Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1898 — PENSION ROLLS INCREASED. [ARTICLE]

PENSION ROLLS INCREASED.

Report of the Commissioner for the Last Fiscal Year. The forthcoming annual report of the Commissioner of Pensions will show thqt 63,648 original claims for pensions were granted the last fiscal- year, and 4,089 pensioners, who had for various cases been dropped, were restored to the rolls. On June 30 the pension roll contained 976,014 names, while 6,852 original claims which had been granted and 762 restorations were not then entered on the rolls, so there were on that date 985,623 persons »ntitled to pensions. During the year 33,691 names were dropped from the rolls by reason of death and 5,346 for remarriage, expiration of minority, and other causes, making the net increase 17,700. The aggregate of pensions paid during the year was $114,651,887, while the expenses of the bureau were $4,613,861. No claim for pensions under the Spanish war have yet been granted and no action can be taken on those already filed until the records of service are compiled by the War Department. A new division to be known as the Spanish-American war division will be established, in which will be handled all the claims arising under the war just passed. No additional legislation will be necessary and the claims will be adjudicated on the same lines as those from the civil war.