New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-30
PENSION RULE DEFENDED PLAN TO PAY FOR CANAL /
HITCHCOCK TO SENATE. /.
The Secretary Upholds Ne5c Age
Regulation IN Report.

Washington. March 29-The Secretary Of the
Interior to-day sent TO the Senate a communica-
tion in response to Senator OverIuan's resolution
requesting the Secretary 10 furnish the Senate a
copy OF the order issued by The department en-
lar-lag the pension act OF June -. 1890, and
amendments as TO the disabilities Of applicants
for pensions. and 10 report by vh hat amount the
order VIII increase pensions annually.
Ia regard TO the increase Of pension appropra-
lions needed 20 carry tie order into effect. me
Secretary gives the estimate Of The Acting Com
missioner 81 Pensions. made public with the or
der If March L. 1904. \ review OF the admin
lsrration of pension laws is given by Secretary
Hitchcock In the course Of which he says:
As some Iaisuudeis standing wl,h reference TO the
Iute-pIs iAilUH and purpose OF aims order mas tN-
isted brief review Of pension legislation and the
administration thereof In this department IS sub
u.tt,4 fo. The purpose OF showing tn.tJ the order
referred TO j. Clearly within me executive authorly
which have heretofore prevailed in its administri-
Disability partial or complete. to perform man
sion uude. this act OF June =, lNs' The elem ent
81 manual labor is fundamental u. T. the id7
Indication = q pension claim. II shll d. determined
i1 ,Soi.v irranacitefld fr uaIi labor his
-,-.. viii ba ecsI-5fr ,5 t6'SHgb he
applicant may be then occupied, with distns uished
II is weIl understood thaJ there is a natural de-
which imIaIrs mans c+FSclty 20 earn support
ly his own manual labor
j
and every innrmity shall be duly considered" but
ii. decisions under it uniformly recognize the prl-
sonahe
NEW ORDER WILL SECURE UNIFORMITY.
The Secretary refers TO an order Of September
1898. under which the age Of seventy five years
entities the applicant to the maximum amount
lie cites three cases Of this kind and continues;
Although age, in connection with other dsabili-
r.r1.- he Of has
any uniform rule for rating the tnntTlu.s Que -
the element Of age with the exception Of the two
classes named. such ratings, therefore, seem 10
have been governed by the varying opinions OF
thereby impartinE 10 that feature OF pension ad-
miuistIaJion something OF uncertainty and Inc
To his fact together with the growing impoT-
measure the necessity for action the line OF this
order specifically defining, as Gar as Pracitlcst6le
raIiFs rom s rg SeS' O''--'' 01'A '0' '''
In the administration Of pension laws and the
consideration OF the immense number OF cases that
are pending under every act, Il is impossible to Sc
cure uniformity and expedition IN decisions without
evidence and prims facie presumption which long
course Of the Pension Bureau since its establish
The order IN question merely lays down a con
veueut rule ~ decision: and reouttablo pre-uIni
earning a livelihood 10y his hands; that one who is
sixfv-dya wears Old is more disabled for manual
work; that one who is siXty-eiEh. years old IS In
a SIN greater degree incapable n earning support
by manual labor and that one seventy years Old
Is completely disabled IN this regard certainly
such presumption Is justified BY general expert
When It is understood that n the adjudications
factor with other disabilities. and when II Is FUR
Their considered that Tor more than ten years.
there has been Al established rating che maximum
allowed by law) based solely the age OF
seventy-fve years. and that for nearly seven
years there has been established rating Uhe
minimum provided By lawl based alone on the age
OF sItyhve years, Il Will be apparent how largely
problematlcal must he any estimate ot increase Ok
The Acting Commissioner OF Pensions has given
the resolution and, by reference TO his report. it
win he seen that he estimates that the order OF
| penditure annually OF s. 1000
INCREASE IN COST $5.OOOOOO A YEAR
by n letter from Acting Commissioner OF Pen
Wares order does not enlarge. but simply con-
its amendments.
Mr. Davenport saws.
The amount the order VIII Increase pensions an
nuaIly. and particularly when the same shall be
come fully operative. can ie only roughly eSl!-
ma ted. There are supposed 20 be living to-cay
/ OF these are .e1sioUed under the act of July a
Iss2. known as the General law. about 255ooO. and
eating 3oJ0 which deducted from the whole num-
Der Of survivors. leaves 1900. who have NOT APP
OF this number failed TO serve the required ninety
| days and receive final honorable discharge would
ana reduces The number l5G SO. TO that 1000
| OF these have reached the age or siXty-two. and
/ e O0 a 70 an placed the rolls at s. month. or
81 wear the output for pensions viii be increased
The pension ron is diminishing rapidly owing "a
deaths OF benehCiaries. and In all probability this
soldiers who have reached the Of sixty Ave and
upward