Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1881 — Pensions. [ARTICLE]

Pensions.

Special Cinoinn&trijazette. * Mr. Bently, commissioner of Pensions, before leaving, made to your correspondent the following statement as to the condition in which he would leave the office, and ad to the future of the pension service. The number of pensions granted during the year will be about 25,000, inclusive of the war of 1812 pensions. This is an increase of more than sixty cent, over the number granted laßl year, and a portion of this increase is accounted for by the fact that we have handled a very large number of newelaims during the year, many of which were for gun shot wounds or of some disease of which there was a record. This element will enter more largely into the work of next year, and continue to increase the number of annual settlements until the claims which are pending, hut not yet reached, for adjustment, have been gone over. After that the work will foil back into the usual course. The set tlement this year ought to reach from 45,000 to 60,000. First, there are probably from 5,000 to 7,000 cases on the files ready, or nearly so, tor the issue of the certificates. Second, there will be an increase j>f the remaining force, including that relieved from tne work upon the records, equal to nearly fifty per cent. Third, there will be a large increase hi the number of special agents, which, under the law as modified last winter ought to considerably increase the number of claims which will be settled." These, together with the character of the claims before referred to, ought to nearly, if not quite, double number of allowances. We have exhausted the pension appropriation this year, $56,302,406.68, aud nave been compelled to carry over into July nearly all the' May and June settlements. I think they will require for the first payments about $5,000,000. This added to the expected increase in r the settlement next year, will run. the ambunt for next year up to nearly or quite $90,000,000. Bo there will be required for the> pensions next year an appropriation ol $40,000,000 in addition tne $56,000,000 already appropriated. New claims continue to come ill very rapidly. There have been filed this year upwards of 30*000 new original claims. >