The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-27
The Pension Bureau Report.

During the past fiscal year the increase of
the pension rolls has been greater than for any
year since that ending June 80. 1867. Ry the
allowance of new claims there has been added
to the rolls 63l7 army invalid pensioners, 712O
army widow and dependent relative pension
ers, 151 navy invalid pensioners, 124 navy
widow and dependent relative pensioners, IT,
OIL survivors of the war of 1872, and 31O5
widows of soldiers of that war, making gross
addition to the rolls of 81, S3S new pensioners in
the last fiscal year. The losses to the rolls by
death, re-enlistment recovery from disability
of invalid pensioners, or failure to claim pay
ment of pension for three years, 22S1; by death
or marriage of widows and dependant relatives
expiration of minors pensions, or failure to
claim payment of pension for three years, GO97 A.:
by death of survivors of the war of 1912, 604; by
death of widows of soldiers of the late war, 122;
a total loss of 9,104. The gross addition to the
rolls, $685. less the total loss, 9.104, which
gives net gain of 24,73i pensioners for the
year, which, added to the rolls of 1871, makes
the total number of pensioners of all classes,
June 80, 1872, 1920
In addition there have been increased the
pensions of 5116 army invalids, 6S navy inva-
lids, 290 army widows and minors and navy
widows, total increase of $3.50, involving to-
tai increase to the annual amount of the pen
sion roll of 1921, 5S7.S5 per annum. This in
creases the total amount of all pensions in the
sum of $3.50, 1871 making the total amount
OF all pensions upon the rolls June 30, 1872,
W., 4S0,57S The increase in the number of
pensions for the year was "a, 1874, making the
total number of pensioners June 80, 1872, 232,-
229. The amounts appropriated for the pay
ment of pensions during the last fiscal year
were: for army pensions 1928, $50, 900; for sur
vivors of the war of 1872 So, 100000; for navy
pensions $500000 The unexpended balance in
the hands of pension agents were: army 1884,
582.26; navy So, 669. 81: which amounts have
been recovered into the treasury. The appro-
priations for the present fiscal year are; army
$3O,000,000; navy $4S0,000. Under the acts of
June II and 80, 1870, at the close of the last ifs
cal year, there had been issued 777O commuta-
tion orders in lieu of artificial limbs, and 1913
bills had been approved for limbs furnished in
kind. There were issued, also, 45S commuta-
ton orders, amounting TO $l27, 150 and 1926 bills
have been approved for limbs furnished in kind
amounting to $23,025 The total number Of
claims allowed thus far is $500.
The last remaining few of the widows of revo-
lutionary soldiers are slowly but surely decreaS
ing. The number on June 30, 1868, was 1888;
1865 co7, 1870, Te7j 1871, est 1872, 57S. Efforts
have been made to collect information relative
to the supposed survivors of these pensioners
that a register of their names, residences, con-
dition, age, and date of death might be pre-
pared aud continued until the last shall have
passed away, Circulars have been sent to the
postmasters at their places of residence, and
other parties from whom information could be
obtained. Of these circulars, BOD have been re-
turned, % without satisfactory reports, and ISL
with the full information sought. OF these, 3S1
were reported as living, and the $50 as having
died since January, 1870.