The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-11
Nearly Three Billion Dollars Paid
Out tn Soldiers and Dependents
Since Close of Civil War.
MR.. WARES ANNUAL REPORT
TOTAL NUMBER OF PENSIONERS NOW
ON THE ROLLS 996,545.
Average Annual Value of Each Pen
sion Is $133-RecOmme m N datiOns of
the Commissioner.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.-The annual re-
port of Commissioner of Pensions Ware
places the total number of pensioners now
on the rolls at 996,545 of which 1886 are
soldiers and 2G7, ,1S9 are widows and depend
ents. Mr.. Ware announces that it is not
probable the pension roll will again cross
the million lire, the high water mark hav-
ing been reached a year ago. Five of the
the war of the revolution, 1,116 on account
of the war of 1872 4,7Si on account of the
Indian wars and 1854 on account of the
Mexican war. The great bulk of the roll
is as follows: Civil war, invalids, 7O3, ,456
widows, 24S39O; Spanish war invalids, 900;
widows, 1862; and the regular establish
ment invalids 9,17o; widows, 1888 The roll
shows a net loss of 29O1 pensioners during
the year. Gu. of a total of 30i,So9 appli-
cants on hand during the year 13O,1O9 were
admitted, and 1924 rejected.
The average annual value of each pension
is now 1888. The annual value of the Span
ish war pension roll has reached 81, ,765. $40.
Commissioner Ware makes the following
recommendations: Laws forfeiting the pen
sion or right to pension of any man con-
vtcted in court OF an infamous crime: pro-
hibiting the giving 10 the women who mar
ry soldiers after the soldiers become old
pensions, and a different method of ex-
amining applicants for pension, stamping
the present system as uncertain. expensive,
unsatisfactory and generative of an enor-
nous amount of political friction.
Mr.. Ware suggests boards constituted of
experts under civil-service rules which
should go from place to place on fixed days,
giving examinations and receiving testimony
regarding the condition of applicants and
making reports thereon. He also recon-
mends law providing for superannuated
clerks, vigorously urging some law of re-
tirement and provision. Mr.. Ware says
that the bureau has gained upon the cur
rent work one hundred thousand cases dur
ing the last two years. An interesting his
torical analysis of pension figures shows
that the actual total of disbursements in
war, war of 1872 Indian wars, Mexican war.
civil war and the war with Spain was
s., ,oSs, g., $50.
1t is estimated that Sl6OO0OO0 was paid
in pensions for disabilities and deaths due
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 of pensions to
soldiers and sailors of the war of the re-
bellion and of the regular military and ma
val establishment since the close of said war
of the rebellion, and their widows, Children
and dependent relatives. amount to s., ,S62,-
240 400.
The kost of the pension system per capita
OF population for 1908 is given as $l.75 The
system. according to Commissioner Ware
was the greatest as burden TO the people
of the United States in 1893. since which
time 1t has shrunk from So to sl.s2 per
81 600 of taxable wealth. and in ten years
he says. the burden will cease to be no.
ticed. Mr.. Ware estimates that the unpen-
stoned survivors of the civil war, exclusive
of deserters. Is. in round numbers. 2O0O 600.
and says that this unknown army is meet
ing with disease and misfortune To such an
extent that IL is applying for pensions at
the rate OF over 14.000 per annum. In ten
years, Mr.. Ware predicts, the unknown
army will have ceased TO be factor.