The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-09-10
THE PENSION LIST.
Figures and Recommendations from
Commissioner Evans Report.


Washington, Sept 6.-The annual
report of II. Clay Evans, commissioner
OF pensions, was submitted to the sec
retary of the interior. II is long
document, filled with interesting
tables of pensions and pensioners. 1t
says in part:
At the close Of the year, June 80 1895 the an
nual value OF the roll was sl20. 9o9 as June 30,
1897, the annual yalue OF the roll was tl20 795.
42s showing an increase OF 81. ITS0s1 so that
the roll is not only Increasing In numbers but
in values 1t Is believed that the roll will in
crease from the war OF the rebellion IS there
are probably $4,000 ex-union soldiers living
who have never had = pension The roll will
increase In amount annually by reason OF In
creased disabilities as provided by law
II Is hardly fair to say that there are 200 900
original claims pending awaiting adjudication
am confident that there are not over T5, ,OOO
of these Unyallds and widows) that are genu-
ine original claims, Us On original claim should
be understood The other i25, 900 arc claims
unvalds and wldows where the claimants are
already pensloned under the act OF June ~,
1890 and have claims pending under the gem
eral law TO establish claim for disability as be-
ing OF service origin
when the disability act OF June q, 1900
passed It provided minimum pension Of % per
month and maximum pension OF tle per
month. There were at that date about 100 900
pensioners on the rolls drawing less than 90
per month Many Of these were transferred TO
the new law and received the benefits OF this
law, aud the law did not deprive them Of the
| privilege OF continuing the claim under the
general law.
A separate division is being organized for
| the adjudication Of all claims growing out OF
| ha xutfh Cnaln. halno
pared for registration Of all these claims; an
accurate account will be kept, so that In future
actual results may be known and existing
| conditions without unnecessary delay II Is
expected that the date Of the presidents proc
| lamatlon declaring war with Spain fixes the
date Of the beginning These soldiers will re-
ceiye their pensions under the general laws
for disabilities Of permanent character CON
tracted while in the service The act Of June
"a 1890, applies only TO the war OF the rebel :
lion, excepting as to dependent parents Only
a few claims Qess than 1907 have been fed up
to the close OF the fiscal year and none have
| been adiudicated
The number OF pensioners In foreign coun-
tries at the close OF the fiscal year was 4,37l,
having increased 800 Tho total amount paid
to pensioners living abroad was t6os,se2
There were II survivors and 2ii widows Of
the Indian wars and 46 survivors and SOC wild
ows OF the Mexican war pensioned during the
seven daupStsrs q, the american % % rsvou,ion' %
One survivor tnow dead and pension payable
to his widow and seven widows of the war OF
S.s were pensloneua aSrng tne year lussclosed- 0a
hered sas Ss9 "' p'"N'"S 'u"e ~ ''''' mum
There is much eomplaint among nan.
sioners, says the commissioner, and
very lust cause for such. by reason Of
the lack of uniformitv of ratings for
the same or like disabilities Of differ
ent claimants This complaint has
ALWAYS existed and alwavs will. with
the present system. he declares and n
cannst he remedied without radical
change of system.
WAttention Is called to an extrsc,
from the pension laws. providing thai
all pensions granted under the genera
laws Regulating nensions Of widow,
In consequence of death occurrinf
from n cause which originated In M,
! service since March a 1881 shall com
mence from the death of the husband
. Up TO the passa pe of this act, June 7
1855. the widows pensions dated
. from the date of filing CLAIM
/ II the application was filed aftel
, july 1. 1880 No soldiers pen
sions can 20 back of the date o
its issue since july 1. 1850. IL woul,
, seem, SAYS the commissioner, tina
, there were and are a large number O
widows VINO had never been penslote,
.. or filed claims for pension. Many o