The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-11-06
REPORT ON
STATE PENSIONS,

The Comptroller for the State
Board Makes Some Suggcs-
tions to the General Assembly.
The first Of the annual reports of
State officials for this year is about to
be issued by the public printer. 1t is
that of Comptroller General Derham as
chairman of The State pension board.
In the lotter of transmittal to the Cen
cral Assembly he says:
submit herewith tho annual pen
sion report of this Office for the year
1902:
ARTIFICIAL LIMR FUND.
Under tho acts passed at the last
session Of your honorable body, the
duty was devolvcd on the Comptroller
General Of expending $1,000 artificial
limb fund for the benefit of those who
had heretofore participated in similar
appropriations. The amount expended
for 81 approved applicants was Ill.,
909.2G. For your information l print
list of the applicants with their state
mcnts, which gives reasons why they
participated in this appropriation. An
examination Of the Act and the appli-
cations will at once reveal to you the
difficulties under which au official labors
in dealing with a matter of this kind.
L construed the Act to moan that
where Confederate soldier had here
toforc participated in such an appro-
priation, he was entitled to his pro rata
share of the - 900 appropriated from
the pension fund, and where they
made atlidavits that they had hereto
fore participated approved thoir ap-
plicatiOns.
No. 8, a list of those applying for the
artificial limb who were disapproved,
and the reasons why. Under the head
of No. 9, | give list of applicants for
artificial limb fund, whose applications
were received after the money was DIS
tributed. An examination of these pa
pcrs leads me TO believe that they arc
entitled to a sum equal to that paid TO
other approved applicants-$22 9S
PENSIONS.
This department has experienced
great difficulty in securing proper
classification Of applicants. If this
matter is given careful consideration
by the various pension commissioners
and county pension boards, L believe a
proper classification can be secured.
In order to do this, 1T will be necessary
for each applicant to use the blank
suited to his or hcr case. We have
been confused very much by county
boards sending in applications ap-
proved, while at the same time the par
ties applying were on the pension roll
OF the preceding year. Where slight
difference in the name of the post
Office existed, the State board was often
at loss what disposition to make of
such application.
PENSION REPORT.
l realize that tho reports of to-day
are the recorded history of The future.
Having that in mind, have mol spared
time or pains in furnishing the fullest.
information possible. First, in this
report, after the introductory, comes
tho rules issued for The guidance of
county pension commissioners and
county boards. Next the copy of the
pension laws now of force; next ta-
BILE showing the total expenditure Of
funds, number of pensioners, and num-
Der of approved applicants for artiicia
limb fund, etc., etc., and statement ol
expenditure Of stationery and stamp
fund, etc. give table showing tn
number of pensioners in tho county in
1901; number who have since died,
who have removed from tho State,
those transferred TO other counties, who
havo been dropped by the county board,
and those transferred to othor classes.
A statement OF the new applicants,
those transferred from other counties
and those transferred from other class
cs, the balance showing the number and
classes of the pensioners in that coun-
ty for 1902. TO this Is attached list
of the names of those who have died,
removed from the State, moved to
other counties, dropped by county
board, or transferred TO other classes.
With this statement before the pen
sion commissioners and county boards,
they will be able to do their work in q
more satisfactory manner than posi-
bly, ever before.
PENSION FUNDS IN HANDS OF CLERKS
| OF COURT.
At this time there are remaining in
the hands of some OF the clerks of
court in the State balances of pension
funds. This arises from the fact that
after tho applications are passed on by
the county boards and sent to the State
board, and even after tho lists arc
made up and the money sent to the
clerks of court, approved applicants
for pensions die. Where the deceased
pensioner leaves widow who is over
60 years Of age, the State board au.
thorizes the payment of the same tc
tho widow, but where the approved
pensioner is widow, there is no one
to whom this board can authorize the
clerk of court to pay the same. In
some instances it is claimed by the
children; in other instances by the par
ties who wish the samo to pay burial
expenses, for medicine and other sup
plies. The board has acted under in
structions from the Attorney General'f
Il l.