The Mena star. (Mena, Ark.) 1898-1904, 1898-09-07
THE PENSION LIST.
Figures and recommendations from
Commissioner Evans Report.
Roll Stiii Increasing In Numbers and Value,
by Reason OF Growing Disabilities OF
Pen~ioners--J Claims Caused by
War with spnin.


Washington. Sept 6--The annual
report OF II. Clay Evans, commissioner
OF pensions, was submitted to the Sec
Rotary of the interior. 1t is a long
document filed with interesting
tables OF pensions and pensioners. 1t
says in part:
st the close Of the year. June 30 1898, the an
rual value OF tho roll was 1870 05S AS June 20,
1855, the annual value OF the roll was 129. 195
as showing an Increase Of 81. OH; so that
the roll Is not only increasing ia numbers but
Ia values 1t is believed that the roll will in
crease from the war Of the rebsllion as there
are probably 200 90 ex-union soldiers living
who have never had pension The roll will
increase la amount annually by reason OF in
creased disabilities as provided by law
4 Is hardly fair to say that there are POO. 900
original claims pending awaiting adjudication
am confident that there are not over n, 000
Of these invaiids and wi5ows) that are genu-
Inc original claims, IA original claim should
be understood. The other $4,000 are claims
tinvaiids ana widows where the claimants are
already pcnsioned under the act OF June q.
ls9l aud have claims pending under the gem
eral law to establish claim for disability as be-
Ing OF service origin
When the disability art OF June a. 1890,
pa SGD II provided minimum pension OF 10 per
lhUhtn UuU MAXIMUM pension OF VlS per
month. There were at that date about 100 900
pensioners on the rolls drawing less than @
per month Many OF these we're transferred 20
the new iGw and received the benefits OF this
law, and the law did not deprive them of the
privilege Of continuing the claim under the
gen raj law
A separate division Is being organized for
tho adjudication Of all claims growing out of
the war with spain; records are being pre-
pared for registration ef all these claims: an
accurate account viii be kept. so that in future
actual results may be known aud existing
conditions without Unnecessary delay. IT is
expected that the date OF the presidents proc
lamatton declaring war With Spain fixes the
Gate of the beginning. These soldiers will re-
caive their pensions under the general laws
for DISABILITIES Of q permanent character con-
tracted wniie IN the service The act OF June
-. 1890 applies only to the war Of the rebel
Hon. excepting as to dependent parents Only
few claims Ness than 100 have been filed no
to the close Of the fiscal year and none have
been adiudicated
Ihe number OF pensioners in foreign coun-
tries at the close OF the fiscal year was 4,35i,
having increased 3i9 The total amount paid
to pew toner's living abroad was COS, ss2.
There were II survivors and 2ll Visions of
the Ind. 81 wars and As survivors ana 5O2 wild
ows Of the Mexican war peasioned during the
year There are surviving FIVE widows and
seven daughters OF The American revolusion
One survivor tnnw dead aud pension payable
70 his widow and seven widows of the. war OF
HI We're pensioned during the year just closed
Pension claims pending June 80. 1893, num-
bercd 635 $50
There is much complaint among PEN
sioners. SAYS the commissioner, and
very just cause for such, by reason of
the lack OF uniformity OF ratings for
the same or like disabilities of differ
ent claimants. This complaint has
always existed and always will, with
the present system, he declares, and it
cannot be remedied without radical
change of system.
EAttention is called to an extract
from the pension laws, providing that
a \ pensions granted under the general
laws regulating pensions of widows
in consequence OF death occurring
from a cause which originated in the
service since March 4. 1861, shall COM
mence from the death of the husband.
up to the passa gre of this act, June z,
ISIS, the widows pensions dated
from the date of filing claim
ii the application was filed after
July /, 1850. No soldiers pen
S4Ohs eau go Dack OF the date OF
its issue since July l. 1850. 1t would
seem, says the commissioner. that
there were and are large number of
widows who had never been pensioned
or fled claims for pension. Many of
them at the date June Z, 1889 had re-
married. and before the passage of
this law had no pensionable status on
account OF their remarriage without
fling claim for pension. The soldier
husband, for some reason, had not
claimed pension, and the widow had
not fled claim, although she may
have remained d widow for from one
10 twenty years or more.
Under the act mentioned the widow
becomes the beneficiary of the govern
ment practically for the use and ben
ett Of the second husband Commits
sioner Evans is Of the opinion that the
operation of this law is contrary to
the spirit or intent of just and gen.
erous recognition of the soldiers serv-
ice. The widows ,nsion, he says, is
intended to aid. assist and comfort the
soldiers widow during her widow
hood. 1t is recommended that the
payments OF pensions be made to the
wife or some other suitable person in
the case of pensioners who are likely
to dissipate their money.
MRS. DREYFUS, AppEAT