Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1894 — MATTER OF PENSION APPEALS. [ARTICLE]

MATTER OF PENSION APPEALS.

Work of the Board Reviewed in * Report Made to Secretary Smith. The work of the Board of Pennon appeals during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is fully reviewed in a report made by the assistant secretary of the interior, John M. Reynolds, to Secretary Smith. In summarizing the administration of the office, Reynolds says: “Upon taking charge of the office of assistant secretary in April, 1893, I found 4,965 appeals pending on the docket with the work of the board of appeals more than two years behind. In eighteen and one-half months, with 5,847 additional appeals entered during that time, current appeals are being decided, and tardy justice no longer follows the appeal to the department by nny deserving Soldier, widow or orphan. Thus 10,000 cases were considered on appeal and finally ruled upon, a greater number of them was never before disposed of in the saipe length of time, and more than double the number considered in.any period under my predecessor.” The small balance of arrears is said to consist almost entirely of claims undergoing further investigation in the pension bureau and others which, for final decision, await the determination of legal questions that will be decisive of all. The sub-committee of the House on pensions met Saturday, and after listening. for an hour to Commissioner Lochren s explanation of the requirements of his office, virtually decided to report a bill providing for the appropriations recommended by the commissioner in his estimate, except in one item of fees for examining surgeons The original estimate was that $1,000,000 would be required to pay these fees, but Lochten told the committee he thought SBOO,OOO would be sufficient, and that figure was decided upon. Pension appropriations as decided upon by the sub-committee will, therefore, be: For pensions, $140,000,000; for surgeons’ fees, $800,000; for clerk hire at pension agencies, $450,000; miscellaneous, $131,570.