Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-22
GRAND ARMY UNDERGOES
GRADUAL DEFAMATION
Union Soldiers of 1876 Becoming
Fewer in Number as
Time Passes.
Showing Made in Annual Report of
Gaylord M. Saltzgaber, Commits
sioner Of Pensions.

No better indication of the passing of
the Grand Army can be found than that
written in the annual report of Com
missioner Gaylord NJ. Saltzgaber. made
public today. Figures and facts are
there to show that the veterans are fast
passing over the border1ine Of the
Great Beyond. and that pensions on
account of the great internal strife in
the early Sos are getting fewer every
day.
During the year ended June 80 last
there were reported 1926 deaths Of
civil war pensioners. compared with
1859 for the previous fiscal year. The
commissioner estimated the total num-
Der of original enlistments on the
Union side during the war at 2,21S.-
1865. and that the surviving soldiers.
assuming that all are on the pension
roll, number 5s6,37o.
Death Toll Totals 1,516,995.
The death toll during the intervening
period is 1.s16,995. Up until the close
Of the current fiscal year the govern
ment has paid s4,s14,64S.267.4S on &C
count of pensions to the civil war vet
Grams their widows and children.
Gradually the grim reaper has been
lessening the ranks of the Union vet
Grams, according to the pension office
irecords,which show that in the last three
fiscal years death has taken slightly
more than per cent of the total each
year. with the percentage higher dur
ing 1915 than ever before. In the ifs
cal year 1910. 1892 Union soldiers
answered to taps" which was then
lowing year S5.243 died, a percentage
of g.. 1912, S3,9s1. or 6.3 per cent;
1913, 36,064, or ~ per cent; 1914, 33, 639.
or 7.3 per cent, and 1915, 1926, or ~
per cent.
Last year there was shown decrease
in the amount of money necessary to
pay the pensioners of the civil war. In
1915, or the fiscal year ended June 30.
meet it's pension debts to the veterans,
their widows and children; the previous
year. S163,377,552.
The total amount paid in pensions
to $165, 51s,266, compared with $172.-
417,546 for the year previous. From
1890 to 1915 the government has paid
in pensions on account of all its wars
81 S95, 475,637.
Compliments His Clerical Force.
That he has force the members of
| which are devoted to the interests of
the government committed to their
care Is the statement OF commissioner
Saltzgaber in his report.
Explaining that no dismissals we're
necessary in the force on account of the
| cut provided by Congress. the men and
women having been reduced instead of
dismissed Commissioner Saltzgaber
said IT desire to report that the en-
ployes in the bureau are busy at the
tasks assigned to them; that they uni
| formly observe the rules of discipline
prescribed by the department: that, as
a whole, they are devoted to the in
terests of the government committed to
their care, loyal to superiors and
otherwise praiseworthy in their con-
duct"
He makes considerable comment on
the improvements in the office during
| the year, both as to better protection
provided for the records and an i'm
proved system of handling the work.
OF the new family data records he
| says: "a circular was prepared with
much care, seeking information indi-
| Gated by inquiries therein The pur-
pose was to have in our records such
| information AS would be valuable In
the adjudication of claims, both of
| soldiers or sailors and widows, and in
some cases of children. 1t also served
| to place on record an accurate history
of the military or naval service of the
soldier or sailor, and of his marital
| family relations. SO that for all time
| such data would remain here for ap-
| propriate use and historical reference
Copy to Each Male Pensioner.
The circular was sent to every male
pensioner Oh the rolls. The old SOL
diers throughout the country had urged
| that something Hike this be DONE and
| generally we had cordial cooperation
| in securing the information. From
| very many of them We have express
! sions of gratitude for undertaking this
| large task, which will remain of per-
| manent benefit to them and their famf-
| lies
! Pensioners to the number of 100000
| received these circulars and 349,0a1
were filled out and returned to the bu-
| reaIi.
| The circular asked for the place and
| date of the birth of the pensioner. the
post office address at the time of en-
| listment. the organization served in,
| information on marital relations, the
place of the church record of marriage
and the names and dates of birth of
| all children.