The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-13

transactions OF that office, with many valuable
suggestions of amendments of the laws which
deserve the serous consideration OF the Legislative
Department Of the Government.
This bureau has charge of the bounties con-
ferred by Congress on those who have been en-
gagged in the military service of the country, whe
Their given in land or money.
Pensions or pecuniary bounties have been grant
ed to six classes of persona. &c.,. . ....
First. to soldiers of the revolutionary war; se-
cond, to widows of revolutionary soldiers; third,
to invalid soldiers; fourth, to widows and orphans
of soldiers in the Mexican war; fifth, to certain
classes OF persons in the naval service; SIXTH Vir-
ginia half pay and Communication claimants.
The whole number Of pensioners now on the
rolls exclusive Of navy pensioners, s Is $685. being
743 less than the number reported in 1851.
The number added to the rols since the last
consists of invalid pensioners and the widows and
orphans of those. who died Of wounds disease
contracted in the Mexican war. .
The deaths of 1913 pensioners of various classes
have been reported within the last year.
The expenditure on account of pensions since
the last report far 1t be ascertsined from
the Treasury Department, ia about s 500, 900,
embracing many claims allowed before the close
of the last but paid within the present year.
The expense of the system continues near
ly the came as in former years, nor is it likely
to be diminished until Congress- shall by further
legislation apply the corrective to many Of its
abuses. 80
In my last report called your attention to the
propriety of amending the law as to confine the
benefits of the pension laws to those who rendered
the service, and to the widows and minor children
Of such were dead; and also to the necessity of
adopting more efficient measures to prevent frauds
under the various pension laws. As nothing was
done by Congress In reference to either OF these
subjects, respectfully present them again to your
notice. r....I..
There certainly can be no sufi cient reason for
giving to adult children collateral relatives Of
deceased soldier bounty for his militar SER
vices. The policy ofthe law should be to assume,
tn p
deceased colder to support his wife and minor
children in the event OF his death in the public
service; but there can be no valid claim on the
justice or bounty of the Government to go fur
Their and make provision for those whom he was
under no obligation to support.
The enactment of more stringent laws to pre-
vent the perpetra ton of frauds on the Govern
ment also demands the prompt and serious at
tention of Congress. Scarcely month elapses
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 reduced to system, ana bodies of men
have confederaed for the purpose Of carrying into
effect their nefarious schemes, by means 30 art
full as to render detection almost i'm possible.
No effort has been spared by the Department md
the Pension Office to discover and Illustrate the
purposes of these mscreants, but in consequence
Of the defects in the law il ia not always possible to
bring them to justice
Revolutionary Pensioners.
of persons who had been pensioned under the act
of 18th March, 1918, was 90 4S5; of whom 1888 re-
NAMED on the rolls Since that date no new pen
eioners have been added under that law. and the
number now remaining on the list ia GAG, show
ing reduction of 1897 within the year, and of those
whose names still continue on it only 339 have
ccived pensions during the first and second quar-
ters of the current fiscal year.
Under the act OF 18th May, 1873, which was
passed for the benefit of officers and soldiers of the
Continental Army who served to the end Of the
war, only lSS were pensioned; OF that number l2s
still on the rolls, but AZ only have been paid
during the first and second quarters OF the present
year.
The system of revolutionary pensions was great.
Iy extended by the act Of TIN juno, 1882. At the
date of my last report 30 $50 persons bad received
the benefits Of that act, of whom 4.sl3 then con-
tinued on the rolls.
Since that date eighty new pensioners have been
added, making the aggregate number OF persons
who have been pensoned under that law 80, 066.
OF these 1923 remain the rolls, but only 495
have received payment in the first and second
quarters of the year, from which it may be fairly
inferred that large number have died within the
year.
Wido,vs of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Under the law Of 4th July, 1886, 5.l63 persons
have been pensioned. of whom 97s remain on the
rolls. The act of 7th July, 1888, extended the
pension laws to widows of revolutionary soldiers
who were married prior to 1894. Under it IL 400
have from time to time been enrolled, but only l62
have been paid during the lst and I'd quarters Of
the year. s .m.#
The number pensioned under the act of I'd Janu-
ary 1885, is 900; and under the act Of 29th July
1885, which extended the period of marriage to the
wear 1900, the number pensioned was 975. There
are now on the rolls under both these acts $3.50
pensioners, of whom ,209 were paid during the
Let and I'd quarters of the year.
At the date of my last report the number on the
rolls was 5,254. If, therefore, we assume the pay
ments during the year as the basis for estimating
the number who survive, it has been reduced to the
extent of ,0+5.
.Merican Var Pensions.
The whole number of pensions granted under the
various acts for the benefit Of the widows and or,
pbans of soldiers who killed in battle, or died
from disease contracted in the Mexican war, lie
| $50, and the number now on the rolls is l ,l23
being 627 less than at the date OF my last report.
... .Nary Pensions.
| A detailed statement of the navy pensions accom-
panies the Commissioners report, from which il
will appear that there are now on the rolls 726 in
valids. who receive annually $45,o4s 90.
There are also 5I4 widows, WHO annually re-
ceive & lOl AGO, and IS orphans, who receive
| $6,l3s.
Virgmia Halfpoy Communication Claims.
| The half.pay claims examined and allowed
under the act OF 9th July, 1882, since the date o
the last report, amount to Ssl5 964 73 1t is sup
posed that few valid claims of this character ar,
now outstanding Some, however, have been pre-
sented, which, for various causes, have been sus
| pended
| All claims for Communication pay continue sus
pended by my order until the further pleasure o
| Congress shall be made known on the subject
| This order by its terms will remain in force unit
the close of the next session OF Congress. 1t, il
the meantime, action shall DO taken by Con
grees, it may become the duty Of the Department
to make such disposition of them as Justice may
| seem to require.
| Military Land Bounties.
| During the yenr ending 25ih October, 1852, lane
warrants have issued on account Of revolutionary
| claims follows, viz:
| 3 for leutenants, of 400 acres each... 600 acres
| u for nom commissioned officers and
| Soldiers, of 100 acres each........ 200 acres
| 1885 warrants Of 100 acres EACH issued
| under the acts OF Congress Of De
cember "a, 1911, and January, 1912. 81 500 acres
And warrants of 800 acres each, is.
| sued under act of Congre of De-
! cember l0,iSl4, equal to.......... 2,240 acres
| There have been issued in the came period 8
new certificates of right to locate land warrants o
| $50 acres each, which issued under acts of 24t
| December, 1911, and llth january 1912, but 70
which no patents have been granted, $40 acres.
| Also, two certificates of right to locat
land warrants of 800 acres each, under act of De
cember 10, 1914, upon which no patent Ind issued