The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-25

DEPARTMENT or TIE INTERIOR,
RrNsIoS DrEIf.r March N la6l

1850 and some Of the rules and regulations hereto
fore prescribed either misnierpreted or disregarded
the following instruct ons, approved by the Sccre
tary Of the Interior, issued for the beneh OF all
persons interested.
l. The act Of February II, 1917, having restricted
land bounty for service in thu Mexican war to the
non-commissioned officers, musicians, and priyates
of the regular army, the claims OF commissioned
ofcers IN that service are for the frs time recog-
nized by tho net Of 18th Of September. 1850 Ii was
not the intention Of that act to bestow bounty land
on the whole army Of the United States wherever To-
Gated, but only on those whose service WAS connected
with. or had direct reference tn that nor can
the act be properly construed to embrace the officers
and employees attached to the War Department in
Washington their service not being OF that kind
which was contemplated. II is not necessary that
officers should have been actually within the limits
OF Mexico, or on the borders thereof, provided they
were actively engaged in the war; and directly con-
nected with its operations
Z. In the war Of l8l2troops were frequently called
out by tho State authority and not mmcdia .ey mus
tered in tho service Of the nted States. If the ede
raj government paid such troops from the time ofther
enrolment, and before they were actually mustered
in the service of the United States. that payment
is equivalent to recognition Of their service from
the date Of the enrolment. The time for which
they were paid by the United States furnishes
convenient aud practical standard for estimating the
period Of service.
g. The conflicts with the Creek Indians, which
commenced about 9Th Of May, 1886, and ended 30th
Of September, 1887, are considered as embraced by
the act of 1850; large bodies Of troops having been
engagements having occurred, attended by the loss
OF many lives in battle, within that period. The
disturbances on the southwestern frontier in 1896;
in the Cherokee country in 1896 and 1881; and the
Now York disturbances in 1893 and lte,9. no
considered as embraced by the provisions Of the ae
of September, 1850.
4. 1t has been settled that Indians who were re-
gularly mustered into the service Of the United
states, and formed component part of the line of
the army, were entitled to the benefit Of the act.
In the case of the Cherokecs, who have an orga
nizcd government and n judicial system in opera.
ton, the affidavit in support of application for
land bounty must be made before one of their
judges, whose official character shall be certified by
their principal chief. The Greeks having no judi
cia officers, the United States agent in that nation
Is authorized to administer the necessary oaths.
8. II has been heretofore stated that "teamsters
and ariifcers were not entitled to land bounty;" but
this il not to be so understood, IL such teamsters
artfcers belonged to the line of the army, and
were regularly detailed for that particular kind Of
service
6. Surgeons employed by commanding officer,
| at stipulated rate Of compensation, but not COM
missioned or belonging to the line of the army,
not entitled to land bounty.
z. II has been decided by the Department that
the substitute performing the military service, and
not the employer, is entitled to the land bounty;
but when the engagement is partly performed by
both, each is entitled to his share, according to the
period of service.
&. Where the declaration of the claimant on oath,
supported by irregular and authentic discharge, is
general rule, will be preferred. And where tho
rolls are altogether silent as to the claimant. the
positive testimony Of officers and soldiers with whom
he served, and whose names are found on the rolls,
will be received as evidence
=. The act of September, 1850, excludes all per-
sons who have received, are entitled to receive,
land bounty under any act of Congress heretofore
passed. In all applications hereafter presented,
Geasonable time being allowed for these instric-
tons to crculate) it will be required that the claim
ant shall state in his declaration that he has not
ceiyed nor i entitled to receive such bounty.
10. The Department has decided that widows are
entitled to the land bounty of deceased soldiers, if
they are widows at the passage Of the act Of Sep
TENDER 2 1850. This is the law in its general n.y..
plication. ijut the widow Of ~ officer or soldier
killed in battle is entitled to the ma ximnm allow
ance Of one hundred and sixty acres without refs
renee to the period Of her husbands service: and,
although married woman al the passage Of the
act II unmarried at the date Of her application, her
claim is valid.
III. The death Of an officer or soldier may be
proved by satisfact ry evidence and if such officer
or soldier should die after the declaration fled Mt
the Pension office, but before the issuing of the
warrant, IT shall be competent for the widow or if
there be no widow, for the minor children to apply
for the said warrant and receive the same, on fling
| the necessary proofs Of title
Considerable anxiety prevails in some quarters in
regard to the execution of this law. and much i'm
patience i manifested as to whether applications
forwarded have been received, and when the war
rants arc likely TO be issued. A few explanations
present commissioner entered upon the discharge of
his duties the LIST December, 1907 between thirty
and forty thousand applications were received hut.
as the force employed had been engaged upon other
branches OF the business, special acknowledc-
ment had been made to claimants Early in De-
cember printed circular was prepared and dis
patched by every mail, acknowledging the receipt
Of claims; but as il was impossible for obyions
reasons, that this circular could be forwarded to
the future.
Hundreds, without n knowledge of these facts.
have been surprised that their own applications
were neglected, when Others subsequently forward
ed, have been acknowledged by mail lfthose who
sent their claims prior to the 10th Of December will
wait patiently, they will in due time be advised,
either IN the form Of warrant or by letter. assign
ing the reasons of suspension or selection. In to
this period, the Office with all its force faithfully
applied, has only been able to issue between seven
anu eight thousand warrants on declarations re-
ceved IN October and early in November some
time, therefore, must clapsc before the numc-
rous claims which arrived in November and early in
December can be finally acted on, or of which the
claimants can be Informed by the usual printed ne
encouragement. Up to the present time, about one
hundred thousand applications have been received
ana every days mail brings an increase varying
from hye hundred to thousand. The office il now
issuing between thousand and twelve hundred
warrants week; but more than eighteen months
must elapse before tho claims now on hand can be
disposed OF, or maturcd into the form of warrants
The number Of applications having increased 80 far
IN orucr 10 satisfy tue
public demand additional force was asked Of Con-
sres near the close Of the late session. and the re-
quest would doubtless have been granted had il been
at nm earlier period Ifgrantcd hereafter, the work
viii, OF course. be accelerated and the time for it,
completion shortened
Singular misconceptions exist as to the time ne
cessary TO execute the law. The rule Of the Depart.
ment s. that each CLAIM, shall be acted on in turn.
or in the order in which il is received and this rule
has been rigidly and impartially enforced.
Hwould be tedious andunnecessary to describe the
process by which the claims are Conducted from
their first reception and acknowledgment 10 the final
issuing Of the warrants In order 20 guard against
error and imposition, they are carefully registered
in different hands, advantage In any respect being
gained by hurried and ill-digcsted method Of pro.
ceeding.. With all these precautions errors win
Immortality ocenr, but means will also be employed
to render them harmless
All persons interested in the law or desiring in