Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-23
THE PENSION LIST
Great Increase in the Past Fiscal
Year.
COMPARISON With FORMER PERIODS
Few Claims Under the Recent
War Filed.
FOR WOUNDS AND SICKNESS

With a disbursement last year of $780,
100000 or account of war concluded thir-
ty-five years, and with war just now
closing, the pension list assumes gigantic
proportions and no one dares to venture an
opinion as to when it will stop growing.
In the forthcoming annual report of the
commissioner of pensions, Mr.. H. Clay
Evans, it will be shown that on June 30,
1897. there were on the rolls of the pension
bureau 976O14 pensioners. To this must
be added 6,S52 original claims granted but
not recorded and 762 reservations which
were not entered at the time on the books.
Commissioner Evans granted 6364S orig
inal claims during the past year and re-
stored 1859 pensioners to the benefits OF
pensions. The pensioners now aggregate
1,O40356.
Some comparative figures in connection
with the granting of pensions Is interesting,
inasmucn as it shows that there has been
great increase in the number of claims
fled and that although the war has been
concluded over thirty-five years more PEN
sions were granted last year than any time
from 1889 up to 1880. More than this the
number of pensions granted last year was
considerable in excess of all those issued
in either of the administrations of Grant or
Hayes.
From 1863 until 1873, during Grants first
administration, II ,462 pensions were grant
ed; but 20 $50 of these were on account of
the war of 1872 So that but JO,512 were
granted from 1869 to 1872 on account of the
war of the rebellion. Last years figures
go ahead of this over 13 900
From 1873 until 1877, during Grants sec
ond term, only 4T643 pensions were grant
ed. Of this number T69S We're on account
Of the war of 1872. The total for the four
years, including those of the war of 1872,
did not equal those granted last year by
Commissioner Evans. 1t appears strange,
the advocates of retrenchment say that
thirtyfive years after the war ended more
claims were granted than for the four years
commencing only ten years after peace was
declared.
The four years beginning 1877 showed
total of I4,1I9 pensions granted. But only
Al 800 were on account of the rebellion, as
$50 We're on account of the war of 1872.
The average for the eight years was 10,913.
The number granted last year was 81, 1871.
From this deduct those who have been
dropped during the year by reason of dea til
(and there were 33 ,691 of SUCH, remarriage,
expiration of minority, failure to claim and
other causes, it still shows net increase in
the pensioners for the year of II, 100.
Claims Under the Recent War.
There is absolutely no means of even ap-
proximating what the claims will be under
the recent war. That it will not equal even
the number of pensions granted last year
seems certain. The pension Office has done
nothing with the claims that have up to
this time been filed. They do not aggregate
hundred and are for the most part claims
of widows and next of kin for the soldier
boys who fell before Santiago
Before a claim can be perfected ii must
contain the full record of the soldiers SER
vice, and this information has not yet been
complied by the War Department. When
this is done the claims will be speedily
taken up and proved and granted.
The majority of the claims will be for
wounds and sickness, the latter leaving
the soldier more or less disabled.
No Additional Legislation Needed.
No additional legislation will be required
to deal with the cases arising from this
war. The present laws the authorities say,
cover ali that is necessary, and claims will
be adjudicated on the same lines as those
of the rebellion. There will be separate
division, has been stated in The Star
known the Spanish-Amercan war di-
vision. and claims arising hereunder will
be taken up not according to serial num-
Der but as t9fe of fling, -
the pension bureau for 1898 were, in round
numbers, sl50,OO,0OO. OF this vast sum
sions The remaining $4,6l3, S61. 20 was di-
vided as follows: Fees paid examining sur
geons 1894 2f9.oS; agencies Including sal
aries and expenses $685. 629. 81; bureau On
Guiding salaries and per diem expenses,
81, 1872, 9S2.34.