Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-13

due regard to the public interests, be closed
within the time allotted. The whole number Of
claims presented is Sl3. OF these, the ~
were adjudicated by the old board, which was
constituted in September, 1851, and 325 by the
new board, appointed in April, 1853. OF the
397 claims thus adjudicatsd, 294 were con
frmed for 1856 square leagues Of land, and I03,
covering 1888 square leagues, rejected.
Transcripts have been forwarded to the At
torney General, in 295 cases, and duplicate
in 202 cases, to the proper courts,
as required by law.
The recorded dispositions of witnesses, deci-
sions of the board, original Spanish documents,
translations, and the daily proceedings of the
board, cover, in all, ,749 pages, equal to about
Al ,492 fohos. Ii is estimated that there is at
least as much more Of this kind of clerical
work to be done.
append hereto a copy of the most recent
report received from the commissioners.
Sincethen classification ndreorganization
of the Pension Bureau, it has been conducted
with much order and regularity. There is no
unnecessary delay in deciding the applications
presented, and every attention is given them
that can be desired.
The fact was before noticed that the pension
act of Sd February, 1853, did not cover the
cases of the widows Of officers, non-commis-
stoned officers, marines, and mariners, who
served in the Navy during the revolutionary
war. Congress, at its last session, overlooked
it; and, as the omission was clearly accidental,
it is proper it should be again presented for
consideration.
The widows Of seamen who die in service in
time OF peace, are entitled to pensions which
are withheld from those of officers and soldiers
of the Army. There is no reason for this dis
tinction. 1t is supposed by some that fund
is raised for the purpose by the seamen them
selves, when in service; but this is an error.
Both stand upon the same footing, and have
like claims--the pension being gratuity in
either case.
Great irregularities exist in the pension
laws, and in their operation. The evil is of so
absurd character, in many instances, as to
be exceedingly annoying and Notifying, as
well as unjust. Of those that might be ad-
duced, it is presumed that single one will be
sufficient to attract proper attention to the
subject. A seaman, a marine, and private
soldier of the Army may be engaged in the
same battle, and all alike, totally disabled.
The seamen, by existing laws, will receive
three dollars, the marine six dollars, and the
soldier eight dollars per month. The disabili-
ty, and all the attending circumstances, being
the same, there should be no such gross dis
parity.
There has been, within few years past, a
large increase in the ggregateamount of PEN
sions paid, much Of which is owing TO the de-
parture from the original design of the PEN
sion policy. The intention of its first project
ors was to relieve the wants of those who, hav-
ing served their country faithfully, and hazard
ed their lives and fortunes for its freedom and
hop -
general, and has been more and more enlarged
every year, until it has grown into stipend
Gus system. At an early period of our history
it was considered derogatory for any one, how
ever meritorious, to accept the gratuity, even
when rendered by the Government, unless in
needy or INDECENT circumstances. A different
sentiment, however, has now obtained, and the
purest, best, and most honorable of our citi-
zens, do not refuse it. There can be no we'll
founded objection to this, SO long as the law
remains as it is. But considering The small
pittance (often, under existing laws, only one
dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per monthly
doled out to the INDECENT soldier, his widow or
minor children, it is a question worthy Of con-
sideration whether humanity does not demand
that the system be so modified as at least to
approximate the principle, established by its
founders, to increase the amount bestowed up
on those whose merits and circumstances en-
title them to aid and to give to them, if no
thing more, such substantial relief as sound
policy will permit By adopting such plan,
and cutting off all arrearages Of pensions, the
great evil Of the system may be remedied.
The Third Auditor of the Treasury executes
several acts of Congress, giving half pay for
five years TO widows and orphans Of officers Of
the army. These acts being Of the same gen.
eral character as others executed by the Com
missioner Of Pensions, and the same principles
of construction applying to both, there is a
manifest propriety- in comforting the whole
power upon the Pension Bureau, and thereby
preserving uniformity in the decisions.
A biennial examination Of invalid pension
ers, to detect fraud and prevent imposition, was
recommended TO the consideration Of Congress,
but not authorized. 1t is remarkably strik-
ing fact, that Of the large and entire number
on the. invalid pension roll-with, recently two
honorable exceptions-there appears never TO
have been any diminution Of the disability but
frequently an increase. Besides, the Pension
Bureau, crippled as il is for means, has dis
covered many instances in which palpable fraud
has been perpetrated and gross deception prac-
| ticed. As the imputation OF guilt may fall upon
the innocent, as well as the guilty, il does seem
proper that authority should be given the Com
missioner of Pensions, on satisfactory proof Of
the commission Of such offense, TO reduce the
pension, where the disability has decreased, and
to strike the name Of the pensioner from the
list, where it has ceased. The Commissioner
may safely be clothed with this power for, be-
sides subservng the interests Of the public, it
will protect from unjust aspersion the honest
and worthy pensioner.
The Department would again earnestly re
commend a modification Of the act Of Congress
limiting, TO two years, prosecutions for perjury
and forgery committed in pension and land
warrant cases. Why should the criminal es-
cape, when the offense, owing 10 the ingenuity
Of the offender, is concealed until the time for
his prosecution has elspsed7 With all posi-
BILE vigilance, this cannot be avoided. The
cunning and duplicity Of the persons engaged
in the commission Of such ofFenses is wonder
full still many have been detected through
the watchfulness of the Pension Bureau. Up
TO the 30th Of September last, thirty have been
indicted; of whom eleven have been convicted,
nine fed and forfeited their recognizances, one
died, one committed suicide, two have eluded
l the officers and six await trial Others have