The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-01
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
PENSIONS.
PEss,os Orrrcs, Oct. 10, 1857,

PENSION OFFIcE, Oct. 10, 1857,
SIR have the honor to submit to you the following
report Of the operations of this branch OF your department
for the past year The duties with which, under your
supervision and direction it is charged comprised
under two general heads, viz: Pensions and Bounty
Lands. Under the first it has been customary, OF late
last preceding fiscal year. and under the second to the
year ending the 30th September For convenience and
readiness Of comparison have adhered to this plan
PENSIONS
The accompanying table, marked A, exhibits the mum
Der of original claims for army pensions and applications
for increase OF those previously granted which have been
admitted during the fiscal year ending the 50th OF June
last and the aggregate annual amount of the in the
several States and Territories.
Table marked shows the amount Of arrears of PEN
sion allowed and payable at the date of allowance in the
several States and Territories during the period
Table marked is statement of the number of army
pensioners on the rolls 30th June last in the several
States and Territories and the aggregate yearly amount
Table marked shows the amount paid for army pen
sons In the several States and Territories during the last
fiscal year
Table marked exhibits the balance in the hands of
each Of the agents for paying army pensions on the Both
OF June last
Table marked has exclusive reference to navy pen
sions, and shows i e
LIST The number and yearly amount of original app
cations and number of claims for increase Of navy pen
sions admitted during the last fiscal year.
ID The number OF pensioners on the rolls in the seve
raj States and Territories the 3Oth of June last and
the aggregate yearly amount of their pensions.
3D. The amount paid for navy pensions in the several
States and Territories during the last fiscal year
4h The balances in the hands Of the several agents
for paying navy pensions at the close Of the fiscal year
The whole number of original army pension claims adj
mitted during tho year under all the acts in force
s72 involving the aggregate annual sum Of s64,
59 03, and the number OF pensions previously allowed
of 49, $50 49, The total amount of arrears of pen
ons involved in these admissions and which paya-
bic at the date Of issuing the certificates $780,,
sol ~. The whole number of original navy pension
claims allowed during the period IS, amount
ing in the aggregate to the annual of 50 AGA So and
the number of pensions increased four for the of
1921 %. The aggregate sum of the arrears due, and
payable at the time Of issuing the certificates $l0,
B33 g. The total amount paid for army and navy PEN
sions at the several agencies during the past fiscal year
81, $685. III "a. The whole number Of pensioners
the various rolls the Both Of June 49, lS6, whose
annual pensions amounted the of ST. 1885, 1856 So
The sum Of the balances in the hands of the paying
agents the 30th june last STA ,346 08 being
S5375 03 less than at the close of the preceding fiscal
year This results from the taken to prevent the
undue accumulation OF funds the hands the agents
by unnecessarily large advances to them.
OF the $3.50 sol ~ in virtue of army pensions
admitted during the last fiscal the sum Of So e5s
was allowed under acts granting invalid pensions $52,
l62 SO under the acts of 10th May 1928 and 7th June
1892 granting pensions to revolutionary soldiers $l25
6S2 SO under the several acts granting pensions to the
widows OF revolutionary soldiers and $50 996 20 to the
widows and minor children OF deceased officers and sol
ers who have been pensoned for service subsequent to
the revolutionary war
The first act Of general application granting pensions
for revolutionary services that passed the 18th of
March, 1918, which gave pension to all officers non
commissioned officers, privates musicians Mariners and
marines who had served in the eontenta army nary
to the close Of the war; for period Of nine consecutive
months-an allowance to commissioned officers of $40
and to commissioned officers prvates, &C., of IS
per month"; 81" from reduced circumstances they should
he in need of assistance from the country for support
The amount paid out under this act to the 3Oh June last
was, in round numbers $22, 32O, 900.
The next in the series of revolutionary pension acts
that of 18th May 1925 which, without qualification
to property gave in effect to all officers and soldiers
who served in the continental line of the army the close
Of the war; In the of officers il they became SUI
pernumery, the amount of their full pay in said line
not to exceed in any case however, the pay OF captain
in the line Under this act amount paid to 30th
June last was ~, col, 900
Then came the more comprehensive act of It'll June
1882 The provisions Of this act embraced oil persons
who had been engaged in military capacity in the
olutionary war whether In the militia State troops the
naves Of the several States in the continental line
provided the term terms of service aggcgatcly
cd much six monthsa service of two years enti
Ting the party to the full pay of his grade and shorter
period OF service to proportional allowance The
amount expended under this net to 30tb June last was
sis, O90, 900.
Then followed series of acts granting pensions to the
widows of revolutionary soldiers.
The first Of these acts that approved atb July, 1886