The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-29

other claims OF discharged volunteers distributed
10 the several geographical pay districts TO meet the
large payments OF Treasury certificates for bounties and
arrears to heirs or deceased volunteers and one the
application OF the Com OF the Freedmens Blu
reau by authority OF The secretary Of War; is serving
as discussing agent IN that Bureau
In my last report explained the absolute necessity
OF continuing in service twenty additional paymasiers
beside the sixty OF the regular army provided for by
law but not then appoinledl growing out OF the extra
ordinary labors imposed by recent enactments giving
pounues, extra pay, &C. That necessity sun exists VA
al It's iorce though is Is expected further reduction
may De practicable before the end or the current year.
In THIS connection take occasion TO report that as the
adjustment and Of the claims which give rise
TO the necessity adveed service pertaining
almost exclusively 20 the volunteer forces the retention
Of aatona psymasers to perform that service sane
tioned ~ the law which creates them aud prescrbes
their tenure fact II July ., 1888, chapter l62
The clerical force employed in this bureau, exclusive
OF the paymasers clerks serving with the officers
attached TO the division OF referred claims numbered
At the date Of my last annual report hundred and
s1iynve clerks the maximum war allowance provided
by law.
As The work OF examination OF the immense accumu-
aton OF war vouchers has advanced during the
gradual reduc ton OF tho clerical force has been pract
cable For many months past appointments
have been made TO h the vacancies thirty
onel which have occurred by designations, dsmissals
and other casualties That work being this time very
nearly completed, 1t has become duty TO mako fur
ther large reduction. Accordingly orders have been
given for the discharge, at the close Of tho present
month, OF forty-nine bureau clerks, leaving still
ployed seveutsave This last number exceeds by ten
the peace complement allowed to the bureau by the
various laws on the subject-an excess which may,
doubtless be disposed OF during current fiscal
The periodical payments TO the army with its innu-
merable sub divisions scattered a expanse of
territory, have been made throughout the year with
interrupted regu arty, except In few instances where
nsuperable obstacles have prevented During prev
aience of epidemic yellow fever the Gulf coast 1t has
not been possible by OF quarantine RESTRICTIONS
and other mpediments Tor paymasers to reach several
OF the posts Texas Then, too the great difficulty of
access aud OF adequate protection 10 several OF the
rlsons IN the extremes of ontana Idaho Arizona and
Utah have rendered utterly impfaccable pay them
with strict regularity and promptness II believed
however, that the irreguarity In these instances
has subjected the troops to material
that there is disposition certainly
able cause, OF complaint on their part.
ain able now 10 repeat the assurance OF my last
annual report thai there has CURED serious failure
or omission in the OF the aborious duties
devoiving on the officers OF this department. They
have exhibi ed, especially those serving the iron
tiers degree Of energy zeal and probty most
commendable and praiseworthy
ADDITIONAL BouSTrEs.
The subject OF the pay OF the additional bounties
granted by the OF Congress OF July IS 1866 by
the same act specially imposed on this department. is
OF such interest throughout the country that deem
II proper for the general Information to annex to this
report brief exposition OF its history aud progress not
To OF ,cal year. which limits the pre-
ceding portion OF this report out continued the pre-
sent date Tue act referred TO provides for Its
by the Paymaster General, '.under such rules and
regulations may prescribed BY tho secretary OF
War" Tue gravity OF the subjeci, = yolving such
heavy expenditures Of money and affecting the nteress
OF 50 large number OF citizens prompted the Secretary
OF War to refer IN preparation OF me regulations to the
careful elaboration Of board or military officers
posed Of gentlemen OF large experience and OF the
highest in diligence aud judgment The rules and
atons thus framed approved by the Secretary OF War
and confirmed as to their legality BY the endorsements
OF the Attorney General, did not from the War
Department TIL the<latter part OF september. The
dest publicity was then at once given them through
out the several States Meantime large numbers OF the
claims had already been this ofce the APP
pcatons attached 70 which proving defective, not con-
forming In letter or spirit with tho regulations, they
were necessarily returned to the applicants or their at
orneys for amendment By reason OF these delays the
examination Of the claims was not entered upon TIL
January, 1867.
Tne Chief OF the division Of referred claims who has
the immediate cbsrge.of these bounty payments in his
official report aud statement made up to the 10Th inst
gives the following tacts:-
Total number Of additional bounty claims received
and recorded to date .407, S57
Number paid. 90 0O6
Number disaIlowed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1872
TOTAL number disposed OF los, 37S
Number hand be settled. 800, 479
or this number there awaiting the receipted
vouchers OF claimants OTIS; awaiting further informa-
ton from the records Of the Adjuant Generals office,
35l3.
The entire remander-294, sSs-are awaiting replies
from the Second Auditor Of the Treasury nto whose
custody the war rolls have all psssed 10 inquiries foE-
wardcd to his Office for information Indispensable the
payments before closing them out
The Auditor has been able TO supply those answers
abstracts from the rolls at the rate OF only twelve to
fifteen thousand month, and, OF course the
work in this ONCE IS limited by that supply. II 1t were
otherwise or were practicable for the Auditor on his
part the supply, payments could DO ex-
pedited In tho proportion Of such increase
l. e believed taa' VIII the present capacy Of the
and admirable management under the supers sion Of its
energetic Chief double the monthly number Of cases
could be pad aud disposed OF and the whole be
peted within another year from the present date
special committee has boon organized BY the House Of
Representatives. TO make inquiry and Investigation OF
this matter and report what means, If any, be do.
vised to expedite the final payment OF the additional
bounties. refrain from suggestions on the subject
Inc total OF S57 applications received acknowl
edged, recorded and examined and Of them, 1906 378
fully settled, with an expenditure Of $685. 1877 and
tins chiefly within period OF eight months, together
" q
pay, with further expenditure Of 50 353, 203 making
aggregate OF nearly S3 900 acer aimed and
mitted In small amounts 10 the numerous indiv dual
claimants within less period than full year These
facts and figures demonstrate the value and magnitude
CIams 'c Thew are the results made no o. s,be ony
through the exercise Of careful industry
pains and Application. Furthermore, II is most crafty
know and TO state that there mas not been
tanned single instance OF delinquency wrong the
part any officers OF the division nothing Ia the whole
extent Of Their perpe.ng Acors affecting inunousy the
The services of all chief and subordinate, have been
rendered with singular fidelity and abiiity emitting
them 70 the highest commentator.
RECONSTRUCTION prsBU RsEMEyTs.
The following Is the order assigning me 10 the SUPER
vision OF these disblrsemens:--
WAR DxrARrxESr ApIurAsr GENERAL. orncr,,
49,, w., =. soI on -, Ap,l 10. fsI, :
dollars BY the joint OF Congress approved March
81 sd7 d.6oised under the direction q he fa5mss.sr
the tive Military Diatrcs make such Disbursements
% a ss
BY order "a the secretary Of War.
h. ID row NSE Nd. Assistant jutsnt General.
proceeded forthwith 10 the Of this order.
The pay the districts designated
and ordered At TO repair to their respective district
headquarters Instructions detail prepared. APP
proved and transmitted 10 them. The requi-
silions we're issued and the remttances made.
continued the duty in like manner aud under like
authority after the further appropriation OF million
made by joint resolution Of July TO- 1861.
The following statement exhibits the amount appro-
priated, the amoun.s received aud dsbarsed by eacn
paynaster and balance hand according TO their
last rllurns:-
Balance in
Date If last Amount Amount Plymdsicrs'
Dit Rport Semi Disbr@d hdnds
1-October IL. ....... &l99 4A $ls3,30 SIS, 1856
2-October IL 1890. 24s212 o. $40 1876 401