The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d, c. Jan % 1905

Commissioner of Pensions it might be
of interest to note some facts concern
ing the Bureau of Pensions The work
of this bureau is diminishing. and even
the growing death rate among the en-
ployes is inadequate to keep pace with
the decline in the business of the
bureau. There was on the pension
rolls of June 30. 1904 the Revolutionary
War widow, and two daughters, one
survivor of the War of 1912, and 9l8
widows. The whole number Of PEN
sioners on the rolls on the date men
toned was 1914, 762. About $4,000 pen
si:ners died during the preceding year.
and it is estimated that $4,000 persons
now on the rolls will pass away during
the present year. The high water
mark of pensions, as to number, was
reached in September, 1902, when there
were 1,O0O,732 persons drawing pen
sions., Pennsylvania has the greatest
number of pensioners, viz 10O,9 $40. and
Ohio is close second with I0O,700.
Iowa has about 26.5N people who draw
pensions. There are about five thous-
and pensioners living outside of the
United States. The amount of money
paid out by the government since the
formation of the government is $3,l79,-
7l6.6jO. The number of persons who
have done military service under the
stars and stripes is 1904, 995, and of
these 1913. 365 served in the Civil War.
The amount of money paid by the
government in pensions during the
year prior to June 80, 1904, was 1884,,
100 203. which together with expenses
of the Bureau aggregated Sal ,093, ST.
49, The average value of pension Of
$134 "a, and over one half of the pen
sions are ten dollars and under per
month. The total disbursements of the
government for pensions from July
1890 to June 30 1865 were $96. 445, 444.2 %
less than the present annual expendi
ture for that purpose. The number of
employees in the pension bureau on
June 30, 1904. was 1921.
During the past year the Civil Service
positions were increased in number
from 1876, 453 tc 154.093. More than
133, 900 persons were examined by the
Civil Service Commission through its
different agencies. Over fifty thousand
candidates were appointed to federal
positions after competitive examina
tions during the year just past. Diff
fculty is experienced in securing
sufficient number of male stenographers
for the Department service More
than twelve hundred boards of examin-
ers have been organized throughout the
country, and these have been arranged
during the past year into thirteen
districts, each of which is in charge of
q secretary, who does much of the work
previously performed with some incon-
5esrvenience thrnHhe' " = ion
ps g easer that there is lack of
competition for positions as rural
carriers. and deplores the notion which
is quite prevalent, that these places are
obtained through political prefermenu,
as this idea is difficult to eradicate
among possible aspirants who, live
away from the centers of population
and who are unfamiliar with the aim
and methods of the Commission. The
Civil Service has been roundly denounc.
ed by some m I'm 'oers Of Congress. Col.
Hepburn took occasion recently to
severely criticise this institution as it is
now conducted. Senator Bailey Of
Texas. declared himself in favor of
abolishing the civil service. Congress-
man Richard Bartholdt, of MISSOURI,
at;the last session of Congress, vigor-
ously assailed the methods OF the Com
mission in the appointment of appoint
ments to the sevearl states, which is
ostensibly made in certain proportion.
but which, in fact according to the
the record lends color. is made in a
manner which is grossly inequitable
He cited the District of Columbia,
which has two thousand per cent of its
quota of appointments. Maryland and
Virginia have been favored far beyond
their dues Tie spoils system is pre-
ferred by many to tie present plan,
but the motives of those people are not
always regarded without suspicion by
the advocates of pure politics. Roose-
welt has during his whole public career
favored civil service reform, and he has
strengthened this system il a consider
able degree since his elevation to the
presidency.
The democratic party has evinced a
disposition of late to sit up and notice
things. IN consequence of this partial
revival the minority held caucus a
few days ago, at which, it was rumored
the leader John Sharp Williams would