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THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON, 1). C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1882. ; i TTJE PICKET LINE. Stray Shots from The Tribune's Sharpshooters. 'Ism pleased with the Tribute, and glnd to eec the stand you take in behalf of the soldiers. I think you appreciate the hardships of a sol dier's life, and I hope the Triuune will con tain some grand news for the soldier this winter. I served in the army myself nearly three years, having enlisted before 1 was twenty-one, and three years ago was compelled to give up my trado on account of disability resulting from wounds received in the army." J. E. B., Bo.onsboro, Mich. " We have already added sixty subscribers to the Tuinuxn that big gun, whose reverberations have been heard throughout the. land' II. F. J-, Ithaca, Gratiot co., Mich. "The TitinuNE is one of the best papers in existence. I believe it to be the true friend of the soldier." Vermillion, Ind. "The Tribune has done a great work in show ing tho boys what their duty is. May God bless it and over keep it afloat." C. F. W., Blue Earth City, Minn. "Through the kindness of some soldier friend a copy of Tin: National Tribune fell into my hands to-day, and after reading it through I pronounce it tho best soldiers' paper I ever read' S. V.f IVellsvillo, Kau. " Why is a soldier's pension like the sun ? Because it is 95.000,000 miles be yond hisreach. Again, no soldier need be poor, for if he applies for a pension he will always have something coming to him." F. II., Pitts field Mass. " Tho paper is just what every ex-soldier should read." C. E. M., Dccorah, Iowa. "I look for The Tribune every week as I do for my dinner, and would not bo without it for twice the price. I first read tho Soldier's Column,' aud then turn to the ad dresses of soldiers, after which I raid tho 'Ques tions and Answers,' to see if I can find tho name Df some friend, and then I turn to tho fourth page to see what tho editor has to say in re gard to soldiers' claims and the equalization of bounties." Mrs. M. E. A., Stcarnvillc, Ind. I am a subscriber to your paper,aud should take It even if I could take no other. I know it to be tho soldier's friend, and every soldier should subscribe to it." II. P. H., New Lisbon, Wis. "I was a member of tho Third Ivy. cav- elry, Co. B, aud should like to hear from somo f the boys whom I have not seen since 'G5. I jrould bo very glad to shake hands with them nce more, but must bo content, aud hope to meet them where 'the wicked cease from troubling and tho weary are at rest." Joel H. Roach, Magan, Ohio co., Ky. " Would it not bo a grand and magnanimous thing for the Government to make an appro priation for a grand Reunion at Washington before the internal revenue taxes aro reduced? Please advocate it through The National Tribune, and I believe it will meet with gen eral approval." N. L. B., Delphos, Kan. "Now, niy dear Comrades, stand firm I There Is some fighting to do still. I say, fix bayonets, and let us fight for our rights. Victory is sure." J. P. M., Kewanna, Ind. " Would to God we had ono hundred editors like the editor of The National Tribune. May it increase in circu lation until it reaches the house of every family in the United States." W. T. P., Hawthorne, Iowa. " I cannot speak too highly of The Tribune. It is certainly tho best soldiers paper in the country. I will not except any." Jcdale, Wis. "I am a locomotive .nd have to run nn hundred miles in the week (Sundays included;, so lavo no time to canvass oufcide of )wn, but will do all I can for The L. L. T.f Waverly, N. Y. "I have fattened three-quarters of an inch on each nb since I commenced to read The Tribune. Just send in a shot whenever you think it will tell and I will do the same." D. D. C, Fond du Lac, Wis. "Please accept four more solid shot subscriptions for your booming cannon, hurling defiance at all enemies of the soldier." L. B. IL, Saybrook, 111. "I cannot read all of your paper on account of my eyes, but my boy reads to me aud I listen with delight. Why not give those who lost an eye in the servico tho benefit of the $-10 bill ? " S. W. F., Ashton, Mich. "My wife tells mo that I think more of The Tribune than I do of her, nevertheless, Ehe enjoys reading it as much as I do." M. P. K., Putnamsville, Vt. " The Tribune has the right ring about it, and I shall try to get all the boys in Post 102 to subscribe for it." A. M. II., Union City, Pa. "I have received Beveral numbers of your paper in place of tho Union Veteran and am well pleased with it. The fact is. that I enjoy it moro than all tho four or five other papers that I takoput to gether." C. D. G., West Liberty, Iowa. THE EIGHT SORT OF A DEMOCRAT. To the Editor National Tribune : Our Post met last night, and at the close I made you up a club of seven subscribers. It was a bad night, and the turnout was not large else I could have got more subscribers, as those who have seen the paper think it one of tho best in the country. I am taking fourteen different papers and magazines myself, but your paper would be the last I would want to give up. I am a Democrat and have always voted the Democratic ticket, but should the Democrats come into power and fail to do their duty towards the soldiers I would never vote with the party again. The bondholders have been well paid. Why not pay the poor soldiers what justly belongs to them? Respectfully, A. V. Kimball, Xenia, Ind., Dec. 7, 1652. WORDS OF "WISDOM FROM A VETERAN'S BON. To the Editor National Tribune: 31y pa said I might write a letter to you. I am a little boy twelve years old, four feet four inches high, and weigh fifty-five pounds. 1 like to read your paper. It tells such good sto ries about the war. 1 am reading " Little Red Cop." 1 guess he was about as big as I am when lie went to war, and I would like to be drummer boy if there should be another war I have read, too, about the battle of Gettysburg! Mission Ridne, and Lookout -Mountain. My pa was in the battle.-, of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. I iJke vour paner flrst.rate i should think the old soldiers would all want to take it, but my pa &ay8 it is dijJKUfitillJ to w the excuses tuey give when he tries to get them to take it. Pa say3 it is lhc cIub of Jlcr. culcs pounding a little hone.,ty aud sense into the heads of Congressmen to make them do by the soldiers what the Government agreed to ilo in 1SG1 and 18G2, pension them if disabled My pa got the rheumatism in the army and is to lame now that he cannot work anj-hardl ' He said he would canvass for The Tiumune" but he is getting so old and lame he cm hardly get around; he has been trying to get a p0U hum for almost four years, but it scum to eoiuo llow. He has never got all of his wages yet from the Government. 1 hope wo will always tako tho paper. Ma says it is a good one, and I think so too. John Cornell. Cedar Si-rings, Mich., Dec. 5. WHAT CHEEKS THE WIDOW'S HOME. To the Editor National Tribune: Your excellent paper comes like u friend to m7 homo and cheers mo by the way it pleads for the soldiers, their widows, and orphans. 1 lost any husband and father and only reniain iiifi brother in tho uriny. I urn nroud to say they defended their country when in need. I hope soon to succeed in getting my pension, as I am in need of help, aud I know it is justly due to mo. I will encourage every ouo to take your paper. Mvrgaret IIagerman. Sunbeam, 111., Dec. 5. we'll do it, comrade! To the Editor National Tribune: It is pouring down rain to-day, and my mind travels rapidly back to the days of the war, when I tramped-bare footed through just such rains, snow, and sleet as wo aro having now, for our country. And to-day tho justice we ask for is denied us. I wonder if auother Avar should ravage our land now, if we old vets would be asked to go. I think our answers would bo " No." We can do better at home, and have tho comforts of home, and the reply of younger men would be, " Why, you havo not paid the men who fought in the last war, yet." " But we will pay you by and by," says tho Government. "You know we're good." "Well, but that's what you told tho other soldiers, and they are not paid yet. I guess we'll wait till you pay them." And who could blame them? Not any of the old soldiers, I know. But enough of this. Find enclosed ten more solid shot for tho enemy. This makes forty threo subscribers for me, and moro promised. Rattle it into this session of Congress hot and heavy until every soldier bill is passed. Ex tend the arrears bill and all others, and give us all a chance. So good-bye until another time. Yours, truly, A. D. Launder, Late Co. B, O. V. V. I. Fanesville, Dec. 5. Anotlior Arrount of the Anilorsonflllo Hanging. To the Editor National Tribune: I have socn several statements in your paper as to tho hanging of the six raiders at Auderson ville, but none of them aro correct, in my judg ment. I was nn eye-witness to tho hanging of these raiders, and will describo it as 1 saw it. No ono leaped from the platform. Tho six men that were to bo hung were marched along the north side of tho scaffold. Ono of them was a heavy-set man. Ho looked up at tho scaffold and said ho would "never hang," and broke away, running through the crowd to the north side of the swamp, where he was caught aud brought back by two men and placed on the platform with tho othor five. The bench was pushed from under- them and the one farthest from tho grate broke his rope. Ho was led back up a ladder and hung. His name was Mosby, and ho was supposed to bo tho leader of the raiders. Respectfully, Charles Campbell. Co. D, Slst O. V. I. Answers to Correspondents. Constant Render. W. Jiutland, Vt. No. Tho furniture is usually changed whoa a now Presi dent takes up his residence thero. C. J. S., Xew Carlisle, Ind. Wo aro sorry wo cannot tell you. A. II. C, Ilutsonville, III. 1. no is liable to be proceeded against according to law if he re fuses to return it. Tell him so. 2. Unless tho original is lost or destroyed, jrou cannot obtain a duplicate. W. E., Grahamton, Fa. ITe is perfectly com petent and reliable. We have requested him to communicate with you. II. E. S., Worcester, Mass. 1. The widow could not get a pension, because her husband's death would not bo regarded as having beon duo to tho service. 2. Evidence in original invalid claims is being called for in claims numbered about -150,000. M. JJ. T., Jiochfidd, Ind.l. If complete, it should bo in process of settlement now. 2. Wo do not think the testimony of tho regimental surgeon will bo insisted upon by the Pension Office. T. E. I., Hartwick, N. Y.As desirod, your letter has been referred to tho person named therein. I. II. D.,HUlsboro, IU. According to its num ber, ovideuco will soon bo called for in your claim. Question. Will you please inform J. E. R., "West Acton, Massachusetts, if a soldier who was promoted from tho ranks before serving quite two years is entitled to tho original ono hun dred dollar bounty ? Or any part of tho equal ization bill now pending before Congress? insurer. He would not bo entitled to tho orig inal bounty, but would bo entitled to his pro rata of $3 per mouth if tho equalization of bounties bill becomes a law. IP. F., Washington C. IL, O., and many others. Wo cannot, of course, give tho particular reason why your claim Is delayed at the Pen sion Office, but think wo aro safe in saying it is largely duo to tho mismanagement that attended tho Bentley administration. With a commissioner like tho present occupant, and a largo force of clerks who aro now disposing of the vast number of claims on file with commenda ble rapidity, we believe that thoso cases which have remained so long suspended mav now be expected to receive the action so Ion" denied. W. N. E, Brown's Mills, W. Va.l. If the claim is filed subsequent to January 19, 187a the fee can bo collected by the attorney at any time during the prosecution of the claim, whether ho bo successful or otherwise. 2. Without further data, impossible to say. 3. Wo should construe the act to cover a case of the kind referred to. Tho Adjutant-General has not as yet put his own construction of the law upon any one case, so far as we know. 4. The Adjutant-General, U. S. A. D. E. Ii., Belfast, Me. We are afraid you.-will have to lose tho arrears. & C, Lewis, Iowa. See replies to W. N. E., No. 3, and D. E. B. L. G. Ii., Hampton, Conn. I. We believe not. 2. Yes. But not many. J. W. M., West Epping, N. H. Wo think it has a very good chance. C. S. F., Wanamic, Fa. If you will give us tho names, wo will advise you whether they are practicing. N. D. HI, Springfield, Mass. Writo direct to the Commissioner of Pensions, giving the facts as stated, adding tho No. of claim. Ii. K., Arena, III. As tho original attorney is dead, your sister can employ another, which we think would be tho best course to adopt. IL N. HI, Holden, Mo. 1. Your attorney should obtain reasons for delay from the Com missioner of Pensions. 2. Evidence is called for in claims as they aro readied for action. 3. They aro practicing beforo the Pension Office, we believe. A. S. C, Lowell, Mass. You are not compelled to give tho parties named u power of attorney, but your case ecems to be somewhat compli cated, and we should advise the employment of some attorney oC known ability to tako it in hand. 2. Eight dollars per month, provided her husband's death was duo to the disability for which he drew pension; and if children under sixteen at date of soldier's death, she, would ho entitled to two dollars additional for each child-until they severally reached that "ge. Jv. J. M., Lee Valley, E. Torn, -He is receiv- '"gall lie is entitled to. a.' Remaining answers next week Ithf-uniatlMii I'osJJhe!)- Cured. Write for khkb 40-pago pamphlet to R. K Helphenstine, Druggist and Chemist, Wash ington, D. C. ' THE PENSION OFFICE, Commissioner Dudley's Report of lis Operations Recommendations. Commissioner Dudley'r annual statement of tho operations of tho Pension Office for the fiscal year ending Juno 30th is the most com prehensive that has ever been issued, and con tains much information of general interest. It makes a pamphlet of 205 pages and is especially noteworthy for the accuracy and variety of its statistical tables. The following abstract of the Commissioner's report embraces its most important statements and recommendations : There wore at the close of the year, June 30, 1S32, 235,697 pensioners, classified as follows: 173,133 army invalids; 70,418 army widows, minor children, and dependent relatives; 2,3(il navy invalids ; 1,955 navy widows, minor chil dren, and dependent relatives; 7,134 survivors df tho war of 1612, and 24,001 widows of those who served in that war. There were added to tho roll during the year the names of 27,604 new pensioners; and the names of 6 19, whose pensions had previously been dropped, were restored to the rolls, mak ing an aggregate incrcaso to the roll of 28.313. The names of 11,140 pensioners were dropped fixjiu tho roll for various causes, leaving a net increase to tho roll of 10,07 pensioners. At the close of the year the annual pension to each pensioner was $102.70, and tho aggregate an nual valuo of all pensions was $29,341,101.(52. Tho annual payments, however, exceed this sum by several millions of dollars; i. c, the total amount paid for pensions during the year, exclusive of the arrears duo in pensions which were allowed prior Xo January 25, 1S79, was 53,92 4,566.20, tho difference being the arrears due in new pensions from the date of discharge, in the case of a soldier or sailor, and from death of the soldier, whero pension was allowed to the widow or others. The amount paid during the year upon first payment to new pensioners is $20,421,069.19 ; aud this amount was paid to 27,703 pensioners, averaging to each case as follows: To army in valids, 904.05; to army widows, minor chil dren, and dependent relatives, $1,005.44; to navy invalids, $5-19.99 ; to navy widows, minor children, aud dependent relatives, $obl.o9; to the survivors of the war of 1S12, $324.19, and to the widows of the deceased soldiers and sailors of that war, $205.24. Tho Commissioner then proceeds to explain tho statistical tables accompanying the report, aud says: It will bo seen by computation that of all claims tiled prior to July 1, 1872, seventy-fivo per cent, havo already been allowed, and al though this terminal point is ten years ago, it docs not represent the maximum of the number which will bo allowed during tho time stated. Tho Commissioner goes on to illustrato how tho work of the office is being concentrated to wards tho great block of claims filed in 1879 and 1SS0; i. e., of the claims filed during those years there have been allowed 43.G aud 11.2 per cont., respectively, out of the numbers 30.S35 and 110,073 claims of invalids then filed, whilo of tho claims subsequently filed less than 1 per cent, havo been allowed. efficiency of the bureau. In regard to the efficiency of the Bureau tho Commissioner says: Tho commencement of tho last fiscal year found this office with several troublesome ques tions to face; and many disastrous occurrences, and difficulties following difficulties, combined to render tho beginning inauspicious. First, a large dischargo of clerks becamo necessary owing to tho inordinate size of tho rolls as com pared with tho appropriations for the fiscal year then boginniug; tho assassination of tho President caused an almost total suspension of business, and a distraction of tho attention of clerks from their work to such an extent that at that timo moro than a week was consumed be foro it could again, in any degroo, bo concen trated upon the work of tho office ; so that it mav safely bo stated that on this account alono, in tho month of July, fully ono week's work was lost. Tho incoming of a new administration of the office, and the disorganization which, to somo extent, always follows such a change, combined with tho knowledge that a largo number of discharges was impending, militated also against the efficiency of tho offico for somo time. Later on, after tho discharges had been made aud the force had settled down to work, it was found necessary to take an inventory of the office, in order that accurate knowledgo might bo had as to tho condition of its business. This consumed ono month. Following this came the fluctuations between life and death of tho Chief Magistrate, and tho succeeding obse quies, during which sad time no ono could work, so that it was about tho 1st of November beforo the solid work for tho year began. I estimate that, by reason of the various disturb ances alluded to, not less than two months' time, between the 1st of July and tho 1st of November, ofthewholo force of the office was practically lost to tho settlement of claims. From that point on tho efficiency of the offiro daily increased, and the result of its work at the end of the year was exceedingly encourag ing, showing, as heretofore stated, a disposal of over 59,000 cases. Much of this efficiency I attribute to tho unusual and most satisfactory confidence exhibited by Congress in the Bureau and its officers, aud the certainty felt through out tho office that its labors wore boing appre ciated. It is impossible, I find, to reach per fection in the administration of so largo and important an office; but I suppose it can be safely stilted that in no Department of tho Gov ernment is there a moro conscientious i1iu charge of duty by the employees -and officer than in this Bureau. Thero has been nnirri. cally no change in the organization of tho office since that mentioned in my last annual report; and to accommodate the force granted by Con gress the organization then mado has been simply broadened to receive the now accessions, and I think no reorganization will be necessary. rank and grades of pensions. Tho Commissioner calls attention to a num ber of defects in the present pension laws, and, among other things, recommends that section 4095 of the Revised Statutes which fixes the various grades of pension, bo amended, so as to provido a moro equitable distribution and comport with the actual disabilities of pen sioners. Ill connection with this subject, ho says: In fact, tho timo has come, in mvonininn when Congress should give a thoughtful consid eration to the entire regrading of pensions, mak ing disability, rather than rank, the measure of the pension. There can exist no good reason in pensioning a volunteer force, when for the same disability a lieutenant-colonel shall re ceive thirty dollars per month, and a private sol dier but eight; both having been drawn from and returned to the same walks of civil life. This subject is one, however, which requires a care ful and searching investigation; and I simply make this suggestion in tho hope that Congress may take such steps as will eventually bring about an entire change; one which, in my opinion, if carefully done, will prove advan tageous alike to the pensioner and the Govern ment. The Commissioner then invites attention to the accompanying table, in reference to which he says : The astonishing fact is there Bhown that there are 117 dill'ereut grades of pension now being paid to pensioners. In this brief report I can hardly ref.-r to tho causes which havo broti -ill t this about, but would state that, in HIV opinion, me almost constant v arv mr hi'llli provided by new k-giMati on, some ot wuich reaches but a small and others a larger class, makes the rule of grading a constantly shifting one. This, in my opinion, will bo remedied by the change referred to. So long as the amount of nension is fixed bv rank, respectfully recommend t lie amendment ' oi sua ion -wj oi me Ke vised Statutes bv strik ing out, the words "that a vacancy existed in th- rank thereby coifem-d." The effect of this auw-ndimnt will be to givc an officer the bciieht of his actual rank, notwithstanding tho fact that, thero was no technical vacancy at the time. It is within the experience of every officer that, had tho actual minimum number of meu required by the army regulations for each company beeu strictly regarded in com missioning volunteer officers, many commands would have been without commissioned officers during a good part of their snrvice. It is but fair, so long as the grade of ponsion is con trolled by the rank held, that the pensioner should have the benefit of his actual fccrvico in the grade for which he held commission. The following table shows tho different rates of pension per month and the number pen sioned to each rate of tho army and navy invalids on the roll June 30, 1832: S 1 5 SB? rt : rt : c t. c - O K '- O -J 'A r X A Bn $1 00 l,5C- 7S 1.5SC $ir. CO 116 9 125 1 : 1 1 IS 2.-1.... r 17 22 1 TO 1 1 13 Si... 27 27 1 fr7 2 -J IS 50... 10 2 IS 2 OU 17.SP.2 177 1S.009 13 75 10 10 2 25 11 11 14 00... 2,K 2S 2,S1 2 33 : 3 1 1 25...- ! 6 15 2 ,"i0 U' ,- 20 14 33... 2' 2 2 tit) 70t, fl 711 14 50...I -i'""i 5 2 75 1 1 14 75.... fi 5 3 00 3.S0 4; 3.S54 13 00..... 1,530 37 l,5(i7 3 20 1 1 15 25 1 1 2 a 50 1 1 3 15 CO 1 1 2 3 75 235 l 237 15 75 1 11 12 i CO 42,2f.i 51U 42,772 10 00..... 1,01)7 7 1,10 -1 25 2iw 200 1G 25 5 3 S 1 50 10 50... 1 1 I 75 1 1 1( CO.... 12 12 5 00 1.SG3 ir 1,920 1C 75... 7 7 5 25 :t : :$ 17 00 1,05V 2 1,050 fi : tn i frio 17 25 1 2 5 50 2 2 17 5u... . 101 31 41 5 02 0 5 17 75.... 2' 2 5 M 3 :b IS 00..... 12,30')' lldt 12.17S 5 75 1? 13 IS 25 1 3 4 ti 00 24,412 290 27.70S IS 50 8 ?. G 25".... 5s 5S IS 75... 95 2 97 C 37 It! 10 19 00 4 3 7 (5 50 2 1 3 la 25 7 7 C liG 21 1 25 20 00...". 1,05 32 1,117 0 75 4 1 20 75 1 1 7 00 311 3 314 2100.... 5 f, 7 50 72S 25 753 21 25... -J 7 75 i, 1 7 21 75... II 1 8 00 23,044 130 29,074 22 (K)... 1' 1 8 25 11 ., 11 22 50.... SI 2 ?( S XI 1 1 23 75 I" I S 50 909 1 970 210(1 G.973' 109 7.0S2 8 75 ,v 1 9 21 50 2 2 9 00 27 0 33 25 00.... 23SJ 4 212 9 25 10 10 2G 25..... l 1 9 50 11 4 15 2G GO lj 1 9 75 3 5 S 27 00 1 10 00 G.IGO S3 0,210 27 50.... 3 5 10 20 1 1 23 50.... 1 1 10 S3 4 4 2S 75.... 1 1 10 50 K) 4 20 30 00.... 201 4 2(J5 10 G2 7 7 30 75 1 1. 10 75 2 20 22 31 25... 227 5 2:12 11 00 10 9 19 SO 00.... 2fl 1 . 1125 "03 15 20 37 00.... G 0 1133 42 42 33 50 1 1 11 50 23 2 23 40 00.... 1 1 It GO 2 2 50 u0... 415 10 425 11 75 0 -J 8 57 (i0 1 1 12 00 9,093 110 9,209 72 00.... 72! 21 745 12 25 11 11 100 00.... 1 1 12 3S l 1 12 50 153- 20 17 Total.. 17.5,13.- !,rtl 175,499 12 75 4Sl! 1 4-2 I INCKKASE AND EltKOItS IN KATING. Tho Commissioner renews his recommenda tion that in place of the present law an act bo passed containing substantially tho following provisions : If any invalid pensioner shall feel that his pension is not commensurato with tho degree of his disability, either because it has been im properly rated by the Commissioner of Pen sions, or because tho disability for which he was pensioned has increased, or because of another disability incurred in the servico for which ho is not pensioned, he may appeal to the Commissioner of Pensions for a rerating or an increase, as the case may be, at any time within ono year im mediately following tho original adjudication; and said application shall bo construed aud de termined in the samo manner as was his origi nal application, so far as such proceeding shall be applicable to tho case. And tho Commis sioner of Pensions shall cause any invalid pen sioner to be examined by a board of surgeons as often as he shall deem it for tho interest of tho Government, or of tho pensioner; and if. upon such examination, it shall appear that tho pension enjoyed by tho pensioner is not accord ing to tho degree of disability, and that such disability, in its nature, has boon permanent in the same degree as then found, the same shall be; readjusted and rerated according to right awl justice; provided, that in case whero in cryaso is granted for tho reason that tho disa bility lias- increased since the pension was last rated by the Commissioner of Pensions, such increase shall commence at tho date of tho fil ing of tho application therefor; and provided fiwther, that if the disability has not changed, in degree, since discharge, such increase or rat ine shall commence on tho date at which tho original pension began ; provided further, that all applications for increase on the ground that the pension lias been improperly rated, made and filed more than one year after such alleged improper rating was fixed by the Commissioner of Pensions, shall be treated and settled as in tho case of increaso claims on the ground of increased disability, and the Commissioner of Pensions is authorized to correct at any time, on his own motion and without application, a manifest error committed at any time in the rating of any pension. It, should bo enacted that the "permanent spefie disability" mentioned in section 4G9S of tho .Revised Statutes bo construed to refer to any disability, permanent in its character, and tho increase of pension therefor to com mence from the date of application, and at tho rate in which it exists in a permanent degree OTIIKIt KKCOMJIKNDATIONS. The Commissioner also recommends that the statutes be so amended as to entitlo minor children to pension from tho date of the sol dier's death whero tho widow has remarried prior to July 1, 160, without having received any pension on account of such soldier's death; and also, so as to leave it to tho Commissioner's discretion to grant a pension in tho caso of de pendent relatives whero actual dependenco as described in the statute is not proven to have existed at the time of the soldier's dischargo. As an illustration of the purpose of the latter recom mendation he cites the following: A widowed mother in tho enjoyment of a competence, and olhorwise in ordinary circum stances, gives her only sou to the defense of the country. Sho has fitted him iu every way to become her prop in life when she shall have advanced to a greater ago, or to a degree of helplessness which would require his mainte nance and support. Theson is killed in battle ; he does not in fact contribute to the support of his mother at tho date of his death, but in leality has been supported by her up to the time of his enlistment. Increasing years and adversity overtake the mother, and she be comes dependent upon tho charity of friends. Had the son Jived this would not, have been the case, and yet we are obliged to deny her a pension because, at the dato of tho soldier's death, it cannot be shown that she was depend ent upon him for support, in whole or iu part. The mere statement of such a case, it seems to me, carries with it tho argument to convince all that there is a necessity for an amendment to this sectiou. I'KOTKCTION OF TIIU PENSIONER. The Commissioner is very outspoken as to the necessity of amending (he laws for tho protection of the pensioner. He says : Section -1715, relating to pledge, mortgage, sale, &c, of a pension certificate, or any right or title thereunder, has by subsequent legisla tion been modified so that all after the words '"no effect," at the close of tho first paragraph in lino IJ, is practically obsolete. 1 therefore recommend that the words following "no effect," in said line, ho stricken out, and the following inserted in lieu thereof: "And any person who shall retain the celtificate of a pensioner, and refuses to surrender the same, upon the domain of the Commissioner of Pen sions, or a United States pension agent, or any other person authorized by tho Commissioner of Pensions or tho pensioner to receive the same, shall bo guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may bo fined in a sum not exceeding $100 and tho costs of the prose cution." The abuse of this section has grown to such proportions that the abme action is deemed necessary for tho protection of the pensioners. Exorbitant rates of interest aro charged by speculators who evade the exact terms of tho section forbidding any "mortgage, sale, or as signment," &c., by becoming tho custodian of tho pension certificate for the uso of tho pen sioner. The pensioner must necessarily apply to them to execute his voucher, as the samo cannot bo executed without tho exhibition of the pension certificate to the officer before, whom the oucher is executed. The broker then accompanies the pensioner to tho agency and stays with him until his check is cashed, when, as soon as conversion into money takes place, he mulcts tho victim in heavy damages and retaiua tho pension ccrtificuto to repeat tho operation at the next quarterly payment. This leads tho pensioner, in order to avoid tho usurious interest charged, to allege tho loss of the original certificate for the purposo of pro curing a duplicate, which being done, he evades the broker, often hypothecates with an other broker tho duplicate, and repeats tho same transaction at the next quarterly payment. It is believed that the amendment suggested will speedily cure tho evils spoken of and bring about a better condition of things. Tho Commissioner urges tho necessity of taking additional measures to establish the identity of tho pensioner, aud gives it as his opinion that tho bill now pending before Con gressconferring upon tho Commissioner the power in certain cases to require the payment by the pension agent to tho pensioner in cash, where the interests of tho Government and the pensioner seem to require it will rolieve his office from the necessity of seeing pensioners at remote places swindled by persons selling their endorsement, aud enable it to do justice in many cases whero now it cannot be dono. AN UNJUST DISCRIMINATION. Referring to the act of Juno 16, 1880, tho Commissioner recommends that such legisla tion be had as will admit those who aro utterly hclpless to the benefits of the provisions of this act, to date from the time when they became utterly helpless; and its benefits should also extend to those who were entitled, by reason of their helplessness, to the rate of $50, at a dato later than the passage of the act, or who, for some other cause, were not actually upon the rolls at that grade on that exact day, but afterwards showed themselves to be entitled from a date anterior thereto. PAY OF PENSION AGENTS. Tho Commissioner is of the opinion that the present fee system should be abolished, and each of the eighteen pension agents be allowed an annual salary of ?5,000, with a reasonable allowance for clerical assistance, and the right to use tho penalty envelope, as in other branches of tho service. " .Such a chauge," says the Commissioner, " would result in saving to the Government or. at least, there would be no increase in the amount annually appropriated for the payment of their services, and would greatly simplify the business at their offices. The size of the bond required, the tremendous amount of money disbursed by them, and tho high character of tho men now employed, and the further fact that it will not materially in crease the amount required to be appropriated annually for this service, justify the statement, and 1 therefore make this recommendation." SPECIAL EXVMINVTIONS. Tho Commissioner thinks the system of spe cial examinations, where abundant opportunity for the cross-examination of witnesses i- afford ed both the claimant and the Government, has been conducive to the establishment of a good feeling on both sides, and he announces his in tention, as soon as it can bo conveniently done, to "divide the country into about two hundred t districts, within each of which a special ex aminer will be placed, to whom all cases from his district, in which there is absence of record, or where an adverse record is found, and where the claim is sought to be established by parol evidence only, will bo referred for special ex amination. A short, sensible, and careful ex amination of witnesses at claimant's home, a contact with tho claimant or pensioner him self, aud the knowledge acquired as to the esti mation in which he is held by his comrades and tho community in which he resides, will, I think, put the office in pos.-es.sion of the one thing lacking in order to justly settle claims." The Commissioner recommends the passage of a law making the false personation of a pension- examiner ' :i- felony, and tho enact ment of tho following touching the dropping of pensioners from the rolls or the reduction of rate of pensioner : That sections 1771, -177-2 and -1773 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, pro viding for the biennial examinations of pensioners, are hereby repealed: Frorided. That the Commissioner of Pensions shall nave tlio same power as heretoloro to order special examinations whenever, in his judg ment, the samo may bo necessary, and to in crease or reduce tho pension according to right and justice; but in no case shall a pension be withdrawn or reduced except upon notice of not less than sixty days to the pensioner, and a hearing upon sworn testimony, except when the reduction or dropping of an invalid pension is made upon the certificate of a board of ex amining surgeons. DESERTION. It is the opiuion of the Commissioner that the question of desertion, so far as it affects the title to pension, should be definitely settled by law. He very sensibly says : A pension is in no sonde a reward for faithful and meritorious service, but a payment for loss of phj-sical ability to earn a livelihood. Therefore, desertion subsequent to the incur rence of a disability and a refusal of the War Department to chauge tho record should not carry with it a forfeiture of right to pension. The law should provido that pension, in any case iu which a charge of desertion stands uu removed, shall commence on the date from which the contract for service in which disabled legally terminated, to be ascertained from tho date to which last paid for service; provided, however, that the dato of discharge from a subsequent service entered into before the legal termination of the servico in which disabled shall be tho date to commence the pension. CLERICAL FORCE. Alluding to the increase of tho force of the office to 1,559 clerks, involving an annual ex penditure of $1,957,150 for their payment, the Commissioner characterizes the new appointees as for the most part " able aud worth' men, those who have been soldiers predominating," but expresses his regret that tho office could not havo had the benefit of tho generous appropriation and the force thereby authorized tor the whole fiscal year, instead of only about two-thiids thereof, for tho sake of the results expected from it. As it is, he saj-s: Although all the appointments havo been made, yet there are many who have refrained from reporting, and it was not until October 1st that we wore able to largely increase the vari ous adjudicating divisions, ami not until No vember 1st that tho bulk of the force was sworn in and puat work. This, however, may bo remedied, to some extent, if Congress will authorize tho employment of'the lapsed fund created by our inability to use the entire pro portion of tho whole appropriation for July, -imgust., oepiemuer, aim wcioikt. I lie pav roll for those months will havo consumed l.l,.w0.19, while the four months' proportion of the whole year's appropriation is $652,o33.33, leaving an unexpended balance, in tho first quarter, of $197,hbo.l-l. I would recommend that you request tSmgress tohice this fund at your disposal, by joint resolution, for the em ployment of such a temporary additional force for this ollice as can bo carried by it for the remainder of tho fiscal year. In this connection, ho refers to tho longev ity of tenure of clerks in his office, as follows: Aside from the clerks appointed in lciil, the average tenure of the clerks in office at the date of preparing this table, to wit, about tho 15th of July, lbS2, had been six years and ono month, aud counting in the increased force of 1SS1 who are still in office, the average tenure of tho whole force was four and a half years. This security of tenure to intelligent and expert clerks is, 1 believe, greatly conducive to elli cieney, and oilers an assurance to those therc alttr uppoiutt d that clerks who possess and exercise the desirable qualifications so well and graphically expressed bj' the President in his message to tho present Congress, namelv, "probity, industry, good sense, good habit's, good temper, patience, manly deference to su perior officers, and manly consideration for inferiors," will bo recognized as worthy a long and .secure tenure, not to be ruthlesslv termi nated, and is therefore an incentive, to good i nanus auu conscientious industry in work. PROTKCTION FOR TIIK FILKS. The Commissioner alludes briefly to tho crowded conditiou of tho buildings occupied by tho pension force and asks, a3 an absolute necessity, an appropriation of $50,000 for tho erection of a fire-proof addition to the present building and the purchase of fire-proof files for the proper caro and custody of the papers. Ho also recommends that $6,000 be appropriated for tho construction of proper fire-escapes. OUR PENSION POPULATION. Considerable space is devoted in tho Com missioner's report to the question of pension population. It is certainly greatly to be re gretted, as he says, Unit in taking the last cen sus no provision was made for ascertaining tho exact status of the soldier and pension popula tion of the country, and he is also right in de claring that little dependence is to be placed upon the State records of enlistments. Never theless the statement which he has prepared from such data as he considered reliable, may serve, as he suggests, to aw;iken an interest on the part of Congress in the subject and lead to the discovery of more accurate information. Hi'b proposition is as follows: How many persons arc there now living who served in the army during the late rebellion, or who bore a pensionable relation to thoso who served, who have not jet applied for pension? The Adjutant-Genenif of the United States army reports the following aggregate of enlist ment for the different periods of service, to wit: For sixty days. -.( 15; for three months' service, 10s,-lll; for one hundred days' service, 55,507; for four months' service, 42; for six months' service, -2i,lH; for eight months' ser vice, 373; for nine months' service, d9,899; for one year's service. :Ji,706 : for two vears' ser vice, 11,100; for three years' service, 2,023,630 ; for four j-ears' service. 1.012; making a grand total of enlistment. 2,70. I7.s. Taking this as the basis of my calculation I have endeavored to ascertain the number of individual enlistments; that is. excluding sec ond, third, fourth, and subsequent enlistments of tho same person. The result of my investi gation and estimate upon this point shows an aggregate of 2,016.9G9 different individuals who enii-ted for greater or les periods during the war. To this miiulier should be added the number of persons -erving iu the Regular Army audXayat the commencement of the war, viz.. 1'!. lr Suthat the -rand total of indi vidual iKToiis who entered th ervi during the war ma' Ih approximately stated to bo 2,Ob"VJ9i, and this number includes all indi vidual enlistments in the army ami navy em ployed in the suppression of the rebellion. Up to the 1st of July. 1---2. there have been filed by army invalids, .15i..-!M) applications for pension. Up to the same date there have been filtd291,2n tnpplicationon behalf of the ser vice of deceased soldiers. There have been tiled by navy invalids 7,t3. and by those represent ing deceased sailors. 3.29 1. This makes an aggregate of those who have applied for pension of 75j,l 19 out of the whole number who en listed, as before stated. As near as I can ascertain there are about FfJ.OO representatives of deceased soldirrs who have not yet applied for pension, and 1.000,-1G9 survivors of the war who have not yet applied for pension, ami 220,000 who died during and sinco the war, win left no pensionable relatives sur viving them. The Commissioner estimates that out of tho total number of soldiers who served during tho war, pension has been applied for by, or on ac count of, 26 per cent, of the whole number, and that there is a surviving soldier population of a little over ten hundred thousand, out oE which claims for pension in the future may bo made bj' those who incurred pensionable dis abilities. APPEALS'. On the subject of appeals the Commissioner savs : During the past year there have been 409 appeals from the decision of the Commissioner of Pensions to the Secretary of the Interior. Of this number twenty-six have been reversed bj- you and the proper action taken in pursu ance, thereof? In 2- cises -ou have s-en tit to s'ttstain my action, and e!ghry-threc m'es have boon reopened by this office, and sixteen cases still remain undecided. All of the above-mentioned decisions, which settle new and leading questions, are promptly copied and a carefullv printed svllabus of each ' is prepared, and the same distributed among the lorce lor their instruction. In this connec tion I cannot in too strong terms state the ben efits which have been derived by the prepara tion and general distribution among the exam iners of the laws, dicl-ions. and rulings of tho Secretaries and the orders and rulings of Pen sion Commissioners. It is mj intention to re publish the same, revised to date, and also a treatise upon the practice of the Department in pension cases, which has been prepared-with great care by Deputy Commissioner (. I. Wal ker, and will prove of incalculable benefit in the expedition and Uniform treatment of claims. Prior to the present administration nothing of this sort had been attempted, and Commis sioner Dudley is entitled to the highest praise for his efforts to harmonize and simplify tho practice of his office. Pretty Sharp Shontin?. From the Uoutsdale (Pa.) Observer. The increase from the internal revenue tax is used in the payment of pensions. Abolish the first and the latter must cejise. Are pensioners aware of tho fact that the effort to abolish tho internal revenue tax is simply a preparatory move toward the repudia tion of all pension claims? The internal revenue tax on matches is tha only oue which the "reformers" do not pro pose to abolish, and, as a matter of course, it is the only one by the abolition of which the poor man will be benefited. The "reformers" in the political field are endeavoring to do away with the tax on whisky, thus stopping all revenue from that source, and leaving no offset at all for the enormous train of evils which" follow in the wake of the most degrading traffic which ever disgraced auy so called Christian country. SONGS OF THE CAMP. In LIbby Prison "ew Year's Etc, lSltt-'til. 'Tis twelve o'clock ! AVithin my prison dreary My head upon my hand, sittinjjso weary, Scanning; tho future, musing upon the post. Pondering the fute that here my lot has east; The hoarse cry of the sentry, pacing his beat, Yakens the echoes of the silent street " All is well : " Ah, Is it so? Sly fellow-captive sleeping Where the barred window strictest watch Is keep ing. Dreaming of home and wife and prattling child, Of the sequestered vale, the mountain "wild; Tell me, when cruel morn shall break again, j Wilt thou repeat the sentinel's refrain "All is well" And thou, my country ! wounded, pale and bleed ing. Thy children deaf to a fond mother's pleading, Stabbing with cruel hate the uiirturiug breast To which their infancy in love was pressed ; Recount thy wrongs, thy many sorrows name, Then to the nations, if thou canst, proclaim "All is well!" But through the clouds the suu is slowly breaking Hope, from her long, deep sleep is waking; Speed the time, Father, when the bow of peace, Spanning the Gulf, shall bid the tempest cease, When true men, clasping each other by the hand, Shall shout together iu a united land "All is well!" Col. F. A. llatileton, lUOth III. Vol. Inf. Snakes as Life Dcstrojers. The loss of lite in India duo to the ravages of venomous snakes h almost incredible. Yet Consumption, which is as wily and fatal as the deadliest Indian reptile, is winding its coils around thousands of people while tho victims are unconscious of its presence. Dr. 11. V. Pierce's " Golden Medical Discovery " must hi used to cleanse the blood of the scrofulous im. purities, for tubercular consumption is only a foriimfscrofulnusdiseasiv "Colilmi M...li.-,il nic. oery is a sovereign remedy for all forms o scrofulous disease, or king's-evil, such a tumors whiteswellings, fever sores, scrofulous sore-eyes, as well as for other blood and skin diseases,.- Uy druggists.