Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-12-19
Report or .he secretary ss The inferior.

J document, which viii appear.
length, in our columns at an early
day. We can find room this morn
: ling only for a hasty analysis of il
contents, presenting such portions a
are likely to be Of most general inter
, est.
|, The report commences with sum
/, mary Of The varied and important du
, ties devolved on the Department
!, alludes to the vagueness OF the act o
Congress which created it, and
recommends 70 ther legitsrion 10 de
| fine with precision lis duties anc
powers, and also TO remedy the in
congruity in the law in reference to
its designation.
II recommends the creation Of the
Office Of Solicitor ofthe Department
TO decide questions of law upon ap-
peaIs; his action to be subject, how
ever, in all cases, TO the revision oil
the Secretary.
A summary Of The estimates for
each branch of the public service
within the jurisdiction Of the De-
lpartment is given in tabular form,
and, compared with the estimate for
the present fiscal year for similar
services, by which il appears that
the estimate for the next fiscal year
exceeds that Tor the present SLIPS.
go SO. The cause Of this excess the
Secretary fully explains, examining
the estimates item by item. The en-
deavor has been TO cover the whole
amount OF the probable expenditures
for the fiscal year, so that there may
be no necessity in future for estimat-
ing for deficiencies, unless upon some
unforeseen contingency.
A general review is then given OF
the operations of the several bu-
reaus. This portion Of the report
consists principally of statistics which
cannot well be condensed. We Sc
lect, however, some Of the most i'm
portant items:
The whole number of persons now
on the pension rolls of the United
States is 1878. Out OF these
many are probably dead. The whole
number who have drawn pensions
during the first and second quarters
Of the calendar year is 1909. The
number of deaths reported within
the last year is SAG. a
The bene6ciaries under the laws
designed TO provide for the soldiers
OF the Revolution and their widows,
are rapidly passing away. But the
number OF pensioners under other
acts has been considerably augment
ed in consequence of the war with
Mexico. The whole amount ex-
pended for pensions during the past
year is estimated at 81 100000.
The whole number of land war
rants issued for services in the Revo-
lutionary war is IL, ,5SS; in the war OF
1912, 28,97S; number of claims for
land warrants, and script in lieu |
thereof, for services in the Mexican |
war, S4.705. The number of claims
presented under the Bounty !
Land Law OF September last, up to |
the 9th of November, was 9,4lS, and
the number is increasing rapidly. 1t
is estimated that the whole number
Of claimants will be about $50, 600.
1t will thus be seen that this city is
by far the most important Bounty
Land Law that has ever been pass
ed. All necessary arrangements
have been made TO ensure its prompt
and efficient execution. Forms and
have been prepared, and
assurance given, that every proper
facility will be afforded for the estab-
lishment OF just demands Under the
law, Plates have been ordered to
be engraved for printing The war
rants, and every precaution has been
adopted to guard against fraud and
forgery. These plates will soon be
completed, and there need then be
no delay in commencing the issue OF
the warrants. The warrants having
been decided to be not assignable,
cannot be made available TO the hold
srs until they have heen located and
patented. As this process will re-
4uire considerable time, it is proper,
in order to ensure the enjoyment of
The bounty by those for whom it
was intended, that no unnecessary
delay should be encountered. To a
void this evil the, Secretary recon-
meDds that provision be made for the
employment of two or more efficient
clerks. and such temporary assist
ance as may be- required, from lime
to time, TO investigate the claims Of
- - 90, So
s. The Report Of the Commissioners
Of the General Land Office exhibits
some very Interesting facts. The
suryerys of she public, lands have
been pushed forward with cemmend-
able activity. The aggregate amount
Of lands sold. located by warrants,
and otherwise disposed Of in tbs lat. Il