The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-10-03
PENSION ROLLS ARE GROWING
A Large Number of People Drawing
Uncle Sans Money For Services
Rendered During War Times-Aver-
age Value of Each Pension Is About
$l32-Many Claims Being Filed.

uo duuudl report OF commissioner
of Pensions E. E. Ware shows that the
number of names on the pensions rolls
still is under the million mark despite
a net gain of 5732 pensioners since
1898. The total enrolment July last
was 999, 446, against 997, 1856 last year.
The total comprises 738, 5000 soldiers
and 26O, ,637 widows and dependents.
The aggregate includes 1896 pen.
sioners outside the United States.
The number of death notices Of old
soldiers, not now in the service, re.
ceived by the bureau during the year,
was SO, 1873; but only 27,043 of them
were pensioners. The report says that
the death rate among the pensioners for
the coming year will be about 40, 900
and the losses to the rolls from other
causes will be about 5000. The total
amount paid for pensions during the
fiscal year was $137, ,5O4, 1858, and the
yearly cost of operating and maitaning
the bureau and the agencies outside of
the payment of pensions proper aggre-
gated SO, $780, ,529.
The pension system, says the report,
since the beginning of the government
has cost $4,000, ,5O9, 900, this exclusive
Of the esta bilshment of soldiers homes.
The pension disbursements by the
United States from July l, 1890, to
June 30, 1855 were 500, ,445, ,444.
The following amounts have been
paid to the soldiers, their widows,
minor children and dependent relat.
ives on account Of military and naval
service during the wars in which the
United States has been engaged:
Revolutionary war (estimated) $7O,.
OOO, 900.
War of 1912 (upon account of ser.
vice, without regard to disability)$ )$45,-
O25, ,297.
Indian wars, 1832-1842 (on &C.
count of service, without regard to dis.
ability $31, 1861 1888.
War of the rebellion $2,228, 1878, ,276.
War with Spain 3,275,1s
Actual total disbursement in PEN
sions 50, 900, 854 ,3O2.
The amounts paid as pensions, ac.
count of disabilities and death rs re-
suits of military and naval service dur
ing the wars of 1912, and with Mexico,
and in time of peaceto the beginning of
war with Spain, are included in the
payments on account of the war of the
rebellion. 1t is estimated that the sum
of $16, ,OOO, 900 was paid in pensions for
disabilities and deaths due to military
and naval service in the wars of 1912,
%ho
of peace prior to the war of the rebell-
ion to the regular military and naval
establishment.
Since the close of said war of the re.
bellion the pensions paid veterans and
their widows, children and dependent
relatives amount to 1925, 1878, ,276.
This is outside of the cost of main
tanning bureaus, agencies and soldiers
homes.
The average value of each pension is
now little over $132.
The number of applications for PEN
isons filed last year was 1875, ,628; re-
jected 118, ,464, and granted 20, 164.
During 1902 the bureau handled A.
1O6 more pension applications than it
received, showing progress in catching
up with the accumulated work.
The number of cases now undergoing
examination in the bureau and in the
process of adjudication, known as the
pending files," follows:
Under the general laws 1877, 101, un-
der the act of June ~, 1890, 142,676;
war with Spain 81, ,433, army nurses
69, prior to March 4, 1851, 1928; &C.
crued 22,812; total 339, ,436.
The report shows that on July last,
there were $40 appeals from the de-
cision of the commissioner.
The summary of the rejected cases
shows that 23,O73 of the reflections
were on legal grounds and 95,351 on
medical grounds.