Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-22
HIGH WATER MARK
Pension Rolls Show Net Gain
of 42o6 Over the Pre-
ceding Year.
SPANISH WAR VETERANS
help 20 Swell the List OF Uncle Sans
Pensioners Nearly One Million Per-
sons Receive Government Aid
Interesting Statement Pre-
pared by Mr.. Evans.

Washington. Aug. 1S.-Commissioner
Evans has prepared statement showing
the operations in principal features of the
pension bureau, during the last fiscal year
as compared with former years.
Most of the data will be embodied IN his
annual report and the statement is pre-
pared for the use OF the national cncamp-
ment of the G. a. r. which VIII be held
before the report is ready.
1t shows that the number Of pensioners
on the rolls June 80 last was 991, 49,, net
gain of 400. over last year. The total net
loss to the roll during the year was 43oA6,
includes s., $50 by death. Nj3 by rcmarfiagc,
l5S2 bN minors reaching the age of IL,
1888 by failure to claim pension ana l4oo
from others causes. a comparative table
shows that the roll for the year just close
is the high water mark in the history
of the pension bureau, the next highest
having been reached in 1895. OF tn" gains
to the rolls during the year 3Si9 were from
the war with Spain. The losses include
two from the revolution, 2l5 from the war
of 1872, SIG from the war with Mexico ana
5ii from the Indian wars
The gains to the roll since 1898 were 49,
33i widows of the civil war and 56oi from
the Spanish war, total 1888. The net gain
to the rolls in the four years was io2l.
Pensions granted to widows under the
act of June q. 1890 during the year num-
bered 1850 or nearly 400 in excess OF those
granted the previous year.
The pensioners on the rolls are classl-
fled as follows:
Survivors, 500 invalids, 1884; widows,
249 0S6. These comprise l31A widows and
g. 6,5 survivors on account of other wars
prior to 1861: 9q7, go nvalids ana NNS02 IN
account of general laws. disability of ser
vice origin. mostly civil war; 42N.1l4 in
vaids and l4b III widows on account Of The
June 1890 act civil war disability not due
to service; $50 army nurses ana 3,555 IN
yalids and 2049 widows on account of the
war with Spain.
The total amount paid to pensioners as
first payments on the allowance Of their
claims during 1901 was 500 ,76i or sloG. 2Si
more than the first payments during 1900.
This amount represents the arrcrs Of PEN
sions. aggregating 675 claims allowed to an
average of nearly $500 each.
The fees paid to attorneys amounted II
1891 Pas an increase of almost $1,000 due 10
the Spanish war. At least 100 900 of the
medical examinations had during the year
amounted unfavorably to the claimant.
The amount paid to pensioners under the
general law during the year was s61 81, e35
decrease Of 81, 100, 253 from the amount pal
last year. 1t is believed that during the
fiscal year of 1902 the payments under tho
general law will he exceeded by those of
pensioners under the act of 1890 The Span
ish war pensioners received sl.l75,225 an
increase over last year of sS42, 800 and thu
pensioners under the act of 1890 as amend
ed May 6, 1900 received sG6 g73 iSl an in
crease over last year Of 1920, 402.
There were 10 SEQ claimants. for pensions
during the year. The pension rolls still
contain the names of one survivor and .5l1
widows ON account of tho w4r Of 1872, 1865
survivors and 3479 diwCds on account Of
the Indian wars and 1868 SURVIVORS and NlU,
widows on account of the Mexican wlr.
Tho bureau issued 1o9 66S certificates Of
all classes during the year, ~ - being for
original pension
The number of claims pending July st
last was 403 J69
The statement gives tho following
amounts Of money paid pensioners under
different administration.
President Grants first term sll6 13G 70.
Average per year SO, p4
President Grants second term s11i 29i. $50.
Average per yelr SOS, 5,S $50
President Hayes administration $ti5 800, =
$50. Average per year S3S 330i2
President Garhed's administration s237,
SIi,G7o. Average per year $50, tjG 26'
President Cleveand's first term s30j $50
&C.
Average per year SIC. 400 1G5.
President HarrisorS administration
sil9.7G772 1876. Average per year S19a 92i. cal
President Clevclands second term $751;
eioM. Average per wear ;l39. iSLGo9.
President McKinley's first term $3.50 600,
547. Average per year $140OOO,lS7