The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-16


For service in the war Of 1912 l7i,s72
For service in tt Florida and other Indian
For service as officers in Mexican war 1851
Applications filed under the act OF 1852 l2.eaS
235, 1872
Upon these applications, warrants have been issued
follows:
For 100 acres each 26,Oi2
For so acres each 5l,32o
For 40 acres each 1a0,463
Cases now in hands OF examiners, and
at rolls 1919
Cases suspended files 5o,7l3
1t will require $50 500 OF land satisfy The
already issued under the act OF March H. lS47
and 1881 240 10 satisfy those that have already
Issued under the acts oil September 2S 1850, and March
~: 1885, making an aggregate OF 25-so7s 500 acres.
Ia executing the aci OF September 2S 1850, found
large number OF claims filed by individuals belonging to
various ndian tribes who still retain their tribal charac
Ter. but who claim 10 have been soldiers IN the various
described said act and entitled 10 lis benefits
Some OF these claims have been admitted and warrants
have been issued Others have been suspended because
the claimants could no, comply with The rules establish
ed for all claimants under this act The chiefs OF some
al the tribes from which claims have been presented
have demonstrated against any action upon lhem because
the authority OF the agents presenting the same had been
improperly obtained.
also found great embarrassment attending the exami-
nation and final disposition of these claims in consequence
OF the difficulty IN communicating with the claimants;
their inability 10 slate the facts connected with their
vice explicitly desirable and the want OF muster
rolls knoEn TO be authentic, TO verify their statements
These embarassmens are greatly Increased when The
claims are presented by the widow and minor children of
deceased soldier. Evidence of marriage and heir
ship, and the proper appointment OF guardians, IS, IN
cases, impossible 10 be obtained according
Well-establshed rules; and the want OF these
may lead 10 the practice OF frauds and great
y increase the presentation OF rasduleDt claims When
warrant Issues, hardly be supposed il can be To-
lated By the warranee; indeed, ii may be doubted
whether be has the power TO do and will become
article Of purchase OF little value 10 its owner Waving,
H,nht. nj
Congress extend the benefits OF this act to this class OF
claimants, have thought il advisable, under all circun
stances to suspend action upon them until Congress could
express It's opinion upon The proprey OF the measure II
the country owes debt OF gratitude 10 these persons
equal 10 tina, due our own citizens who served IN
these various wars 1t may be more Tor the interest OF all
parties to discharge such debt 10 other manner than
the donation OF land which the beGehcianes can never
personally enjoy. | trust the attention of Congress will
be directed 10 this subject.
Its 10 be regretted that The munhcent graues govern
annually distributes 10 It's citizens should be made
peiext Tor obtaining money from the treasury through
fraud and falsehood and yet II is found that numerous
individuals, under guse OF friendship tor the objects OF
this bounty, have with pretended CLAIMS sustained By The
foulest perjury obtained liberal allowances. Some OF
these persons have been detected and prosecuted
Five convictions have been had since April last and the
guilty parties now expiang their crimes in the penn
Tertiary Several Others have been arrested, and The
evidence OF their guilt is too apparent 10 leave any
doubt OF their conviction. Others whose guilt no
less alpable than those IN prison, have escaped
punishment IN consequence OF The lapse OF time since
lmilng prosecutions for tbs class OF offences bars pro-
ceedngs IN two years from The time OF committing the
offence. Owing TO the secrecy with which frauds upon
this office may be perpettaitd and the great difficulty 10
obtaining evidence OF The facts speedily, would
es,y recommend that Congress make such change in
this act as 10 allow prosecutions 10 be commenced within
FIVE years after the commission OF The offence.
II is made the duty OF this bureau TO make the esil
mates and acquisitions for money 10 pay the peaslons
der The different acts in favor of the several agents for
paying pensions To do Ibis ntrlligeny, it necessary
this Office agent, where
In the agent may be charged with the amount he re-
ceves, and credited with his disbursements Such an
account properly kept will al any time show the
don OF each agency and prevent an unnecessary &C
emulation OF money al any place, under any act. To
enable us TO carry out this object II may be necessary
TO have iurtber legislation requiring pension agents TO
make quarterly returns to this oitce providing that
their accounts shall be here settled.
The compensation OF agents for paying pensions is
subject OF complaint The only allowance that can be
made by law 10 commission of two per centum on mo-
Deys discussed by them, not TO exceed in amount 900
annually. which Is TO be IN full Tor services and eonin
gent expenses II is manifest that this is not adequate
Tor the service and responsibility required al some loea
ties. To remedy this deficiency, there can be doubt
that benefit has been derived from the OF the
moaey appropriated Tor the payment OF PENSIONS and de-
posted with these agents II - not the policy OF our
lawn 10 allow any TO be made OF the public money In
the hands oil nny public officer, and every CONFIRMATION
Of this policy should be discouhtenanced II ia there
fore respectfully suggested that the saares OF these OH
shoah be arranged AS 10 afford them fair COM
pepsaon for their services, and that all use OF the puo-
lie money for private pxrpoeee, be entirely prohibited
The clerical force This bureau, as now established
by law consists Of fifty permanent clerks his number
Sufficient 10 perform The labor OF The ofhce with
and that its importance demands
We have been compelled 10 employ aboni
forty other persons under temporary appointments
There IL lack OF business at present Tor the whole
force now engaged The duties OF many of these clerks
OF character require gentlemen not only OF hon.
esty and Integrity but aso oil than ordinary ca
pac'ty The adjudication OF intricate claims, OFT times
involving large amounis, and requiring patient inves-
tgatloD, great Teseafcb, and careful examination,
sh0uId not be committed TO incompetent hands, but
10 gentlemen IN whose action the claimants, A. well
the pubIic, have confidence To the services
o such men, the government should pay them an libsr
ally private ciuzea would pay for similar eetvices
AT present there but FIVE cskshps OF the third class
in this bureau. would respectfully recommend that the
number be increased to twenty i've. M the number
oi permanent, cler ks seventy ~, .a HNset
in concluding this report, j may not be improper 10
mark. that when | entered upon my Official duties in
March last found The current busness Of the Office
months in arrears. now have The pleasure TO inform
you that, on the 3oh day OF September last he average
business Of the Office bu, about four weeks IN ar
resrs, and that there every reason 70 believe VIII De
mp 10 dae before the meeting OF Congress- ms oolec'
haA beep effected by the un'irng exerons OF those gen
teMen You have associated with in these lAbors fof
whose hdely in the public service and genemanly de-
postment am happy to bear testimony.
have the honor 10 be- very respectfully. your obedi-
snt servants,
l.. p WALDO. Commissioncr
Eoi, 4 NcClsLLAsp,
SECRETARY Of the Interior