Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-02
PENSIONS ARE DECREASING
Bureaus Condition is Highly Salts
factory.

Washington, Aug. 1.-The work ot
the United States Pension Office at the
end Of the fiscal year on June 30 last
was in better condition and under more
thorough standardization than it has
been at any time during its existence.
This is the opinion expressed bv officials
who have long been employed in this
bureau of the Interior Department.
This state of affairs, it was stated, is
due largely to the efforts of Colonel
Nespasian Warner, who retired from
Congress in March. 1905. to become
Commissioner of Pensions. During his
administration the records of the office
show that the number of applications
for pension pending before the bureau
have been reduced to minimum, the
business of the office is entirely up to
date and it is now possible to attend 10
current work with despatch.
In addition to this, general satisfac-
ton is apparent among the almost NIL
lion pensioners OF the country who re-
ceive stipends monthly from the Gov
eminent on account of service i'll the
wars. james l.. Davenport. first
deputy commissioner of pensions. states
that during the last month he has re-
ccived only one complaint from the
vast army of pensioners. Formerly
every mail brought complaints. I'm
years gone by" said Mr.. Davenport.
Il have received as many as thirty OF
these letters in one day." Many inter-
| esting facts in connection with the
work of the Pension Office will be
brought out in the annual report of the
| commissioner for the fiscal year just
| ended, which, however. will not be pub
lished until September. 1.-THE report
| will not be a magazine this year.. said
Colonel Warner "for I am strict be-
| lever in the economy Of briefnesS in
| the matter of Government reports"
The report will show that during the
| year more than $4,000 pensioners died
| and that for the first time since the
| Civil War the decrease in the pension
roll unbalanced the increase. The
| experts of the pension Office express
/ the belief that from now on the NOR
| tality among Civil War veterans will
| show decided increase. The average
/ age Of the veteran pensioners. accord
| ing to the records, is now sixty-five
years. In five years the average will
have exceeded the threescore and ten
/ Wn1Cn Is allotted 10 man. II Is diSo
shown that only "A per cent. of the old
| soldiers who die leave widows or chill
| dren eligible for pensions.
While it is demonstrated by the fig
| ures of the Office that the pension roll
probably has reached its highest point
and that the gradual reduction has been
| begun, it will be many years, even
provided there are no wars, before
the Pension Office can be done away
| with as an adjunct to the govern
mental system. More than a century
| and a quarter has passed since the end
| of the Revolutionary War, but there
are yet on the rolls five persons draw
| ing pensions on account of that war,
| There are still a large number on the
| rolls on account of the War of 1872, and
| thousands of Mexican War veterans
and members of their families draw
money from the Government.
| The gradual decrease in the number
Of pensioners means a consequent de-
crease in the amount Of work before
the Pension Office, and this necessitates
q reduction in the clerical force. Dur
Ting the fiscal year nearly 200 clerks