Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-12-26
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR.

this very able and interesting docn'
ment. We can find room this week on.
ly for hasiy analysis Of its contents,
presenting such portions as are likely
TO be of most general interest.
The report commences with a sum
mary Of the varied and important du-
ties devolyed on the Department; al
ludes TO the vagueness of the act of
Congress which created it. and recon-
mends further legislation to define with
precision its duties and powers, and al.
so 10 remedy the incongruiiy in the law
in reference 10 its designation.
1t recommends the creation of the
Office of Solicitor Of the Department to
decide questions of law upon appeals;
his action to be subject, however, in all
cases. to the revision Of the Secretary.
A summary of the estimates for each
branch of the public service within the
jurisdiction of the Department is given
in tabular form, and, compared with
the estimate for the present fiscal year
for similar services, by which it appears
that the estimate for the next fiscal year
exceeds that for the present $l,72s,'
$40 63. The causes Of this excess the
Secretary fully explains, examining the
estimates item by item. The endeavor
has been TO cover the whole amount of
the probable expenditure for the fiscal
year, so that there may be no necessity
in future for estimating for deficiencies,
unless upon some unforeseen contin.
gency.
A general review is given Of the op.
erations of the several bureaus. This
portion of the report consists principal
ly of statistics which cannot well be
condensed. We select, however, some
of the most important items:
The whole number of persons now
on the pension rolls of the United
States is 19,75s. But of these many
are probably dead. The whole num-
ber who have drawn pensions during
the first and second quarters Of the cal
ender year is l3,079. The number of
deaths reported within the last year is
$40.
The benefciaries under the laws de-
signed to provide for the soldiers of the
Revolution and their widows are rapid
ly passing away. But the number of
pensioners under other acts has been
considerably augmented in consequence
of the war with Mexico. The whole
amour, expended for pensions during
the past year is estimated at $l,40O,.
coo.
The whole number of land. warrants
issued for services in the revolutionary
war is IL ,5ss; in the war of 1912, 2s,.
97s; number of claims for land-war.
rants and scrip in lieu thereof, for SER
vices in the Mexican war, $s4,7O5.-
The number Of claims already present.
ed under the Bounty Land Law of Sep
tember last, up to the 9Th of November,
was 9,4ls, and the number is increas
ing rapidly. 1t is estimated that the
whole number of claimants will be
about 100000. II will thus be seen
that this is by far the most important
Bounty Land Law that has ever been
passed. All necessary arrangements
have been made to insure its prompt
and efficient execution. Forms and
instructions have been prepared, and
assurance given. that every proper fa-
cility will be afforded for the establish
ment of just demands under the law
Plates have been ordered to be engrav-
ed for printing the warrants, and every
precaution has been adopted 10 guard
against fraud and forgery. These
plates will soon be completed and there
need then be no delay in ncommencing the
issue of the warrants. The warrants,
having been decided TO be not assigna.
BILE, cannot be made available TO the
holders until they have been located
and patented. As this process will re-
quire considerable time il is proper, in
order to insure the enjoyment of the
bounty by those tor whom it was in.