The National tribune., 1904-08-18

Among the number of deaths reported,
30.OI1 were soldiers of the civil war.
In 1887 there were 57S099 unsettled ap-
plications pending before the Bureau. Since
that date new applications have been re-
ceived at the rate of over 100000 per year,
and yet on July l, 1904, the number Of
pending claims had been reduced 10 49,
523, mostly claims for increase now in
process of adjudication.
The results obtained in the fiscal year
i9o i9oi exceeded any of the other years since
1891. The number of employees in 1904
was over 100 less than in 1897. and yet
the work done was nearly 60 per cent.
more, showing constantly improving state
of efficiency in the Bureau.
The number of reflections for the past
fiscal year was 10000 less than in 1902,
and nearly 5000 less than in 1903. while,
as above shown. the number of allowances
III l3O4 was far in excess of the allowances
for the former years.
The amount paid for pensions during the
fiscal year 1904 was $141 .O93.571. In
1903 the amount was S137, ,759 GJ3
The first payments in admitted cases
of $SO.S2 for each case. There has been a
marked decrease in the average amount due
or first payment. for the reason that the
work is now about current, and very little
time elapses between date of filing claim
and its allowance.
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pension system for the past year was S144,-
942,937. In the year 1903 the amount
was $141, ,752,S10.
The average annual value of each PEN
sion on July l, 1904, was $134.S4. an in
crease over last year Of S. 80. The average
annual value of each general law pension
of the civil war was S1S0.5S, an increase
over last year of SHIP
The average annual value of each pen-
sion under the act of 1890 (civil war; in
creased from $1OS.S2 in 1908 to S110.69
in 1904. while the value of each Spanish
War pension decreased from $131.25 in
1903 to $132.1S in 1904
The cost of the pension system since ths
beginning of the Government is 1929
214.46 exclusive of the establishment OF
Soldiers Homes and the granting of bounty
land amounting to nearly 69, 600. 900 acres.
The amount paid during the year to
Spanish War pensioners was S3 1O6,931
and the entire amount that has been paid
on account of said war is $3.50. 200.
On July 1. 1904. the number of civil
war soldiers under GO years Of age COM
Stituted about 80 per cent. of the survivors;
about 20 per cent. were under 65 about 20
per cent. more under 6S. and the balance,
about 30 per cent, were 6S or over.
Order No. IS was based upon the Act OF
May 8, 1900. Under the above law old
age has been pronounced an infrmity and
has for many years been considered in tho
rating of disabilities. Order No. IS intro
duced no new principle. 1t only made
certain and definite the experience of the
Bureau.
Up to June 80. 1904, 1s.3o3 applications
for original pension had been filed under
said order, and 2S.S06 applications for in-
crease. a total Of A. 100 OF this number,
1862 were allowed prior to July ]. 1904.
The work done in the Bureau during the
past year has never been excelled in quality
or quantity. During the past two years
nearly half million applications have been
filed in the Bureau. vet there are pending
to-day $1,000 less than two years ago.
The esprit de corps of the Bureau was
never higher nor its capacity for work as
great as now. and good results can be
confidently looked for in the future.
THE COMMITTEE on LEGISLATION FoH
VETERANS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE,
consisting of Comrade I. G.. KimbalL
Chairman. and Comrades Rassieur and
Goblin past COmmanders-in-Ch Chiefi. Estes,
Butterfeld and King. haze reported theiI
services. which were vigilant and faithful,
stating their dissatisfaction with the pro-
posed removal from the public service Of
comrades over 40 years of age. on June
30. 1907, and stating that they had not
initiated measures looking to enlarged
privileges, for the reason that your COM
mander-in-Chief had requested them to de-
vote their energies and influence to secur-
ing the Service Pension bill. which is true.
and which helped to secure the general ad-
vance elsewhere alluded to. The report
will repay perusal. 1t is not believed that
the age limit suggested will be established,
or that it should be. Men do not so decay
in mentality by the passing of 40 years
that it may be said to them as class
Go hence and serve no more" Such
rule would rob the Congress itself of wis-
dom and the bench Of much matured judg-
ment.
FLAG COMMITTEE.
The report of the Flag Committed
Henry S. Peck, Chairman, of New Haven,
Conn.,. shows that this committee was
originally appointed at the request of thS
American Flag Association. aud that thex
have done all they could to help the WORK
of that body. The committee reports the
passing by the Senate of the United States
on March IL. 1904, of bill to prevent the
dcsecration Of the American Flag, and the
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