The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-01
ARMY OF PENSIONERS,
Interesting Figures From the Re-
port Of Commissioner Evans.
LAST YEAR TEE BANNER YEAR,

The Amount Paid Out Exceeding by
$840,498 Any Previous Year-One
Soldier ofIs1e Surviyes-widowsa and
Daughters Of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Washington, Sept. 1.-The annual re-
port Of Colonel H. Clay Evans, the
commissioner Of pensions, for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1899, pre-
sents some very interesting facts in
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,-
415 widows or dependent relatives, and
653 army nurses. To them last year
was paid $131, SIT ,961, being $649, 496
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 $13S, 555, O52. being
$1,644,948 less than the appropriation.
The payments for pensions for the
year are classified as follows: General
law, $n,1l5,7O3; Spanish war, $2s,606;
act Of 1890, $64, 1921 400; fees paid to at
torneys were $476,s69, against $73O,0OO
in 1898. Total number of claims filed
during the year, 4S.765; allowed, 81
OFF,; restored, 1914; total allowances,
including increases. S9.054. Total
claims pending June 80, 1898, 635, 059;
June 80, 1899. 477,239.
Total disbursements to pensioners
since 1866 was $2,3S9,910,974. During
the same period SIS, 490, 1886 went to ex-
amining surgeons, $12,O92,17S to pen
sion agencies and $52,237,22S 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 $633,309. OF this number 2,139
reside in Canada. AIS in Ireland, COS 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 1872 is 1898. On
account of the Indian wars 1858 SOL
diers and 1899 widows are pensioned.
For service in the Mexican war there
are enrolled 9.204 soldiers and S,173
widows. June 30, 1899, the total num-
Der of pensioners was 99l, 519, being
2,195 less than on the same date in
1898.
The commissioner calls attention to
the fact that order PCS, issued June o,
1898, which provided for readjust-
ment of rates of pension previously
granted under the operations of order
No 1914, 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 107,919 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 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 simpi-
fed, and to secure a more uniform
practice in the future the appoint
of the laws, rules and regulations is
recommended.
Legislation is suggested extending
the benefits of the act of June II, 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-
curing 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 pensioner from the
penslOned causes can be determined.
The act of June 7, 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 bad law, that en-
courages crime, and the government
has but little opportunity to disprove
carefully prepared fraudulent claim
under this law.
Complaints have been made against
the bureau for the stoppage of the PEN
sions of those VINO 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 10 Of the navy, "A of the reg
ular army and &C Of the war of the
rebellion,