The National tribune., 1909-12-02
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER
DE PENSIONS


The report of the Commissioner Of
Pensions for the year ended June 30.
1909, shows that the number on the
roll al the beginning of the year was
951,687. To this were added 45,0lO
originals, 121 restorations and 957 re-
newals, making a total of 4G, 0SS. These
additions were at a much less rate, as
might have been expected. than in the
previous years, since the material upon
which the Office has to work is reaching
the limit. The additions were more
than offset by 51,5S1 names dropped
from the roll, leaving the number at
the close of the year 9f6,194, a net de-
crease Of 5.493. OF these dropped, 49,
S12 were by death. The number of sur
vivors of the civil war on the roll at
the close of the year was 592,961,
decrease of 27.024 during the year. The
number OF veterans of the civil war
who were dropped from the roll on ac-
count OF death during the year was
32.0S1, or something less than 5000 a
month.
At the beginning Of the year there
were two daughters of the Revolution
ON the roll of whom one died There
were al widows of 1872, of whom &c
died. There were 1920 survivors of
Indian wars, of whom 76 died, and 3,01S
widows, OF whom 1871 died.
There were 1882 survivors OF the
Mexican War. OF whom 473 died. and
6.s14 widows. of whom 3S1 died.
In addition TO the veterans of the
civil war who died during the year
there were 2,191 widows. 43 minor chill
dren. 692 mothers, 163 fathers. II help
less children and 80 army nurses.
The Spanish War roll gained 1,419
invaIids. II widows. two minor children.
one dependent mother and one depend
ent sister, While losing seven dependent
fathers.
The pension roll of The Regular Army
gained 7SS invands, widows. minor chill
dren. etc.
The annual value of the pension rolf
at the close of the year was S16O.6S2,-
$40. an increase of s1.1s7.16s over the
previous year.
The average annual value of each
pension WIS $16ss2, as against S136.96
in 1905. The annual average value OF
the pensions under the old law was
sg19.9s. as against s1S7.51 In 1905. The
average annual value of pensions under
the act of June 81, 1890, was s113.55.
against sII3.20 In 1905. The average
annual value under the act of Feb. 6,
1907. was s16s.40.
The amount paid in first payments
for the year was se,4ss.416.73. or s6,-
9o5.2l6.6s less than the first payment
for the previous year. This important
itam shows the extent to which the
pension payments are decreasing. The
number of certificates upon which first
payments were made was 124,634.
against S16.50o for the previous year.
or less than half.
The amount expended for Navy PEN
sions was s5.337,014.4s.
The agency at Topeka remains much
the largest in the country, with the
amount disbursed s18.669,s5e.74. That
at Concord is the smallest. and only
disburses $2.S53.s9641. The Topeka
agency has more pensioners than both
the agencies in New York. the two in
Pennsylvania or the three In New Eng
land combined.
The largest number Of pensioners in
any one State was s2,507 IN Ohio. and
that State received the largest amount
of pensions Of any State. being $16.-
S76.313.45.
There is a remarkable drift of PEN
sioners to the Far West. with the roll
of the San Francisco agency being now
larger than either the Pittsburg or Buff
salo agency.
An interesting summary is given of
the cases on hand at the beginning Of
each year for 10 years, showing how
the business Of the PEN
sion Bureau has been expedited until II
is now current In 1900 there were
f37,104 cases pending, where June 80.
1909, there were only 66,226. During
the year 1908 there were 387.992 cases
while last year the number
fell to 1861, or less than onc-haIf.
During the year there had been 49,. .O09
applications filed, Of which 1880 were
to the roll, 52,199 rejected
and 1,772 classed as Of no benefit
In the criminal section there were
LOG new cases presented, with indict-
ments found in 80 and convictions Sc
cured in s.. The total recovery of |
money was $4,571. OF these 10 cases
we're for false presentations of soldiers
md sailors, and two for personating a
special examiner.