The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-25
GROWING PENSION ROLL
Commissioner Evans Report for
the Last Fiscal Year.
Two Thousand New Names on the
Lists, But the Cost to the Govern
Anticipated by New Liquidation
Suggestions Concerning Attorneys.

| The annual report of Pension Commits
| sioner Evans for the fiscal year ending on
June 80 last was made public yesterday.
1t shows that during the year there was a
net increase of 2,OlO in the number OF pen
sioners on the rolls of the Government
The figures stood at 993. 529 on June 30 last
as against 991, 519 on June 30, 1899. As an
offset to this, however, the annual outlay
of the Office fell by $3.50. ~, and its cost
during the year was s131 i.544. The ap-
parent discrepancy between an increase
| in the number of pensioners and de-
crease in the total amount paid to them is
explained by the fact that many Of the
old soldiers who were receiving high boun-
ties have died. The new names on the
rolls are mostly of widows and children.
In his report the Commissioner says:
There was a slight decrease in the
annual value of all pensions from 1927
to $lS239. 1t will be noted that the
average rate under the general laws has
increased from S165.70 to s167.53, while
the average rate rnder the act of June
q, 1890. has decreased from s10S.99 TO
s10S.2S. The average annual value of
pensions granted on account Of service
in the war with Spain has decreased from
s1s6.53 to s16910. This is still a high
compared
pension paid to other pensioners, and the
average rates win probably soon conform
to the general average OF pensioners on
the roll"
The Commissioner says the probabilities
are that the present Congress will enact
new legislation that will result in large
increase in the number of pensioners and
in the annual value of the pension roll for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1901.
The report says there are now 1925
attorneys entitled to recognition as prac-
t;tioners before the Pension Bureau and
that during the year there were admitted
TO practice loo persons.
II commend to favorable coEsidera-
tion," the report says, the suggestions
Of the Chief of the Law Division, with
reference to raising the standard of quail
ifcations in the admission 10 practice OF
ATTORNEYS before this tI-eau, and
further r, vision of the list Of attorneys.
While it may not be feasible to limit the
admission TO practice to persons VINO are
attorneys-at-law in good standing before
the courts. it would appear that a great
improvement of that service could be &C
complished by the adoption OF more
stringent rules governing this matter.
Strict integrity and fair knowledge OF
the rules of evidence would seem to be
Indispensable qualifications for an attor-
ney practicing before this Bureau, and it
would be a great advantage TO claimants
as well as to the bureau If those entitled
to appear as attorneys possessed these
qualifications in a fair degree. The ma
jority of the attorneys practicing before
the bureau are men of standing and can
be relied upon to present their cases in
an INTEL gent and painstaaing manner
The claiihs presented by them are gener-
arY, 10 isrrf frNu arl1 Yha 1tyi-
dence reliable.
''On the other hand. thers are many who
have been found to be INSCRIPTIONS and
whose connection with a claim surrounds
1t with certain degree of suspicion. This
works an injustice to many meritorious
claimants, and yet it seems To be incum-
bent upon the Bureau to throw the proper
safeguards around these cgscs to the end
that attempts at fraud mas be discovered
and checked.
This report shows the number OF dis
garments Of attorneys ordered during the
year and the causes for such action.
An enquiry as to the standing of some
Of those engaged in the prosecution of
claims was instituted during the past year
and The result shows that 81 out of 983
persons (nearly 10 per cent? are praeti-
cally untitled for the work of prosecuting
claims. and more than 90 per cent are
i6-cu uOl BODu ne Culel Oh the law
division, under whose supervision these
enquiries were made, reports as follows,
viz:
- These figures emphasize the neces-
sity of thorough revision Of the roster OF
attorneys and careful scrutiny as to the
standing OF those who may desire to en-
gage IN the prosecution of pension claims
IN the future. There is no reason why
the reputation of the pension bar cannot
be raised to as high a standard as that of
any bar in tie land. That such result
SHOULD be striven for is due not only to the
Government and claimants for the bounty
of {. generous nation, but to the majority
of those now recognized by the Pension
Bureau in the prosecution OF claims which
includes many honorable citizens of the
highest Integrity"
The Commissioner states his opinion that
the pension roll will be increased by from
$4,000 600 to S. 900, 900 by the operation OF
the provision enacted at the last session
of Congress. which regards a widow as
dependent for purposes of a pension if her
income does not exceed $3.50 a year.
Although the force of the Bureau was
reduced two years ago by the discharge Of
Ito employees. the Commissioner says the
amount and character of the work during
the last year was largely in excess of that
of former years, and that the Bureau in
general is in better shape than it has been
for many years.
POPULATION OF CITIES.