New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-25
EXPENDITURES For PENSIONS.

Commissioner Evanss forthcoming review
OF the operations of the Federal Pension Ru-
rcau for the fiscal year ending June 30, a brief
abstract of which has been given out from
Washington. susta!ns the contention repeatedly
advanced In these columns that though the
closing years Of the decade would undoubtedly
see the roll Of pensioners raised TO over a mill
lon names the hghwater mark Of pension OK
pcnditures had been safely reached and passed
with the disbursement of the record breaking
appropriation of Sl5S. 15j,342 In 1895 During
the four years OF Mr.. Cleveand's second term
in the Presidency repressive methods Of admin
istratlon in the Pension Bureau had brought
the growth of the pension list. especially no
tceable In 1890, 1891 and 1892. to virtual
stnndstill. so that though nearly 100000 claims
under the act of 1890 and earlier acts were still
pressing for adjustment, the net increa" Of
pamcs on the pension rolls from June 30. 1888
10 June So 1897. was barely 10000 The
annual disbursements through the pension
agencies had fallen during the same period from
s15e. 900. 900 TO less than sl40,O00O0O. II was
10 be expected that return under Republican
management to n juster and more liberal bu
rcau policy would result In material additions
to the pension roll and perceptibie increase
mcnts. But, although the new Commissioner
has granted during the year Just ended more
claims than have been allowed In any other
year since the bureau was organized. md the
aggregate number of pensioners has AT last been
carried beyond the million limit, the net OK
pcnditure of the year has risen less than $1,000
600 and does not threaten, even with n con
tinuance of the present policy Of prompt ad-
I 4. ~. IL, Il, liz 4
burscd in 1898
Commissioner Evans reports that on June 80.
1897 aI6014 names were carried on the pen
sion rolls But GSj2 original claims and 1G2
RESERVATIONS had not been entered on the books,
so that tho real number Of pensioners Mt the
beginning Of the last fiscal year was 9S3,GfS.
During tho twelve months G5,GS new claims
were allowed and 1859 restorations were or
lercd. bringing tho total Of names on the pen
sion roll up TO 1.051.355. Deductions will have
10 be made, of course, for the lapse OF pensions
by death and other causes. the aggregate Of
which for each year is something like 10000.
But with n list easily exceeding 100000
names and with first payments made on the
largest number Of new claims ever granted in
single year. there Is much encouragement 10
| be found in the fact that the total expenditure
for 1895 Is put nj only Sl44.651.S10. while for
1897 with 976O14 pensioners, the total was
! just n trife short Of Sl4O.OoO.OOO. Indeed. for
1895 with only 100000 names on tho roll. the
amount spent was nearly s14l .oOO.oOO. so that
! probably 10000 names have since been added
At an increased cost Of less than 100000
! The war with spain. It Is believed will have
n scarcely perceptibe effect on the current busl-
/ ness Of the Pension Bureau. and there Is every
reason to think that next years additions TO
! the rolls will be considerably smaller than this
/ wears. There is little likelihood. therefore.
that Congress will be asked TO devote much
as $50 900 to pension payments next year