Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

with the directions Of Congress- and large number
Of copies will be delivered early the session 1t is be-
eved that the work itself and the style of its pubica
ton will be satisfactory the public.
The final report of Messrs. Foster and Whitney the
geology Of the Lake Superior region will probably be
submitted to Congress duriug its session.
No progress has yet been made by the Department in
the execution Of the act of Congress Of the last session
providing for the redemption of Virginia land warrants
with United States scrip receivable in payment for the
public Landslide State of Virginia not having yet
cuted the deed of REIMBURSEMENT &C. required by the
law. Shortly after the passage Of the act addressed
the Governor of Virginia the subject, and in reply
was informed that would be brought TO the attention
Of the Legislature, which is in session. As
the Department shall have been officially advised that the
State Of Virginia has complied with the terms Of the law
prompt measures will be taken for its execution
In consequence of the allegations made in the year
1887 of and imperfectons of the public surveys
in the Greensburg district in the State of Louisiana, the
land Office for that district has been virtually closed since
that period Many of the resurveys authorized by the
act of 29th of August 1872 having been completed the
necessary steps have been recently taken to bring those
lands into market at as early day as practicable.
Sufficient progress having been made in the public
veys in California and Oregon respectfully recommend
the extension Of the present land system the agr
cultural lands and the establishment Of land Offices for
their disposal With regard to the mineral lands in Cali
fornia beg leave to repeat the recommendations
tanned in my last annual report with the modification
that the privilege of mining be restricted to citizens Of
the United States those persons who may have decar
ed their intention to become such.
Pension Office.
The report Of the Commissioner Of Pensions contains
full and exact information in regard to the transactions
Of that Office, with many valuable suggestions Of amend
mens of the laws which deserve the serious considera
ton of the Legislative Department of the Government
This bureau has charge of the bountes conferred by
Congress on those who have been engaged the military
service of the country, whether given in land money
Pensions or pecSpiary bountes have been granted to
six classes of persons.
First to soldiers of the revolutionary war; second, to
widows of revolutionary soldiers third to invalid SOL
ders fourth to widows and orphans of soldiers in the
Mexican fifth, to certain classes of persons in the
naval service sixth, Virginia hafpay and Communication
claimants
The whole number of pensioners the rolls,
elusive of navy pensioners is $685. being TAB less than
the number reported in 1851.
The number added to the rolls since the last annual
report is 201l of which large proportion consists OF
invalid pensioners and the widows and orphans of those
who died of wounds disease contracted in the Next
can
The deaths of 1923 pensioners of various classes have
been reported within the last year.
The expenditure on account of pensions the last
report far it be ascertained from the Treasury
Department is about 500 000 embracing many claims
allowed before the close of the last but paid within the
present year.
The expense of the system continues nearly the
in former years. is it likely to be diminished until
Congress shall by further legislation apply the corrective
| to many of its abuses.
In my last report called your attention to the proprie
ty of amending the law 50 as conne the benefits of the
pension laws those who rendered the service and the
widows and minor children Of such dead and al
to the necessity of adopting efficient measures to
prevent frauds under the various pension la As nothing
done by Congress in reference either these sub
jects respectfully present them again your notice
There certainly be sufficient for giving to
adult children collateral relatives of deceased soldier
bounty for his military services The policy of the law
should be to assume extent the natural oblga
tons Of the deceased soldier support his wife and minor
children in the event of his death in the public service
but there can be valid claim the justice bounty
of the Government to further and make provision for
| those whom he was under no obligation to support
The enactment of more stringent laws to prevent the
preparation of frauds the Government also demands
the prompt and serious attention of Congress Scarcely
a month eapses without the detection and exposure of
the basest attempts at imposition by fraud perjury and
| forgery.
In some parts of the country the business has been
duced to SYSTEM and bodies of have confederaed
for the purpose Of carrying into effect their nearious
schemes by artfu to render detection almost
impossible.
Pension Office discover and Illustrate the purposes of
these mscrean consequence of the defectsn the
law it is not always possible to bring them to justice
Revolutionary Pensioners.
In my last report stated that the whole number Of
who had been pensoned under the act of 18th
March, 1873 was 20, 485 of whom 1888 remained the
rolls Since that date pensioners have been added
under that law, and the number remaining the
list is DAG, showing reduction Of 337 within the year
and of those whose still continue it only 3s9
4
/ tiers Of the current fiscal year
Under the act of 18th May 1929 which passed for
the benefit of officers and soldiers Of the Continental Ar
my who served to the end of the war, only 168
pensioned of that number 128 still the rolls but
AZ only have been paid during the first and second quar-
tiers of the present year.
The system of revolutionary pensions greatly
tended by the act of 9TH June 1892 At the date Of my
last report $50 persons had received the benefits
act, of whom 4, 813 then continued on the rolls.
Since that date 80 new pensioners have been added,
making the aggregate number of persons who have been
pensoned under that law 49, 066 OF these remain
the rolls but only 495 have received payment in the
first and second quarters Of the year. from which it may
the year.
Widows Of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Under the law of 4th July 1885, 5,l63 persons have
been pensioned, of whom 978 remain the rolls The
act of h july 1888 extended the pension laws to widows
Of revolutionary soldiers who married prior TO 1874
Under il III 400 have from timo time been enrolled but
only 1872 have been paid during the LIST and I'd quarters
of the year.
The number pensoned under the act of I'd January
1848 is {, 000 and under the act Of 10Th July 1848
which extended the period Of marriage the year 1900
the number pensoned was 975 There the rolls
under both these 280 pensioners of whom
paid during the first and second quarters Of the year
At the date of my last report the number the rolls
1884 II, therefore, assume the payments dur
ing the year the basis for estimating the number who
survive it has been reduced to the extent Of 045
Merican War Pensions
The whole number of pensions granted under the va
rous actsor the benefit of the widows and orphans Of
soldiers who killed in BATTLE died from disease
IN The Il a.