The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-11
GHEARMY OF PENSIONERS
Thousands eff New Claims Filed at
the Bureau.
4 Host of Applications Growing Out
of the Spanish War and the Hos
filitieS in the Philippine Is
lands - The Laws Governing the
Granting of Government Aid.

There are now more than Sc. coo claims
Of veterans OF the Spanish and Philippine
wars awaiting action at the Pension Blu
reau- At the close Of the fiscal year, June
20. 1900, there were OIL y ,755 pensioners
of these wars on the rolls. OF this num-
Der S5S were widows and $50 were inva-
lids. These pensioners we're receiving
S332,305. or an average Of over SO month
eacn. There were then pending thousands
CT other applications. and the increase has
been so heavy that the force employed at
tie Pension Bureau is unable to keep pace
with it. If the war IN tie Philippines con-
tjnues much longer the question of pen
sious growing cut of it is certain TO at
tract general attention
There are two broad Jaws governing the
issuance Of pensions One. the general law,
Is more liberal than the other and more
restrictive. The other provides solely for
the veterans of the civil war and those de-
pendent upon them. Title to pension is
conferred by the general law upon those
who have been disabled by reason of any
wound or injury received or disease con-
racted While in the military or naval
service Of the United States. Pensions
hereunder range from 80 TO $50 a month
according to rank. Higher rates are pro-
vided for specific diss lility. the highest
being 800 a month for the loss of both
arms.
The act of 1890 entities to pensions those
persons who served ninety days or more
in the military or naval service of the
United States during the civil war and
were honorably discharged. and who may
be suffering from mental or physical disa-
Diiity OF a permanent character, not the
result OF their own vicious habits which
incapacitates them from labor. 1t also
cOnfers pensions ranging from Sc to 81 a
month upon the widows. orphans, or de-
pendent parents Of such soldiers or sailors.
Accordingly, few veterans of the civil war
are not entitled TO pensions. It is with
them merely question OF title under the
law.
AT the mastering out of many of the
soldiers Of the civil var no medical exam
/ nations were made, and therefore a wide
range Of evidence is required in connec-
Jion with each claim for a pension Ev
cry claimant with shadow OF a chance
applies under the general pension law, ap-
/ peaIing 10 the other in case Of failure TO
establish his case Since the beginning
Of the Spanish war every soldier or sailor
{ leaving the service IS examined and his
physical condition is compared with the
! record taken al the time of his acceptance.
/ This precaution does away with an i'm
mense amount of detail and protects the
Government in q vital particular
Eighteen pension agencies are maintain
/ ed in as many large cities, and physical
I examinations are conducted at each. An
/ applicant for pension must pay his own
! expenses to the nearest Of these stations.
/ Each examining board consists of three
I physicians, who receive g for each case.
/ The boards are now examining applicants
/ for pensions at the rate $4,000 a year
I The Office staff of medical and legal ex-
/ perts who pass upon and rate claims after
( the physical examinations are concluded
T IS large. Several negro lawyers and phy-
: sicians are on the force. The number of
/ pensioners reached high water mark in 1898
/ when there we're 1913 ia OF the rolls. In
1883 the amount paid for pensions aggre-
gated S151. G1J. SOL The appropriations for
pensions last year amounted 10 S144,000.-
. 600 but the expenditures were less than IN
the previous year, and the decrease would
have continued but for the unexpected de-
mands in connection with the Spanish and
PhilIDgiue wars