The National tribune., 1902-10-02
THE coMMIss1oNER OF PENSIONS REL ORr

iiitue Dubllc HIS report ol tue opefdtiuiis
of the Pension Bureau for the fiscal yeai
ended June so, 1902.
In spite of the publications to the con
trary. the aggregate number of pensioners
on the roll is still under the 100000
mark.
The total enrolment July 1 last, was
999. .446. against 997.7 last year. The
total comprises 73S, 800 soldiers. and 26o..
63I widows and dependents. The aggre
gate includes 4,695 pensioners outside the
United Suites.
The most startling fact is that the Bu-
reau received last year notice of the death
of 5O.12S eX-sOldiers. of whom but 21.04a
were on the pension roll. Thus nearly
LOCO veterans died every week last year
and almost one-half OF them went to their
graves unpensioned. This simple fact out
weighs n thousand columns of editorials
on the pension question.
The Medical Referee may have prated
and clustered worlds without end about
the findings of the Examining Boards. yet
he was stared in the face all the time by
the ghastly overwhelming fact that nearly
500 veterans died every week last year.
many, possibly most. of whom had been
yamly representing their lamentable ply
steal condition to the Pension Bureau. only
to be rebuffed by the Medical Referee as
having nothing the matter with them. The
Bureau rejection was the last message to
their dying bodies from the Government
they had saved.
The reflections by the Medical Referee
last year We're $500, while the Law Di-
vision rejected 23,073. That is, $50 old
men, all of them in the neighborhood of
60, were rebuffed by the Medical Referee
with the assertion that they We're still as
strong and vigorous as in their youth and
mot disabled in n pensionable degree"
What callous cruelty in the Medical Ref
cree all this implies.
The Commissioner anticipates a much
larger death rate among the pensioners
this year-a rise in the number of deaths
from 7.0i3 to 10000, over LOCO month
more. The losses to the roll from other
causes will be 6.000, or 500 a month. The
roll will thus be reduced nearly 1000 a
month.
The total amount paid for pensions dur
ing the fiscal year was $137. .504 .26S, and
the yearly cost of operating and maintain
ing the Bureau and the agencies, outside
of the payment of pensions proper, aggre-
gates $3,590,:29 The pension system,
says the report, since the beginning of the
Government, has cost 2992, 500. .O19, ex-
elusive Of the establishment of the Sol
diers' Homes. The pension disbursements
by the United States from July /, 1T90,
to June 80, 1865, were 500, 49,
The following amounts have been paid
tG soldiers, their widows, minor children,
and dependent relatives ON account Of
military and naval service during the wars
in which the United States has been en-
gagged:
Revolutionary War (estimated).. $40, ,0OO 600
War of 1872 ION account OF SER
vice without regard to disa-
bility) .-...................... 45.oe5. .297
Indian wars, 1s32-1S42 ton ac-
count of service without regard
to disability, ................. 5s14,2G7
War with Mexico ion account OF
service without regard to disa-
bility) " 81 S61 33s
War of rebellion 7A. .S7S 2T6
War with Spain. in................ 1926, 1s4
Actual total disbursements in
pensions .S2,9OO,So4 3VS
Comparisons as to the number of men
engaged in these various wars, with their
length of service, and the amount of fight
ing they did, will show that proportion
ately the soldiers of the rebellion have re-
ceived less than any of their predecessors.
The amounts paid as pensions on ac
count of disabilities and deaths as results
Of military and naval service during the
wars of 1912 and with Mexico, and in
time of peace. to the beginning of the war
with Spain, are included in the payments,
On account of the war of the rebellion.
1t is estimated that S1G.000.000 were
paid in pensions for disabilities and deaths
to military and naval service in the wars
Of 1872, and with Mexico, and during the
time of peace prior to the war of the re-
bellion. making the payments the pensions
to soldiers and sailors of the war Of the
and of the regular military and
naval establishments since the close of
said war of the rebellion. and their wild
amount to $2,72S.S7S, ,276. This is outside
of the cost Of maintaing the Bureau, agen-
cies, and Soldiers Homes.
The average value of each pension is
now little over $132 year, or $253.S a
week. The number Of applications for
pensions filed was 1856, 1926; rejected, 49,
464, and granted. 117,268. During 1902
the Bureau handled 47,1O6 more pension
applications than it received. showing
progress in catching up with the accumu-
lated work. The number Of cases now
examination in the Bureau and
in the process Of adjudication, known as
the pending files" follows:
Under the general laws. 137,1O1
Under the uct OF June q, 1890. 1889
War with Spain. Observation-Disclosures. "a, 433
Army nurses Observation-Disclosures. 90
Service prior to March 4, 1S61....... 2,342
Accrued Observation-Disclosures. 22,S12
Total 1888, ,43s
The statement as to the number of ap-
plications under consideration is to some
extent misleading, as a large proportion
are duplicates-that is, claims that have
been filed under both laws. Another large
proportion is for increases.
Commissioner Ware recommends that
the New England Pension Agencies of
Augusta, Boston, and Concord be consoli-
dated and that Congress provide for the
storage outside of the Pension Bureau of
the great amount of accumulated and
combustible records now seldom needed or
examined. The report shows that on July