The daily union., 1856-01-20
34,33T in all, for.
.A.oea.ssO

In the execution Of this many arise Of claims
for bounty land account Of services seeming 10 fall fully
within the principles upon which the act apparently j.
founded but not within the terms Of the act itself Though
these claims equally merorous with others embraced
by the provisions OF the act yet this Office has not felt at
liberty to 70 beyond proper construction Of The terms o.
the and allow them Some further legislation s neccs
say give that equal aud consistent operation 10 the act
which Is just and proper.
From the foregoing statements u viii be seen that tho
whole number OF applications for bounty land which have
been allowed during the year. under the various acts men
toned Is 72a for In n 44o2 leo acres and the whole
number Of acres for which have been issued
der the acts up 10 the close Of the year. is 3795s42
These statements OF the operations Of this Office IN the
two general divisions Of pensions and bounty land show
the practical results only during the year have not al
uded the actual sbos necessarily involved in the trans
action of this business because not material TO be stated
here nor for the reason has mention been made Of
the large class OF rejected claims though requiring equal
labor and care And have not called attention TO var
defects and want Of uniformity aud consistency in tho
different acts regulating pensions and bounty land because
the OF these aten ton has heretofore been
called by those in charge Of this Office and wbose reports
on file.
However Objectionable in other respects the system Of
pensions and bounty land may bs there Is at least this
agreeable feature in IL that in many its beneeent
provisions fall 10 those whose circumstances aud conditions
in life render them most desirable But the other hand,
there is in the system the feature Of the wrong
ul practices and gross frauds for which II gives occasion
In many instances tho funds paid out by the
fail TO reach the partie. for whom intended and In very
many Others those provisions intended for the reward and
relief OF needy merit become the gains OF INSCRIPTIONS dis
honesty and fraud The unusual vigilance and Of
my immediate predecessor in the detection and prosecution
Of many offenders have had sslutary effect IN checking
such offences During the past year nine convictions have
been had and several prosecutions still pending Pc
cuar circumstances greatly embarrass the Office In the in
vesgaion and prosecution OF such matters The offences
usually committed distance and this Office has no
agents attend to them IL Obliged TO have recourse to
Others who though in off al positions are not under OBJ
legations attend this business Justice however, re-
qurcs acknowledgment Of their readiness TO aid and
the material service otcnmos rendered by them TO this
Office.
The regular force OF this Office consists OF 100
clerks of whom 80 were provided at the last session of
Congress with reference the business arising from the
act OF March g 1855 granting bounty land That force
has been found insufficient FOR the purpose and the office
has been obliged apply for the assistance Of such add
tiona clerks could be spared from other Offices anil
To use for employment OF still others such funds
could be appropriated for that purpose The actual force
now employed in the Office is 56 clerks With regard to
this may make suggestions In estimate for ap-
propraons to he submitted a the approaching session Of
Congress and therefore omit further mention here.
This report should not be concluded without
acknowledgement Of the capable and Efficient discharge Of
their duties by those employed In this Office Much credit
s due them for the favorable results Of its operations
during the year. 10 which their efforts have most contrib
uted.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obcdent
servant J. MINoT, Commissioner,
To the Hon Roprnr McCExLLaSo
Secretary Of the Interior