The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-01
ARMY OF
PENSIONERS
Interesting Figures From the Re-
port Of Commissioner Evans,
LAST YEAR THE BANNER YEAR,

The Amount Paid out Exceeding by
sGip,IOU Any Previous Year-one
Soldier orisI2 survIves-widows and
Daughters ofRevolutiouary soldiers.
Washington. Sept THE annual re-
port Of Colonel II. Clay Evans, the
commissioner of pensions, for the
fiscal year ended June 30. 1893, pre-
sents some very interesting facts ia
connection with the condition of the
pension roll and the operations Of the
bureau. The pension roll is made up
of 753,451 surviving soldiers and 237,-
AIS widows or dependent relatives, and
G53 army nurses. To them last year
was paid S131 ,617 ,961. being S649 4s6
more than ever before.
The average of each class Of pension
ers is also higher The cost of bu-
reaus, attorneys fees, etc, brought the
total expended up to S13S. .555 O52, being
S1,644,94S less than the appropriation.
The payments for pensions for the
year are classified as follows: General
law, S7l,1l5,703; Spanish war, SOS COG;
act of 1890 S64, ,321 400; fees paid to at
torneys were S476969 against S73O,OO0
in 1898. Total number of claims filed
during the year, As, ,765; allowed 81
or; restored, 1914; total allowances,
including increases. S9,054. Total
claims pending June 30, 1898, 5,059;
June 80. 1899. 477, ,239.
Total disbursements to pensioners
since 1866 was 81 .91O,974 During
the same period $15 l9O $50 went to eX-
aminiug surgeons, S12,092.l7 to pen
sion agencies and $j2.237. 22S for sal
aries and other expenses Of the pen
sion bureau.
The number Of pensioners residing in
foreign countries is 1906, to whom is
paid S633, ,309 OF this number 2,139
reside in Canada AIS in Ireland, sos in
Germany and 321 in England
There are four surviving widows and
seven surviving daughters of the revo-
lutionary war on the rolls. Hiram
Cronk, of northwestern New York. is
the only surviving pensioned soldier
of the war of 1912. He is SO years OF
age. The number of pensioned Wild
ows Of the war of 1912 is 1898. On
account of the Indian wars 65S SOL
! diers and 1899 widows are pensioned.
! For service in the Mexican war there
| are enrolled 9,204 soldiers and S,179
| widows. June 80, 1899, the total num-
| Der of pensioners was 991, $40, being
| 2.195 less than on the same date in
| 1898
The commissioner calls attention TO
| the fact that order 225, issued June 8,
| 1898, which provided for a readiust-
ment Of rates of pension previously
granted under the operations of order
No. 164, is still in force, but he states
that no revision of rates under said
| order has been made under his ad-
ministration
During the year 1O7919 claims of all
! classes were rejected in the bureau.
A careful analysis of the causes of re
| lection of so many claims is given.
showing that a large percentage of re-
! jections occur in claims in which ad-
| ditional allowance of some kind is
claimed.
In order that the present complex
! system of pensioning may be smpli-
| fed, and to secure a more uniform
practice in the future the appoint
| ment of a commission on the revision
| of the laws. rules and regulations is
recommended.
Legislation is suggested extending
the benefits of the act of June p, 1890,
to persons who served in the Confed-
crate army and afterwards voluntarily
enlisted in the Union army or navy
prior to Jan. l. 1865, and were honor
ably discharged
The re-enactment of the law re-
quiring biennial examinations of pen
sioners who have been recently dis
charged from the service is recon-
mended, there being no way in which
the recovery of a pensioner from the
pensioned causes can be determined.
The act of June Z, 1888, the report
says, holds out inducements and Of
fers a premium to the vicious to file
fraudulent claims carrying large sums
as arrearages. 1t is a bad law, that en-
| courages crime, and the government
has but little opportunity to disprove a
| carefully prepared fraudulent claim
under this law.
Complaints have been made against
the bureau for the stoppage of the PEN
sions of those who enlisted or accept
ed commissions in the war with Spain
| These pensions ceased by operation Of
law, and not by any order or instruc-
tions from the bureau.
| Up to this date the number of re-
| enlistments of pensioners for service
/ in the war with Spain has been re-
| ported as 13 of the navy, A of the reg
ular army and &C of the war of the
l lebellion.
No need to fear sudden attacks of cholera
infantum, dysentery. diarrhoea, summer