The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-19
HIGH WATER MARK
rrNsIoN ROLLS LARGEST IN THE
COUNTRY's HISTORY.
NUMBER NEARLY A MILLION.
rorAI OF 997,z35, A GAIN OF 4,2O6
OVER LAST YEAR.

,.,Dr the Past Year There Have
D.n 45.s6O New Claimants for I'm
Gle SANS Assistance-LOss of PEN
toners From Rolls Last Year In
o1udes From Revolution, 215
From War of 1912, SIG From Mex
.ooD War and sd From Indian
Wars.
washington. Aug. 1S.-Commissioner
- Pensions Evans has prepared
s+atement showing the operations in
,,rincipal features. of the Pension Blu
-eau during the last fiscal year as COM
,,ared with former years. Most of the
data will be embodied in his annual
ranort and the statement is prepared
Tor the use of the National Encamp-
,,,ant of the Grand Army of the Repub-
liz which will be held before the re-
mort is ready. 1t shows that the num-
ber of pensioners on the rolls June 80.
last. was 997, 1856, a net gain of 4,206 over
last year. The total net loss to the
roll during the year was 1856, which
includes 1888 by death. S5S by re-
marriage, 1852 by minors reaching the
age of 16, 1883 by failure to claim PEN
sion, and 1,46O from other causes. A
comparative table shows that the roll
for the year just closed is the high
water mark" in the history of the
Pension Bureau, the next highest hav-
ing been reached in 1898. OF the gains
TO the rolls during the year 3,S49 were
from the war with Spain. The losses in
clude two from the Revolution, 215
from the war of 1912, S26 from the war
with Mexico, and 544 from the Indian
wars The gains to the roll since 1898
we're 1884 widows of the Civil War,
and 1904 from the Spanish War, total
1898. The net gain to the rolls in
the four years were 4,021.
Pensions granted to widows under
the act of June n, 1890, during the year
numbered 1850, or nearly 1850 in ex-
cess of those granted the previous
year.
Pension Classification.
The pensioners on the rolls are class
flied as follows:
Survivors 1855, invalids 1894, wild
ows 249 ,0S6. These comprise 1924 wild
ows, and the 1855 survivors on account
of old wars, prior to 1861; 297 675 inva-
lids and SS.S02 on account of general
laws, disability of service origin, most
ly Civil War; 43S ia invalids and 49,
Ill widows on account of the June 1890
act Civil War disability not due to
service; $50 army nurses and 1855 in
valids and 2,049 widows on account of
the war with Spain.
The total amount paid to pensioners
as first payments on the allowance of
their claim during 1901 was SO, 1874, 764, or
SlQ623S more than the first payments
during 1900. This amount represents
the arrears of pension aggregating 67o
claims allowed, to an average of nearly
81 500 each.
The fees paid to attorneys amounted
to 1891 ,245, an increase of almost $74,-
600 due to the Spanish war. At least,
100000 of the medical examinations held
during the year resulted unfavorably to
the claimants. The amount paid to
pensioners under the general law dur
ing the year was $67, S67, 1888, a decrease
Of $l,79O,253 from the amount paid last
year. 1t is believed that during the
fiscal year of 1902 the payments under
the general law will be exceeded by
those to pensioners under the act of
1870. The Spanish war pensioners re-
celVed $l,l15, 225, an increase over last
year of S42,320, and the pensioners I'M
der the act of 1890, as amended May 8,
1900, received S66,973,4S1 an increase
over last year of $1,2O7,4o2.
During the last thirty years the sur
Vivors of the war of 1912 and their
widows have received $44, Sal ,648; Next
can war, $S0,201, 1877. and Indian wars.
$5,402,054.
Disbursements for 112 Years.
The total disbursements for pensions
from July l, 1890, to June 80 of this
year aggregate 81, 763, 35O 033. There were
4o'S60 claimants for pension during the
year.
The pension roll still contains the
names of one survivor and 1,527 widows
on account of the war of 1872; 1886
survivors and 3,497 widows on account
OF Indian wars, and 1858 survivors and
e'IO9 widows on account of the Mexi-
can war.
The bureau issued 109, SOS certificates
OF all classes during the year, 44,225 be-
ing Tor original pension. The number
OF claims pending July / last was 403,-
069. The statement gives the following
amounts of money paid pensioners
under different administrations: Pres
ldent Grants first term, $116, 1925; av-
erage per year, $29, 034, 069; President
Orants second term, STA, 1857. aver
age per year $2s,59S, S39; President
hays administration, $145, 322, 4S9, aver
age per year, $3S,S30,622 President Gar
nelds administration, $237, S25, 07O aver
age per year $50, 45626S; President
Cleveland's first term. $305, 63e, 662, av-
erage per year s76.4O9,166; President
harrlson's administration, $519, 707 726,
average per year $129926, 931; President
CIeVeland's second term 1851, $50, 407, av-
erage per year $139, 4S7, 500; President
Mchlnley's first term, $3.50, 900, SAT, aver
age per year, $40, 900, 1877.