Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1875 — Pension Report. [ARTICLE]

Pension Report.

The Commissioner of Pensions has finished his annual report, which shows that there are on the pension rolls 234,821 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, 5,163; navy invalids, 1,636; widowsand 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 $11,748,533 were paid to invalid soldiers and for artificial limbs; $15,525,734 to widow’s and dependent relatives; $533,000 to widows of soldiers of 1812, and $1,355,599 to soldiers 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 $34,651 w’as 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 Commissioner recommends additions to the clerical force. Legislation is asked to define sufficient proof of marriage of pensioners’ widows, so as to make evidence of cohabitation sufficient to drop pensioners from the rolls. Large numbers of pensioned widows are known to be living with men whom the department cannot prove to be their lawful husbands, hence no authority exists to drop their names. During last year 675 applications sor 1 bounty land were®made, and 407 warrants were issued, calling for 63,560 acres of land.

The Commisssioner recommends the abolishment of present system of examining surgeons and the appointment of sixty first-class surgeons, at fixed 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 recovered from those who had been drawing pensions fraudulently. The Commissioner Hiinks 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 Postoffice Departments. Congress is recommended to authorize the annual publication 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 court-rooms and other prominent places, which would expose many cases of fraud.— N. Y. Times.