The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-14
Shows Something AbOnt Pass
age of Pension Bills.
Fifty-sixth Congress Made ,391
Into Laws.
THOSE WHO GET 500
Only % People Draw That Sum
Under Old Law.
Nearly Half Million of Pension
erS Under New Law.

Washington. D. c., March Icon
gresham Calderhead is an indefatiga
/ BILE worker in the subcommittee on in
valid pensions of which he is chairman
and he is always ready to talk about
/ pensions and to give figures to back up
his arguments. To the State Journal
reporter he said:
/ There is a widespread erroneous i'm
preston that the committee on invalid
1 pensions recommends and the house
| passes too many bills for large pensions.
I Let us see about this. This committee
! in the 56th congress passed 1891 bills
which became laws. OF all these there
was but for 500, for $50, 3 for $72,
/ A for $50, Ill for $50, 81 for $40, 257 for
| $50, 365 for $12; Sc for So. The remain
der We're small pensions of odd sums be-
! tween $12 and $50.
There are only % people in the
United States who are drawing 800 per
month under the old law, 2,011 are
drawing $72, LIB get $50, 2,07S get $45,
2.491 get $50. These are all for specific
| disa bilities-for loss of arm leg,
or both arms or legs, or both eyes, and
are held by men who were officers OF
| those who were privates, only 1926 get
$50 per month, p, sos get $24, 50,43S get
| Sc, 1.619 get SO, 26, S46 get SO, 44,441 get
So, q. 1926 get $14. 10,9sS get $16 SO, 100 get
ST. making total of 235,45S who get
SIT or less per month
There are only Is widows who re-
ceive 500 per month; 1856 widows get
$50 p get $40, rs, 372 get $12.
Under the new law there are 43S,114
pensioners. of these there are 104, 1874
at Sc, 13S, 293 at So. 3S,452 at SO, 156,317
at S12; and there are 1SS,900 widows at
IS.
1.-The total appropriation for the year
ended June 3d. 1901, was $145,24S, 1-21.
of this there was paid, under the old
law, to soldiers, $50. 461, 1854. rs; to widows,
To q n
law, $101, 550S04.
1.-The number of pensioners that had
been on the roll for the year ended
June 80 last was LOAF, 321. There were
dropped during the year by death and
other causes 43, $50, leaving 997, 735. This
includes all pensioners of all wars
There was not much actual fraud
perpetrated during that year There
were 1873 special examiners. with sal
aries and expenses amounting to $780,,
600, and over million pensioners to
work upon, yet the number of arrests
was but 191. OF these 1873 were SEN
fenced under all offenses that can be
committed against pension laws. OF
those convicted five were for false per-
sonation of soldiers and 1874 for false
claims. The great majority of convic-
lions secured was against attorneys,
agents, sub-agents, magistrates and
others who were responsible for the
preparation and filing of false claims
and evidence, and those who falsely
personated soldiers or soldiers widows.
lie commissioner report does not
show that a soldier was convicted.
The house has passed rs private PEN
sion bills Among them was one for $50
for Rollins Tyler, of Marysville, upon a
bill introduced by Mr.. Calderhead; one
for $24 for VIM. R. Underwood, of Win
field, upon a bill introduced by Mr..
jackson: increase to $50 for Oscar
Reed, of Dodge City; and one for Jacob
d. Campbell, of Wichita, for an increase
to $50, upon a bill introduced by Mr..
Long.
The time for the adoption of a general
pension bill which will relieve congress
of the consideration of so many private
pension bills has arrived in the opinion
of the speaker and other leaders. With
this end in view an even hundred bills
have been introduced SO far this ses-
sion Mr.. Calderhead is to be credited
with the first move in this direction.
In the last congress he had a bill which
ers We're afraid it would cause too
heavy a draft upon the treasury.
When General Bristow, fourth assist
ant postmaster general announced n
few days ago that the merit system, by
direction of the postmaster general
would obtain with fourth class post |
masters there was CONSERVATION among
congressman. An explanation emanat-
ing from the postoffice department |
makes it appear to congressman that |
their rights and promises are not to be |
curtailed. but that the order will help |
the congressman often to withstand 10 |
cal political pressure for the removal of |
an officer who has proved his efficiency. |
During the year ended June 80. 1901. |
the United States imported S54,S71 $40 |
pounds of coffee. In 1891 the importa- ]
tions amounted to 1888, 432 pounds.