The age-herald., 1899-09-01
EVANS REPORT ON
 PENSION FUND Larger Amount Than Eyer Before EX-
 pended Last Year. CAUSES OF THE INCREASE
SpaniSh-AmarlCan Mar Veterans Now
 Receiving Allowances.
MANY NEW SCHEMES SUGGESTED
The Commissioner Recommends That a System ofExamination of 1.-the Bene- fciaries Be Inaugurated-
 Text of the Report

Washington, August 31.-The annual re- port of H. Clay Evans, the commissioner of pensions, for the fiscal year ended June 30. 1899, presents some interesting facts in connection with the condition of the pension rolls and the operation of the bureau. The total amount paid pension CTS last year was $131 ,617,961, being se49.- 496 more than ever before.
 The average of each class of pensioners is also higher. The cost of the bureaus attorney fees, etc., brought the total ex- pended up to s1sS. .555.052 being $1.644,94S less than the appropriation. The payments for pensions for the year are classified as follows
 General law, $n,115,7O3; Spanish war. s2S,606; act of 1890, s64 1921 ,4SO fees paid to attorneys were $476.969, against $730,Oo0 in 1898. Total number of claims filed during the year 4S,765; allowed, 37,077; restored, 3,e14; total allowances, including increases, S9,054. Total claims pending June 30, 1898, CS5,O5o; June 30, 1899, AT ,2s9. The total dis bursements to pensioners since 1866 were $2, ,3S9,91O STA. During the same period $15,- 4s0,9S6 went to examining surgeons, $12.- 0s2,17S to pension agents, and s52. .22S for salaries and other expenses of the pension bureau.
 Pensioners in Foreign Countries
 The number of pensioners residing in for eign countries is 4,3O6, to whom is paid $633, 3O9. Of this number 2,139 reside in Canada, 415 in Ireland, 6O5 in Germany and S21 in England.
 The report says considerable progress has been made in briging up the arrears of work in the bureau which is in far bet ter condition than at any time since April, 1897.
 During the year 1O7,911 claims of all classes were rejected in the bureau. A careful analysis of the causes of rejection of so many claims is given showing that a claims in which additional allowance of some kind is claimed.
 In order that the present complex system of pensioning may be simplfied, and to secure a more uniform practice in the fu- ture the appointment of a commission on the revision of the laws, rules and regula- tions is recommended. Legislation is sug- gested extending the benefits of the act of June 27, 1890, to persons who served in the Confederate army and afterwards vol untarily enlisted in the Union army or navy prior to January 1, 1865, and were hon orably discraged.
 Examination of Pensioners Other recommendations are the re-enact- ment of the law requiring biennial exami- nations of pensioners who have been re- gently discharged from the service and legislation providing that no pension shall be granted to date prior to the date of filing the application.
 Out of 4,941 cases in which action has been taken by the department in appeals from the action of the bureau, the bureau was reversed in ST. and many of these were cases in which the adverse action had been taken before April, 1897. The commits sioner expresses his satisfaction with the results for the past year. In his conclusion he states that the pension laws are gener- ous; that their interpretation by the de- partment has always been liberal and their administration by the bureau officers has been and is now far more liberal than the generous laws always giving the benefit of doubt in favor of the soldier.