The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-11
PENSION BUREAU REFORM.
Commissioner Ware Recommends Change In
Examination Of Applicants.

Washington, Sept 11.-Pension Commits
sioner Ware has completed and forward
ed TO the secretary of the interior his an
nual report for the fiscal year just ended,
in which he makes a number of inter-
esting recommendation for the benefit
OF the pension bureau.
Commissioner Ware shows that the to-
tai cost Of pensions to the government
for the past 81 years has been s2,s42, 49,
las In pensions paid and SOS, 934 ex-
pended In maintaining the pension SER
vice. He estimates that the Revolution
ary war cost the government 81. 0oo. 900 in
pehsions War OF 1872 50, ,a24,F War with
Mexico. S33 4SS, 800: War OF the Rebellion,
2S7S, 24o.4oo. and the war with Spain, S.-
fs,2 making the total disbursements
for pensions. s3,30s. .623, $50
The report explains that in 1890 the
cost of the pension system amounted to
81 10 per $1,000 of the aggregate wealth
OF the country. In 1898 IL reached $24
and since then has gradually declined
TO $3.50 In 1925. $3.50 in 1900 and sl.32 in
the last year
Mr.. Ware reports that 1924 appli-
cations were rejected last year. OF which
ST. l0 were for increase, I'm which IL was
found that no increased disability exist
ed and so.9ls were rejected on medical
grounds. A total OF q, 800 cases were re-
tected on legal grounds, many OF the
claimants being already in receipt OF
pensions. The number of applicants for
original pensions was 2a6. oo9, and the num-
ber OF applications for an increase was
1A0S3
CRIMINAL TO FORFEIT PENSION
Referring 10 the Spanish war. Pension
Commissioner Ware says that the total
number OF pensioners on the rolls OF this
class is 1882. and that during the past
year 1870 original applications were re-
ceived. Last year the Spanish War PEN
sion list cost sl.7s344e. For the year
just ended II reached s22. .204. .0s4
Commissioner Ware recommends the
passage Of a law that any man convicted
In court OF an infamous crime shall
forfeit his pension or his right TO one.
He is also opposed TO giving pensions
70 women who marry soldiers after The
soldiers become pensioners. He also
discusses the necessity Of a law TO make
some provision for superannuated clerks
and SAYS that in the pension bureau
alone there are 500 employees who are SO
years old or over. That he Is desrous
Of making some important changes in
the pension system IL shown by the fol-
lowing statement: Il recommend a diff
ferent method of examining applicants
for pensions The present system Is a
most uncertain. expensive and unsatis-
factory method. The system is liable "a
outside control and political dictator
and generates an enormous amount oi
political friction. ] suggest boards con
stituted OF experts, under civil servic'
rules who should go from place to place
on fixed days, giving examinations and
receiving testimony regarding the con
ditions OF the applicants aud making re-
ports thereon The territory could be
divioed into circuits and the boards serve
outside Of the states Of their domicile."
1t will he observed that the number
of applicants and demands upon the
bureau were Is per cent. larger last
year than the annual average of the
past 10 years, and that the bureau ha'
gained upon the current work 100000
cash I'm two years.
''The Eden OF Narragansett Bay"