The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-03

i
Under the act of 2lst July, 1885, and the supple
mentary act Of I'D February, 1919, and the joint
resolution of the 23lh September 1850. alio wing
PENSIONS to the widows and orphans Of soldiers who
were killed in the Mexican war, or died from dis
ease contracted in the service, the number PEN
stoned is ,456
AMOUNT EXPENDED.
The whole amount expended for pensions during
the past year is estimated by the Commissioner al
| s., 400 COO.
on account OF revolutionary service OF Virgiuis
State troops and navy, SSS 060 30 and CON nj
tation or haltpay and Interest, Sl33.5B H.
LAND wARRANTs-REvoLUr IoSARY SERVICE.
The whole number Of land warrants issued
TO commissioned officers of the continental
To nom co mmssicned officers and or,va,e. S2S3
Land is still due 10 Ill officers lad to 1913 non
commissioned officers and privates.
1872.
Whole number OF warrants issued TO persons
entitled under various acts OF Congress for services
in the war of 1872 Observation-Disclosures. 975
MEXICAN WAR
The number of claims presented for SER
vices in the Mexican war ISL. $Sl 1913 90
And for scrip or money, IN lieu of land. 3332 90
Making an aggregate of............ Ssi,7U5 90
THE GENERAL BOUNTY LAND LAW OF sEPrEMBEa
28lH 1850.
The number OF claims alre ady presented under
this comprehensive law, up to the 9Th of Novem-
Der, 1850, was 9,4lS, and the number is increasing
rapldly-scarcely mail arriving which does not
swell the list.
The whole number of persons who, il living,
would be entitled TO the benefit of that law would
exceed half million.
The Commissioner suppeses, from the best data
within his reach, that one-half are dead, leaving
no person entitled to claim under them IL this es-
innate be correct-and imagine it will be found
to approximate accuracy-the whole number of
claimants will be about two hundred and sfty
thousand.
Ii will thus be seen that the act of 18th Septem.
Der, 1850 is by far the most important bounty land
law that has ever been passed, whether we con-
slider the number of benelciaries under its provi-
sions or the extent of the domain granted.
Deeply impre ssed with the responsibility incident
to the administration of trust of such magnitude,
have sought to make the necessary arrangements
to ensure its prompt and efficient execution. Forms
have been prepared, with ample Instructions to
guide applicants n presenting sne. CLAIMS and nd
afforded for the establishment of just demands I'M
der the law.
Plates have been ordered to be engraved for
printing the warrants, and every precautlon 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
warrants. regret TO say, no wever, that the law
contains provision for the employment and
compensation OF the clerical force necessary for
its own execution.
| Under the terms of the law, as have been con-
strained to construe them, the warrants are not
| assgnable. The holders of them cannot, there
| fore, make them available until they have been
|
rily require considerable time, and it is therefore
peculiarly proper, in order to the enjoyment
of the bounty by those for whom it was ded,
that no unnecessary delay should be encountered
| To avoid this evil, the Commissioner recommends
that provision be made for the employment OF two
efficient clerks, with salary Of 81 200 each, COM
peient 10 investigate the claims OF applicants This
recommendation Except in regard 10 the amount
of salary, which is unnecessarily large) meets my
| cordial approval, and the only doubt | have Is
whether two will be sufficient To guard against
all contingencies. ! would d. respectfully urge the
event that two clerks should prove insufficient TO
keep pace with the business, to employ or more
in addition, and such temporary assistants as may
| be required from time TO time. Unless the depart.
ment has the means of sdjudicating the claims as
| fast they presented, and of issuing warrants
when they are allowed, dissatisfaction and suspi-
cions of fayoritism will inevitably arise.
Should Congress concur in these views of the
subject, shall esteem it no less privilege than
duty TO see that their benefcent policy is carried
cut with all practicable despatch and economy.
| PUBLIC LANDS.
| The report Of the Commissioner of the General
! Land Office exhibits some very interesting facts.
The surveys of the public lands have been pressed
Onward with CONNIE ndable activity, and, having
been completed in several States, the archives con-
nected with them have been delivered to the State
authorities as required by law.
Acres.
The sales Of public lands in the year1s4e
Area Ioe"e Cd in that yea: in satisfaction '''1 .
Of M. xcsn war bounty land warrants, s4os $40 90
State selections under the act Of 4th Sep - -.
dSSs,.. Of .,'. i 1856 g
fetal acre, thu. disposed of. -. 5iss,4lo 81
have been sold ................. sssos2 80
rants, during the LIST and I'd and part - -
| OF the Sd quarters 1,5D,l2o 90
State selections under the act of1sii.. 3Isso5 So
| Choctaw certificates. .............. 1850 So
| Ascr.y.te Tins aisnosed NJ In the lat Cd
and part OF the 80 quarters OF 1880. 2sl5366 AZ
| IL 10 shown by the Commits toner's report, that
the public lands have been q rich OF revenue
| TO the government, averaging about one and a
quarter miliions of liars per annum, for the last
fifty years. over and above all costs and expenses.
1t is gratifying TO find that the business OF the land
office IL actively progressing. The accounts OF all
the receivers Of public moneys have been adjusted
TO the Both September last. speedy consumma-
| ton IL anticipated of State selections, under the
grant of the Iih September, 1871, aud for various
! internal improvements under other laws. Mea-
sures have been adopted to give effect TO the mu-
| nihcent donation Of swamp lands" To certain
States OF the Union 81 the act Of Congress of the
2Slh September, 1850.
| The Commissioner recommends an extension OF
the act Of Sd August 1876, in order TO remove
| pensions which arise and accumulate ia the admi-
! nisiration Of that Office under general laws. He
| also suggests a slight modification O. the pree emp
ton provisions of the of lth September, ISL
aud the delegation OF authority TO the General
| Land Office to sell abandoned military sites, or
such tracts had been appropriated to public uses
! and afterwards relinquished.
These recomne ndauons, II carried out by early
legislation, will he productive OF beneficial results
| Amongst the hrst and most prominent subjects
claiming the attention or Congress Is the necessity
| Of making provision by Law for speedy aud co N.
pete extension OF the land machinery over our pos
sessions the Pacific AT presen there ~ no mode
by which cod title can be obtained TO any part OF
he public domain in that great extent OF territory
Nothing contributes more TO retard the improve.
ment Of country than uncertainty in relation TO
/ he 10 N IL
ready been experienced from this cause in Cali
fornia.
Grants are alleged to have been made for large
tracts Of land in that State by authority OF the
Spanish or Mexican governments. Many OF these
are OF very questionable validity but until they shall
have been examined and settled by tribunal OF
competent jurisdiction, they will continue TO throw
a cloud over the title to valus BILE bodies OF land,
and EeiinnslY affect the settlement and prosperity