions by the pension
agents during the year was $139,799
Z42l2, and the amount disbursed bv
treasury settlement was $3.50, 475.23. a to-
tai of $139.949, 717.35. This exceeds the
amount disbursed during the fiscal year
1896 by the sum Of s1.5S4. 4S01s.
Total Cost of the Pension Roll,
II the 1851 certificates which, as be-
fore stated. were held in this bureau I'M
I'll July !, 1897. had been mailed to the
pension agents during the fiscal year
tney would have required first payments
amounting to S2,191, 694, besides the ad-
ditional annual value which would also
nave been charged upon the appropria-
ton. This amount. added to that actu-
ally dfsbursed, makes an aggregate of
sl4l,990,936. The appropriation for the
payment of pensions for the fiscal wear
1897 was only $4,000, Ooo. The average
anual value of each pension at the close
OF the year was $133.17 The average
annual value of each pension under the
general law was $1,000; and under the
act of June q, 1890. s109.25 The aggre-
gate annual value of all pensions at the
close Of the year was $129, 795, 1923. This.
or course. excludes the cases that were
held up.
Opposed to Consolidation Of Agencies,
Referring to the consolidation of agen.
cies Commissioner Evans says: Il am
still OF the opinion that the reduction
and consolidation Of the pension agen-
cles at this time is not only unnecessary
out ineXpedieEt; that the disruption of
business In the agencies, the business
Tor the interior department and the gen.
eral inconvenience of the service, would
more than off set the anticipated saving
to the government" Attention Is called
to significant saving in rentals Of
agencies, policy still being continued.
In conclusion the report recommends
the publication of a complete list Of pen
sioners and OF the passage Of a law to
the end that no pension be granted to
the widow Of any soldier that shall mar.
ry hereafter.