REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 1, 1915. SIR: I bring to you herewith this annual report of the operations of the Bureau of Pensions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1914, and ending June 30, 1915. GENERAL. The tables appended hereto furnish all the statistical information usually inquired of by the committees and individuals of Congress and those of the public at large who have an interest in the matters with which they deal. I have culled from them certain particular facts which are regarded as important, thus saving others the necessity of making search of the tables to procure knowledge thereof. The items follow: FISCAL OPERATIONS. There were paid out the following amounts: Expenditures, fiscal years 1914 and 1915. IMPORTANT FACTS. The following data regarding the pension system are of interest: Estimated total number of original enlistments (individuals on the Union side during the Civil War).... Surviving soldiers, assuming that all are on the pension roll.. Number of deaths..... Changes of post-office addresses of pensioners: 1914... 1915.... Employees at the beginning of the fiscal year: 1914.... 1915.. Old soldiers employed in the bureau: 2 1914. 1915... Volumes in military library: 1914... 1915.. Total pieces of mail handled in 1915: Incoming... Outgoing.. Inclosures.. Total pensioners on the roll June 30, 1914. . 2,213, 365 396, 370 1,816, 995 128, 024 120, 974 1, 420 1,275 247 249 1, 175 1,300 1,340, 796 3, 997, 868 1,513, 232 785, 239 Total pensioners on the roll June 30, 1915.. Cases under act Mar. 3, 1899 (division of pension between husband and Cases under act Aug. 8, 1882 (to wife where husband is insane), 1915.......... Amount of fees paid to attorneys, 1915..... 748, 147 2,657 129 9,466 $83, 872.72 The Pension Office Building covers ground surface of 80,000 square feet, is 200 feet wide, 400 feet long, four stories high, has 176 rooms, has a great court in the center with a floor measurement (including side corridors) of 36,617 feet. The total weight of all the papers and documents in the claims now on file on the fourth floor of the Pension Bureau is computed to be, in pounds, 1,464,000. 1 This is the first year which shows a decrease in the number of widows on the roll, there being more deaths and remarriages than additions to the roll. This includes all classes, Civil War, Regular Establishment, and Spanish War. In criminal cases for violation of pension, laws there were 40 cases brought to trial in different courts in various parts of the United States during the year, in which there were 39 convictions and 1 acquittal. FAMILY DATA CIRCULAR. A circular was prepared with much care, seeking information indicated by inquiries therein. The purpose of it was to have in our records such information as would be valuable in the adjudication of claims both of the soldiers or sailors and widows, and in some cases of children. It also served to place on record an accurate history of the military or naval service of the soldier or sailor, and of his marital and family relations, so that for all time to come such data would remain here for appropriate use and historical reference. This circular was sent to every male pensioner on the rolls. The nature of the inquiries is indicated below. A circular somewhat similar had been sent to male pensioners in 1898, and the matter in the replies proved very serviceable in the adjudication of claims, but over 16 years had elapsed since that date, during which, of course, many changes may have taken place. The inquiries in that circular were not sufficiently definite to bring out all of the material facts such as would be disclosed by the answers to this one. The old soldiers throughout the country had urged that something like this be done, and generally we had cordial cooperation in securing the information. From very many of them we have expressions of gratitude for undertaking this large task, which will remain of permanent benefit to them and their families. The form sent out is as follows: 3-389 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, Washington, D. C., January 2, 1915. SIR: Please answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below. The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your widow or children. Use the inclosed envelope, which requires no stamp. Very respectfully, G. M. SALTZGABER, Commissioner. No. 1. Date and place of birth? Answer.... The names of organizations in which you served? Answer.. No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment? Answer.. No. 5. Is there any official or church record of your marriage? No. 6. Were you previously married? If so, state the name of your former wife, the date of the marriage, and the date and place of her death or divorce. If there was more than one previous marriage, let your answer include all former wives. Answer... No. 7. If your present wife was married before her marriage to you, state the name of her former husband, the date of such marriage, and the date and place of his death or divorce, and state whether he ever rendered any military or naval service, and if so, give name of the organization in which he served. If she was married more than once before her marriage to you, let your answer include all former husbands. Answer. No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation? Answer No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead. Answer Date.. (Signature). This form of family data circular was mailed to each soldier, sailor, and marine on the pension roll on March 2, 1915. There were mailed to the pensioners 440,000 of these circulars and 349,091 were filled out and returned to the bureau during the fiscal year. An actual count was made of 10,095 circulars to show exactly the statistics given below, it being presumed that the number of 10,000 would be a fair average of the whole number, and that the percentages thus obtained from them would, without much variance, hold good as to all. The data contained in 10,095 circulars show the following: The total cost of printing, mailing, receiving, and filing these circulars, including clerk hire, for the year 1915, amounts to $15,814.97. METAL BOXES FOR FILES. There has been a change with respect to the method of caring for important papers filed in the very numerous cases in the Pension Bureau. There are over 2,000,000 of such files, all placed in the upper story of the Pension Building. A large number of them are held together by a leather strap, about 50 of them being included in one bundle. The price of the leather strap was being continually raised until we were compelled to pay 35 cents each for them, and we were informed that at the next purchase they would cost 45 cents. It was necessary to renew the strap every two years. In handling the bundles so strapped the files would be much worn and abraded, because the strap did not afford a sufficient support and protection the entire length of the bundle. The bundles were very difficult to handle by reason of the flexibility and insecure support of the strap. Seeking some method to remedy the numerous difficulties in the old system, and to facilitate the handling of cases, our people finally hit upon a galvanized steel file box. We now have installed 2,900 of these boxes and 3,100 more are ordered. Unless restrained by some superior authority, we will continue to supply these steel file boxes as fast as the straps now holding the bundles wear out and it is necessary to replace them. The boxes are 6 inches in height, 27 inches in depth, and 4 inches wide. They will hold from 40 to 80 cases, depending on the size, or 33 per cent more than were contained in the single bundles held by straps. The boxes cost us 37 cents apiece, which is less than the cost of a strap. Under the strap, when it was necessary to remove the files of one case, the entire bundle was drawn, placed on a table or rest, unstrapped, the case drawn, the bundle again strapped and placed on the shelf. Now by reason of the rigidity of the box, the same may be partially drawn and a case removed from any part of it and then the box shoved back. The handling is very much easier for the employees, thus enabling them to do better and more rapid work. The chief of the files estimates the labor saving at about 40 per cent. The boxes will endure permanently, while, as stated, the life of an average leather strap is only about two years. The saving in space we estimate at 26 per cent, thus decreasing the number of shelves, removing huge desks before required on which to place the strapped bundles, and thus allowing better ventilation and more sanitary care of the rooms where the files are kept and the employees compelled to work. In addition to these advantages, the metal boxes afford better protection as against fire and the ravages of time. Last, but not least, the uniformly neat appearance of the boxes gives a touch of beauty and cleanliness to the rooms where they are stored. Altogether the improvement is very excellent, and I thus call special attention to it, both because of its value and because, I have no doubt, there are many other places in the governmental departments where the same change would be beneficial and much appreciated. |