The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-08
The Work of the Pension Office.

In the Pittsburg Times Colonel Hall
has made reply to the various Grand
Army posts that have adopted resolu-
tions condemnatory of Henry Clay
Evans and the present administration
of the pension office His idea is that
these resolutions have been passed un-
der a wrong understanding of the
facts. Below we present summary
of his argument:
During the fiscal year ended June 80,
1898, the first full year under the pres
ent administration, there were allowed
52,G4S original claims for pensions, as
against 81 ,101 in 1897; 40,374 in 1896; S9,-
1S5 in 1895, and 39.OS5 in 1894. On June
80, 1898. the number Of pensioners on
the roll was 993,714, net gain of 1900
over 1891 and involving a gross expen-
diture during the year for pensions Of
$144, ,651,S79. as against S139, ,949,7 III for
the year 1897. During the year 1898 a
total of 9S,574 certificates were issued,
including 1859 restorations to the rolls
of persons previously dropped. From
July /, 1898, to March 81, 1899, being
the first nine months of the present
fiscal year, there We're allowed under
the general law 4,594 original pensions,
and under the act of 1890, commonly
called the dependent pensions law"
22,227 original pensions, or a total Of
26,2S1. Under the general law the in
creases and reissues We're 9,747, and
the restorations and renewals 1857, and
under the act of 1890 the former were
10,6S5 and the latter 1,556 a total of 2S,-
l45. Accrued pensions numbered S,66l,
and duplicate pensions 2,902. The total
number of certificates issued during
the nine months was 6l,52o.
With regard to the charges that ap-
plicants are unfairly treated in the ad-
judication and final settlement of their
claims, it is necessary before arriving
at a conclusion that may be grossly un-
just to have an understanding as to the
laws granting pensions, and the rulings
of the Interior department, which con-
trolls the pension bureaus action in the
matter. order No. 164, which rated
all disabilities under the act Of 1896
the same as those of service origin, was
substantially revoked by Assistant Sec
retary of the Interior Bussey on jan
uary 7, 1898. The act of 1890 with refer
ence to claims of widows, grants pen
sions only to those who are withou
other means of support than thei
manual labor" In cases of inYalit
claimants it is held by the department
that disabilities under the act of 1s9
are placed by that act upon differ
ent basis for rating from those unde
the general law. Under the general Law
disabilities are pensionable without re
gard to capacity to earn a support, an
are graded without reference to thi
condition, while disabilities under tn
act of 1890 are only pensionable whel
incapacity to labor Joins with inca
pacity to earn a support, and tn
grades of rating are dependent upo
these two conditions. The bureau ha
been extensively criticised for adher
ing to this rule, but as it's functions ar
strictly confined to the execution of III
law as 1t finds 1t the commissioner
powerless to grant relief in cases the
do not come within the rule.
1t is very evident. upon a careful e1
animation of the act of 1890, that
creates conditions which are not al
plicable TO claims under the generi
law, and that very much of the mi
apprehension and dissatisfaction VII
the operations of the pension burea