Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-07
Accounting Of Guardians.

In January, 1900, a rule was adopted re-
curing guardians of pensioners to render
to the bureau annual accounts of their re-
ceipts and expenditures Of pension money.
Prior to that date no. systematic attempt
had been made to ascertain the disposition
of pension funds paid to guardians, and
the requirement of January, 1900 was fol-
lowed by disclosures which were in some
instances OF a startling nature. Guardians
were found to be drawing pensions long
after the death of their wards. Many
cases were found where insane pensioners
had been placed in -asylums and other pub
lie institutions as INDECENT persons, ana
the officials had no knowledge that these
persons We're pensioners, while the guar
dams had drawn the pension during the
whole period and either diverted II for
other purpose or allowed it to accumulate
for the benefit of the pensioners legal rep
resentat1yes. Improper, exorbitant and ex-
travagant items Of expenditures were
shown whal had been authorized and APP
proved by the local, courts Other cases
were revealed in which the guardians were
approprlating the pension to their own use
while the wards were being maintained at
public expense. ~.
In many. cases pension moneys were
shown to have accumulated in the hands of
guardians In sums ranging from $1,000 to
over 600, while the intended beneficial
ries of the bounty of the government were
being cared for in public institutions at the
expense Of the public,
The commissioner called the attention of
the Secretary of :tthez Interior to these
abuses. and in an opinion dated May %.
1901. the Secretary sdeeiaed that the guar
dian of a pensaHaR ris7ahe agent of the
United States for the proper expenditure of
pension money: iMtthts shands, and that
guardians holding .DenSion funds are sub
ject to the directioEe of the commissioner of
pensions, both before and after the death
Of their wards. Itaiwas decided also that
all pension moneys 10 thefhands of guard
tan at the date OF a pensioners death are
In the nature Of accented pensions, and,
therefore subject TO. theo provisions of the
act Of March 2, 1885, with regard to the
disposition of suchsfunAs.
Pensions fof recent Wars.
The report presents Hpmber of interest
ing features connected, with the filing of
claims for pensions SON account of the war
with Spain. and the sfnSurrection in the
Philippine Islands, It Is shown that the
soldiers Of these wars enjoy much greater
benefits than were accorded to the soldiers
of the civil war, in the amount of pensions
granted for the same degree of disability.
In 1885 the minimum pension was estab-
lished at Sc per month. Nearly 100000 SOL
dfers OF the civil war received from 81 to 81
per month from 1S6S''to 1888, and disa-
bility from loss of arm or leg, which now
entities the soldier. to $40 per month, only
gave him IS per month in 1855
While the civil war lasted for four years
and the casualties were enormous, and the
Spanish-Am American war lasted only about
four months, with comparative few casual
ties, 1t Is shown that three years after the
close of the Spanish-American war. claims
Tor pension amounting to about 20 per. cent
OF the number Of soldiers engaged in thar
war. had been flied, while in 1872. or seven
years after the close OF the civil war. only