Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-17
PENSION ORDER No. Y
Its Adoption In 1904 Was In
the Interests of the
Government
+ MEANT LARGE ECONOMY
1t Has Worked With Perfect satisfac-
ton, Saving 100000 to 10000 Old
Soldier Applicants, If Under the Age
Order, and Corresponding Amount
to the Government.
to the Government.

| New York, Oct 17.-Commissioner
Ware of the pension bureau at Wash
ington in a letter to the New York
Tribune gives the legal history of the
now famous pension order No. 7S.
After stating that the pension bureau
unlike other of the government bu-
reaus is under the immediate charge
of the president, and that he has the
right to prescribe the duties of the
commissioner Commissioner Ware
first quoted the laws governing the
payment of pensions and rulings in
important cases.
when the writer become commiss-
Toner, May 10. 1902" he continues,
Congress was in session. Persons
making applications setting forth their
ages were granted pensions at IS and
$12 for the ages of 65 and Is years.
''In very few days after assuming
the office the writer found that the cost
of medical examinations was exceeding
the appropriation, and one of his first
duties was to appear before congress
and show why he should ask for over
$4,000 more of money, the sum OF
500, 900 having been heretofore ap-
propriated.
Still More Money Needed.
"The next year, owing to the increase
of the business an extra sum of 1885,
600 had to be provided for. This led to
an immediate examination of the pend
ing conditions. 1t was found that those
who were 60 years old were able to
1,xr Of iOh medical
attendants that they were one-half dis
abled from earning a support by man
ual labor. Those at 65syears were able
to prove more, so also at IS and ~
years old.
MIR. Davenport, the first deputy
commissioner instituted an examination
into adjudicated cases for the purpose
of finding out the proportions OF re-
iections of those who were So and over.
Thousands of cases were examined.
An estimate was made as to the cost
to the government of examining these
cases. and it was found that applica-
tons were made one after another and
examinations made one after another
concerning the same pensioner, and
that these examinations cost the gov
eminent In surgeons and bureau ex-
penses at least $40 apiece.
Expensive for Veterans Also.
"On the other hand, it was expen-
siye to the claimants 20 leave their
homes and go to place, where there
were examining surgeons, to pay rail-
road fare and hotel bills, and it was
found that very large number of
these old soldiers had to make two
no Hyy
Grand Army of the Republic posts and
by charitable institutions to enable
them to make the trips and that the
trips would average in COST about $40
apiece.
1.-THE estimate which MIR. Davenport
made was that not over , per cent OF
those men who were 62 years old wer
finally rejected, and not over 3 per cent
of those who were 20 years old were
denied pension for total disability.
"In view of the fact that applica-
lions came in at the rate of over 2O0,-
900 a year fer original and increase
pensions, it Wa seen that as a pension
under an age Tder would be simply
anticipatory for year or two 1t was
saving to the gGernment to arrange
al, age pension ruA
| Rule Mean Economy.
This would save 100000 to 10000
old soldier applicants, if under the age
order, and a corresondingly large
amount to the goyernmnt. Thereupon,
order No. rs was prepar>d in tentative
form and submitted 10th, department
in the latter part Of julie, 900.
Its adoption in 1904 YES not a mat
ter of sudden or spontasao,,s aotior
nor did it have connectie. With any
political question. 1t was a opposition
carefully considered in the In vests of
the government before it was iss,mul-
gated. 1t has worked with perfecssat-
isfaction. 1t was never expected t hi
contrary to the constitution or Nv
laws, because it was in direct line :.
established precedent and practice, ann
within the power given to the presi-
dent, to the department and to the
pension bureau by congress"
Lad is Fatally Burned.
Special to Times-Republican.
| Manchester, Oct. 17.-Donald Wal
colt, 6-year-old son of Ed Walcott, a
prominent wholesale lumberman resid-