The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-11-30
Pension Report.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-The annual
report of the Commissioner of Pensions,
for the present year, will be unusually
interesting, on account of the thorough
manner in which the statistics of our
pension system win be presented. The
main portions of the report have been
finished, and the whole will be embraced
i'll the report of the Secretary of the In
terror to Congress. During the fiscal
year ended June 80, the increase of the
pension rolls has been greater than for
any year since that ending June 80, 1867.
By the allowance of new claims there
have been added to the rolls, 6317 army
invalid pensioners; 1920 army widows
and dependent relative pensioners, ISL
navy invalid pensioners, 124 navy Wild
wv and dependent relative pensioners,
1901 survivors of the war of 1912, and
3105 widows of soldiers of that wal, ma
king a gross addition to the rolls of 3d.
1888 new pensiOnersin the last fiscal wear,
The losses to the rolls by death, re-en-
lstment, recovery from disability of
invalid pensioners, of failure to claim
payment of pension for three years, are
1881; by death or marriage of widows
and dependent relatives, expiration of
minors pensions OF failure to claim pay
ment of pension for three a 6097 F.;
10y death of the survivors of the war of
1872, 604 by death of the widows of SOL
diers of said war, 1872; atotalloss of 91O4.
The gross additions to the rolls 1888,
less the total loss 9,104, gives q net gain
of q, 734 pensioners for the year, which,
added to the rolls of 1871, make thetotal
number of pensioners of all classes, June
80, 1872, 232,229. In addition, therehave
been increased the pensions of 5,116 ar
my invalids, 68 navy invalids, 800 army
widows and minors, and6 navy widows,
a total of 5,4S0, involving atotai increase
to annual amount of the pension roll of
S2l1,5S7 So per annum. This increases
the total annual amount of pensions in
the sum of SO, 675,5 83 II, making the to-
tai amount of all pensions upon the rolls
June 30, 1872, $25,480,57s. The amounts
appropriated for the payment of pen
slons during the fiscal year were for ar
my pensions, $28, 550, 060I for survivors
of the war of 1912, $4,000, 000y for navy
pensions, 100000. The unexpeuded
balances in the hands of pension agents
We're: Army $984,5s2 So; navy, $25, 500
81, which amounts have been recovered
into the Treasury. The appropriations
for the present fiscal year are: Army,
SG30yO60,Q00; navy, $780, 600, under the acts
Of June II and so, 1870. At the close of
the last fiscal year there hadbeenissued
ITO communication orders in lieu Of arti-
fetal limbs furnished in kind. There
were issued also $50 continuation or
ders, amounting to $2115Q, and 396 bills
have been approved for limbs furnished
in kind, amounting to pea 1905. The to-
tai number of claims allowed thus far is
Ds0s.
The last remaining four of the widows
of revolutionary soldiers aFe slowly, but
surely, decreasing. The number OF wild
ows of the war Of 1912, on June so, 1868
was 888; June 30, 1869, 887; June 80, 1870
7727; June 80, 1871, ga; June3 /, 1871, SIS
Efforts have beeIrmade to collect in
formation relative to the supposed sur
Viyors, that a gegister of their names
residences, condition, ages. and dates oil
death might b eprepared, and Continued
until the last shall have passed away
Circulars have been sent to the post.
masters at their places of residence, anG
to other parties from whominformatioI
could be obtained. OF these circulars
554 have been returned, 20 without sat.
isfactory reports, and 531 with the full
information sought. OF these, 381 were
reported rs living and 150ashaving dice
sinee Jan, i 1870,