Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-28

was the first time in ten years that the
yearly returns indicated a decline and
was the first time, that such a decrease
resulted from natural causes. That
the soldiers of the civil war are rapid
~ passing away is proven by the NUM-
Der OF deaths, among them during the
current year, which considerably out.
number the new claims allowed. On
sioners on the rolls, being decline of
4,342 since June 80 last. At this rate
the total decline for the present year
will be considerably over 5000, and
should bring the aggregate down to
9S5,000. The top notch was reached in
1898, when there We're 993,714 pensions
ers on the rolls.
Deputy CommissIoner,s Report.
"The average age of the veterans of
the civil war;" said Deputy Commits
sioner of Pensions Davenport, sis; 63
years. Many of them are considerably
older than this. of course, and those
who are incapacitated to the extent of
being pensionable are in no condition
to withstand much longer the ravages
of time. I estimate that the deaths
among the old pensioners during the
current year will amount to 10000, and
it may be more. The number Of deaths
will be greater among those who are
most severely disabled, so that the de-
crease in the disbursements from this
cause will be considerable. The men
who are drawing $50 and $72 month
are the ones whose disabilities are of
the extreme character, and who are
therefore apt to die sooner than those
who are in better physical condition..
Altho in this way the higher pension
ed men are dropping off rapidly, there
is really only a slight saving in the to-
tai payments, as new claims from VII
dows and dependents Immediately fol-
low these deaths. AT the end of the.
last fiscal year we turned back into
the treasury $1,700,O00 from our appro-
priation of $144,oo0,0oO for that year.
1t is likely that we will have a. surplus
at the end of this year. We will start
in On the year commencing with July
! next with an appropriation of $144,-
0oO,0 as usual, not caring to attempt
it with less, on account of the uncer-
tainty regarding the total money to be
paid for Spanish war claims. During
the next year, however, we will be
able to ascertain how much money will
be annually required for these pensions
for we expect that 1901 will see the
height of the disbursements necessary
on account of the war with Spain. At
ter that year there will undoubtedly
be reduction in the appropriation for
pensions. Up to date we have received
10000 claims for pensions growing out
of the war with Spain. This includes
number from the Philippines. We
have adopted the policy Of disposing of
these cases as rapidly as possible, CIV
ing certain OF them preference over
civil war claims. This is especially
true in regard to wounded soldiers and
claims of widows. These are taken up
as soon as received and rushed thru
without delay. More time is required
to dispose of the claims of soldiers ask
ing for pensions on account of diseases
contracted in the war. The delay in
settling these cases is occasioned by
the difficulty encountered in determin-
ing whether a man is permanently dis
abled by reason of the fevers and sick
ness claimed"
There are now about 100000 pension
claims pending in the pension Office, the
exact number being 454,2Ss. Less than
two years ago the total was about ESQ.,
600. The great majority of this vast
number of claims still not allowed
have been rejected, and in all probable
ity will never be passed. The claim
ants in most cases find it impossible to
furnish the evidence asked for, while
the claims of Others have been proven
to possess no merit. After being re-
jected a new application is at once filed
asking that the case be reopened, and
altho there is no possibility of an al
lowance being issued, the Office is re-
quired to class it among those pending.
Commissioner Evans has been led to
believe that there may be some new
pension legislation at this session, de-
spite the hostility of the existing laws.
One proposition that is being fayorably
considered proposes to increase the
limit of income to a widow within
which she may still be pensionable. I'm
der the present law widow whose in
come is 500 or more year is not en-
titled to pension on account of the
death of her husband. According to a