The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20

MANY old SOLDIERS ARE
APPLYING FOR PENSIONS
UNDER THE NEW RULING
About 100000 viii Be Re
quired the First Year to Meet
the Demands.
no CAUSE FOR CRITICISM
Republicans Surprised at the Atti-
tude of Mr.. Williams, the Mi
nority Leader.
NO CAUSE FOR CRITICISM

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 19-Although the
executive order for the change in applying
the law relating to the disability of appli-
cants for pensions does not go into effect
until the middle of next month, many APP
plications are pouring into the Pension Blu
reau, as well as requests for blanks and
information as to the effect of the order
upon the status of pensioners and appli-
cants.
1t is still too early to determine what the
cost OF the new ruling will be, but 1T will
certainly be much less than was estimated
the cost of a service pension bill would be.
The leaders in Congress who counseled
with President Roosevelt and upon whose
advice the administration took the course
it did with respect to existing pension laws,
are surprised that there should be criticism
in certain quarters over the executive or
der. Mr.. Williams, the Democratic leader
In the House, has called il executive leg
isiation OF so doubtful character that
he declined TO comment on it.
The Republican leaders and the pension
officials say all that was done was to change
the rulings of the Pension Bureau in regard
to the evidence required TO sustain claim
of disability. This is done without change
in the law, merely by accepting as evidence
of disability to a stated degree the age of
the applicant. The difference in the cost of
the policy and service pension bill is the
difference represented by the proposed high
rate of $l2 TO all pensioners above sixty
five and graded rate from Sc upward from
sixty-two. up to $12 for seventy years or
over. The estimate for the coming year is
three million dollars.
Rumors of ill feeling in the Pension
Bureau as a result OF this order and the
general pension policy of the bureau were
rife to-day. Commissioner Ware is said
to be at outs with his associate officials
as a result of the revcrsals to which his
office decisions have been subjected by the
secretary of the interior.
Representative Hemenway called on the
President to-day. II told the President
that the Republicans of the State are thor
oughly aroused in his behalf" said Mr.
Hemenway. There is no question In my
mind OF his nomination and election. He
will easily carry Indiana in November
next.
Senator Fairbanks was among the callers
at the White House to-day. His talk with
the President related to pending legisla-
tive matters.
Thomas w. Burt, of Lafayette, is here
visiting friends.
The Citizens Central National Bank, of
New York, has been approved as a reserve
agent for the Merchants National Bank.
of Indianapolis.
Charles Brown was to-day appointed
postmaster at Sandusky, Decatur county,
vice John t. Clemens. resigned.
Arthur Liddleton has been appointed
regular carrier and Hollis Farris substitute
| in the rural free delivery service at Lex
! ington; also John w. Bloomhuf and Wal
| ter Ginther, at Union Mills.
+ 7 +
Representative Crumpacker to-day an
| nounced the appointment of James Leslie
| Oswald, of Goodland and Nick Dague, of
! Fowler, as principals at Annapolis Naval
| Academy, and Charles Rouse, of Goodland,
and Clint Messuer of Oxford. as alternates.