The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-09-09
TEcREAsWe PEBsIoE LIST.
L Il Eos only Growing In EumbeE but In
VaIuea-Cislns in the War
III snafn.


Washington, Sept 6.-The annual
report Of II. Clay Evans commissioner
Of pensions. was submitted TO the sec
rstsrv Of the interior. 1t Is a long
document filed with interesting
tables OF pensions and pensioners 1t
says in part:
At the close OF the year. June 50. 1898, the an-
uual value Of the roll was $50 95a 80 Junes9,
1897, the annual value % the roll was sles,fsS.-
SO showing an Increase OF sl-lfSusf; 50 tnas
the roll Is not only increasing in numbers but
Ia values It Is believed that the roll VIII IN
crease from the var Of the rebsllion- IS there
are probably zoo 90 eL-union soldiers lITlng
who have never had q pension Ihs ron wiz
increase IN amount annually b reason Of IN
creased disabilities as provided b law.
It is hardly fair 20 say that there are s00O9J
original claims pending. awaiting capitalization
an confident that there are not over fo,y5S
OF these tiuvalids and Widows) that are genu-
Inc original claims, as an original Claim saoaio
be understood The other 1900 are claims
OuvaIfds and widoHs) where the claimants are
already pensioned under the act Of June q,
1922. and have claims pending under the gem
eraI law 70 establish claim for disability as be
ing Of service origin
when the disability act OF June p, 1890.
passed Il provided minimum pension Of 50 per
month and q maximum pension OF ei@ PEI
month. There we're at that date about l0l.O ".
pensioners on the rolls drawing less than "a
muQEh many OF THESE H1LG a-a---1-GA- - -
the new law and received the BENEFITS OF this
Law, and the law did not deprive them OF the
privilege Of continuing the claim under me
general law
A separate division IS being organized for
the adjudication Of All claims growing out Of
the war with Spain; records are being PIE
pared for registration Of al these claims; an
accurate account viii be kept. 50 that in future
actual results may be known and eListinl
conditions without unnecessary delay Jt
49, H-err -rnH Ter
lamatIon declaring war with Spain fixes th'
date OF the. beginning These soldiers viii re-
cefvs their pensions under the general law
for disabilities OF q permanent character con
tracted while in the service The act Of Jun'
p. 1920 applies only 20 the war Of the rebel
lion. excepting as 20 dependent parents Only
q few claims Qess than 100 have been fled u
% the close Of the fiscal year and none haT'
been adiudicated
The number Of pensioners in foreign coun
tries at the close OF the fiscal year was 4,sIi
having increased 500 The total amount pai'
/ to pensioners living abroad was foo9, So
There were Il survivors and 2il widows o
| the Indian wars and - survivors and 502 wild
| Ows Of the Mexican war Pensioned during IN
year There are surviving hTe WIDOWS an
/ seven daughters OF the American revolution
| One survivor now dead and pension payabl
/ to his widow and seven widows Of the war o
! 1872 were pensiOned during the year just closed
/ Pension claims pending June 80, 1898, mum
! bered 635. O52
! There is much complaint among pen
/ sioners, says the commissioner, an,
very Just cause for such, by reason o
the lack Of uniformity OF ratings 70
| the same or like disabilities Of differ
| ent claimants This complaint Ia
| always existed and always viii, wit
the present system, he declares, and
| cannot be remedied without radios
change Of system
Under the act mentioned the widOV
becomes the beneficiary Of the govern
ment practically for the use and beI
eft OF the second husband. COmmi
siOner Evans is Of the opinion that tn
operation Of this law is contrary
the spirit or intent Of a Just and gel
erous recognition of the soldiers ser7
ice. The widows pension, he says,
intended TO aid, assist and comfort th
soldiers widow during her widow
hood. It is recommended that th
payments Of pensions be made to tn
wife or some other suitable person
the case Of pensioners who are likel
to dissipate their money.