Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1875 — Report of the Commissioner of Pensions. [ARTICLE]

Report of the Commissioner of Pensions.

The Commissioner of Pensions has finished his annual report, which shows that there are on the pension rolls 284,821 pensioners, a decrease of 1,420 from last year. They are classified as follows: Army invalids, 105,478; widows and dependent relatives, 104,885; survivors of the war of 1812, 15,875; widows of soldiers of 1812, 6,163; navy invalids, 1,636; widowß and dependent relatives of navy officers and seamen, 1,784. More than 11 per cent, of the soldiers of 1812 died last year. The amount appropriated for army pensions was $29,500,000, of . which $11,748,538 were paid to invalid soldiers and for artificial limbs; $15,525,734 to widows and dependent relatives; $533,000 to widows of soldiers of 1812, and $1,355,599 to sol. diers Of 1812, leaving an unexpended balance of $337,231, which has been covered into the Treasury.

The appropriation for navy pensions was $555,000, of which all but $34,051 was expended. Commissioner Atkinson estimates that a reduction of $500,000 can be safely made on the appropriation for next year. There are now pending nearly 40,000 claims unacted upon, mostly on account of lack of clerical assistance, which causes much dissatisfaction among applicants. The Cdinmissioner recommends additions to the clerical force. Legislation is asked to define sufficient proof of marriage of pensioners’ widows, so as to make evidenee of cohabitation sufficient to drop pensioners from the rolls. Large numbers of pensioned widows are known to be living with men whom the departments cannot prove to be their lawful husbands, hence no authority exists to drop their names. During last year 675 applications for bounty land were made, and 407 warrants were issued, calling for 63,560 acres of land. I

The Commissioner recommends the abolishment of the present system of examining surgeons and the appointment of sixty first-class surgeons, atfixed salaries, who will give their entire time to the service. He thinks this a measure of economy and one which will facilitate the payment of pensioners. Fifteen hundred and thirty claims were investigated by special agents, of which 309 were found to be fraudulent. Two hundred and fortythree pensioners were dropped on evidence of fraud, resulting in saving nearly $150,000. Over $16,000 were recovered from those who . had been drawing pensions fraudulently. The Commissioner thinks the knowledge that an efficient Secret Service exists prevents a large, amount of fraudulent claims being presented, and recommends the organization and enlargement of the service on the plan now in operation in the Treasury and Postofflce Departments. Congress is recommended to authorize the annual publicatioh of lists of pensioners residing in each county, publication to be made in the paper having the largest circulation, and that printed lists be posted in courtrooms and other prominent places, which would expose many cases of fraud.