The Kusko times., 1924-03-01
Lack of Funds Pre-
 vents Further Pension
 Allowances to Pioneers

Juneau, Feb. lowing to the lacl of funds, due to an insufficient appro psiation by the legislature, no further pension allowances can be granted un der the Old Age Pension Act, accord ing to an authorized statement made today by Bockie MacKinnon, treasurer of the board of trustees of the Pioneers Home, which administers the act, a, follows:
 '"Fhere are now 191 pensioners OF the roll, of whom l66 are men and 2 women. The last legislature increased the allowance to men from Sl2.50 to B. per month and to women from S25 tc S45 per month, but did not increase the appropriation to meet such increase Tie effect of such failure to provide funds is that over one third of the ap- propriation of S60 GOO, or to be exact S21, 755. 2, has been disbursed during three ghths of the biennium, leaving an unexpended balance of only S38,. 244 D. Even with no more allowances and continuing the roll as it exists to. day, deficit Of $l3, 240 would ensue.
 "A misconception that the intent oi the act was to make all pensioners eli- gible for the increase precipitated an immediate demand upon the board for such increase, and new applications came from all quarters. The act, as q matter of fact, specifically limits its generous provisions to persons in act. ual need, and the board, in passing upon applications, has of necessity kept in mind that limitation. To have granted all applications received would have exhausted the appropriation by this time. Legislators who enacted the law, but who did not foresee it's op- eration and provide adequate funds, have been, in many cases, most insist ent upon increases and the granting oi new pensions, evidently in the belief that they had made ample apyropria- tion.
 "fhe board has examined into every case presented with care and had the co operation and assistance of commis soners and pioneers, and the constant aim has been to provide relief wher actually needed, so far as possible with the money available. It has been com pelled, through no fault of it's own, t hold some new applications in abeyauct and to pass unfaVorably upon other re quests for maximum allowances, bu dealt with all cases considerably anC did it's best in the situation.
 "The board, which, in majority part is composed of pioneers, looking ahead now finds that iJ will be necessary t' curtail the allowances for the remain der of the biennium in order to koel within the appropriation. A curtail ment has been avoided until the winte 1 is over, but without such reduction a 1 the end of this quarter no money vii 1 be available for the next winter season and the beneticiaries of the act would receive nothing. It is believed to b. the wiser and more humane policy t, reduce the allowances for the remain der of the biennium rather than t leave needy ones without any relief fo several months.t
 "It will be incumbent upoL the mex 1 legislature to at least double the ap propriation CT to go amend the law 8 to bring it's operation within the fun set apart. Where relief cannot for th remainder of the biennium be given t persons eligible to assistance under tn act. the Restitution fund will be draw IL ;, q l...