The times., 1899-06-08
MANAGEMENT OF THE
PENSION BUREAU
Its Workings Explained in
Detail.
Commissioner Evans Writes a Let
ter to Senator Hayward.
He Says, in Appointments and Pro-
motions. the Former Union Sol
dicr Always Has Preference.

Commissioner of Pensions Evans has
written a letter to Senator Hayward. of
Nebraska, giving some interesting facts on
the workings and management of the
great bureau. lNebraska's junior Senator
was appealed to by his Grand Army
friends to find out what truth there was
in the reports that Commissioner Evans
had repeatedly and persistently gone
against Grand Army men in every way
possible since he went into the Pension
Office. At the outset Mr.. Evans says:
There are 1,747 employees in the depart
ment of whom 500 are former Union SOL
diers, and of this number 452 are draw
ing pensions in addition to the salaries
The Board of Review as nov. organized is
comprised of one chief. two assistant
chiefs, five chiefs of sections. and 10 re-
viewers. The chief of the board is Col
F. ID. Stephenson, who served during the
entire war of the rebellion as captain in
the l52d Illinois. and later as colonel in the
152d Illinois Infantry. He is severely
wounded and is pensioner for that rea-
son. or the 1l0 reviewers seventy are
former Union soldiers. large proper
tion of the men employed on the Board
of Review have been connected with the
Pension Department in different capaci-
ties for from twenty to thirty years.
In the Medical Division. whose work is
to settle all medical questions, especially
rates of pensions, consists of a medical
referee. an assistant medical referee. two
qualified surgeons. two principal examin-
ers, and forty-three medical examiners
The Board of Review in connection with
the Medical Division is charged with the
adjudication and settlement of all claims
nd tI,afr f-. ill
questions involved. The Commissioner
does not see one in a hundred OF the
claims that receive the attention OF the
legal and medical boards. During the first
nine months Of the present fiscal year
$1,000 pension certificates have been is
sued. divided as follows: Original under
general law, 1894 original under the act
of 1890. 22,22T; increase and reissue,
9,747; restoration and renewal, LIST; un-
der the act of 1890, increase and reissue.
1885, restoration and renewal, 1856 ac-
crued pensions. 1851; duplicates, 1902
All of the employees of the Pension De-
partment are under the protection of the
Civil Service law. A majority Of them are
known TO be Republicans. There are about
334 employees who are known to be Demo-
Gratis.
The bureau has been extensively crit
icised fer adhering to this rule. but as my
functions are confined strictly to the exc
cution of the law as I find 1t l am power
less to grant relief in cases that do not
come within the rule. II is very evident
upon careful examination of the act
OF June. 1890, that it creates conditions
which are not applicable to claims under
the general law, and that very much of
the misrepresentation and dissatisfaction
with the operations of the bureau arise
from a want of understanding as to those
conditions Thus a soldier is entitled un-
der the general law 10 s17 per month fof
The loss of an eye, but under the act of
June o. 1890, he received only s. per
month. as it does not incapacitate him
from earning subsistence by manual labor.
So in case Of deafness.
"A soldier who Is suffering from degree
OF deafness emitting him emitting him un-
der the general law to $40 or SIS per
month has no pensionable status under the
act of 1880. as the slight degree of deaf
ness in question does not incapaCtate him
from earning a support by manual labor.
widow is pensiuned under the general
law regardless OF her possessions, while
under the act of fS90't the enjoyment of an
income in excess OF the amount~she would
receive as pension debars her from re-
ceiving a pension. NeighbOrs seldom stop
to enquire as to the law under which ap-
plication is made. and when claim is al
lowed under the general law at a high
rate for a degree OF deafness which does
not entitle it to a rating under the new
law 1t necessarily results in criticism OF
the Commissioner.
When a widow who is in affiuent cir
cumstances is granted pension under the
general law. while a claimant not nearly
so well OFF is denied a pension under the
new law, because she is not without other
means of support than her daily labor, it
seems to the public to be an unjust dis
elimination on the part of this bureau.
Yet the law creates these conditions and II
is not within our power to do otherwise
than execute the law as construed by the
department, but in nearly all of these
cases the Pension Office gets the blame
when II attempts TO carry out the law as
it exists.
The disability which entities to t e
maximum pension (Sl2 per month"; und r
the new law is substantially the same as
would entitle to pension of $50 per molth
under the old law. Yet we find that under
the old law only 81 ,691 soldiers are PEN
stoned at $50 per month, while under the
new law 1851 are drawing the maximum
rate CT Sl2 per month. Under the old law
only 27.5G7 soldiers received $l2 per month.
During President Grants first term,
from 1863 TO 1873, there were allowed In
Hayes term, from 1877 to 1881. 39,9i5
claims were allowed. During the fsca!
year ending June 30. 1885 81 6Si original
claims were allowed. The number of
allowances for the year in 1898 was
greater than the number Of allow
ances for the entire four years Of Pres
ident Grants second term. and the entire
administration Of Mr. Hayes. The Com
missioner, both Deputy Commissioners. the
medical referee. chief of the board of ie-
view, and nine of the chiefs OF divisions.
and most of the other clerks who fill tie
important positions in the bureau are al
former Union soldiers" In all matters per
tanning to the question OF organization of
the different divisions. in appointments
and promotions. the ex-Union soldier al
ways has the preference.
The different commanders OF the Depart
ment Of the Grand Army of the Republic
have all commended the Pension Bureau
for its faithful observance of the statutes
which gives preference to the soldiers of
the rebellion"
The Assault on Marcus Mayer.
New York, June 7.-Ilda Orme, an