, 1874-11-18
WASHlNGT{
Annual Report Of The - missioner
Of Ponsione%s
History Of the Weather Bureau for
the Past Year.
How a Post-0ffice. Official Lent His
Pass and Lost His Office.
Rumors Of Cabinet Changes.

Rumors Of Cabinet Changes.
PENSIONS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE co1IftteBroyEn
ashtnqton tyou. l6> Dpdtch 10 the Stw FORK 1Ytnes
Gon. ]. II. Dalor, Commlsaioncr Of Pensions,
uudor dato Of Oct. 15t 1874, bus submitted hn
an:aal report to tho Secretary Of tho Interior.
During tho yoar, 6,758 new applications for army
invalid pensions wore allowed, at all aggregate
annual ratio Of $39, ,332.50; The pensions Of 8,0G3
pensioners Of thiB class woro Increased at III ag-
Kregate annual ratio Of &41G, ,257.50; tho losses
to this roll from death aud other caslBea wero
6,105 whoso pensions. with the amount Of re-
duction Of the rates Of other invalid pensions,
aggregated $s77, ,452.55 annually.
THE ARMY pENsIoN-no1L.
On the Goth of Juno, 1874. til ,re wcre 102, ,457
army invalid pensioners Oh the roll. Tho nggre-
gate annual pay OF this claaS waH $40 058, ST.
Tho increase IN tho number Of this class waa
$685. and tho aggregate increase OF pensions
WAS 9481 1916. During tho year, 9,051 pew
rens,ons for army widows and dependent re1a-
tivos wore allowed, at IN aggregate annual rate
Of $1le.d99. aud tue pensions of IL, 2,o32 ponsion-
ora Of this class were Increased at an aggregate
annual ratio OF S403, 111.22 Thoro woro stricken
from the roll Of this olass Of pensioners, 1923
names. whose pousous aggregated 81, ,250, 119.05.
On the 80th Of June, 1874, there were on tho roll
Of army widowH aud dependent relatives 107, SIC
names. at an aggregate annual rate OF $13, 3,5s7,-
1850, tho decrease for tho year being 4,572
names, aud tho decroaso of pensions Of tuis class
being $424, ,5G8.03.
THE NAvT pRNR1oN-Ro1I.
On the Both Of juno thero were ,55l navy in
valid pensioners, at an aggregate annual ratio Of
S169, ,4o2t IN increase In tho yoar OF 121 in tho
lumber OF pensioners. and SIS, J5a rs in the nn
nual rate Of pensions Of this class, On tho G0th
OF June there wero !, TBS pensincra On tue navy
roll OF widows and dependent relatives, ut total
Kate Of $287, 7,53i, an increase for the year Of 15
iu the number Of names, and $6,084 in the rate
TIE VETERANS OF 1872.
The names Of 571 new pensioners wore added
to tho roll Of tho survivors Of tho war Of 1879,
aud 1.217 ct this class were lost BY DEATH leaving
on tho 30lh Of June 17,G20 pensioners Of this
ereaso for tho year Of GIG in the number of pen
aionors and $62,0Gl In the rate of pensions Of
this claAs. The na,noa Of 8l3 widows of soldiers
OF tho WIT Of 1872 wero added to the roll, and
654 wore lost by death during TINT period, leav-
Ing On the Goth of June 5,312 penaionorH Of this
clnBs-~nn incl enEe for the ynar OF $50 in tho
number Of pensioners and $24 1861 in tho rate OF
pensions.
WIDOWS OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
on tho 30th Of June, i874. was 236, 241, q DO
creaso Of 2.170 during the yoar; the aggregate
annual ratio OF pensions Of all classes Oh Juno so
WAS SIC. .254, 10, q decroaso from the preccd-
ing year Of $5,645.13. Tho roll contains tic
namcs Of 40 widows OF soldiers in the ReYolu-
tionary War.
Certain specific increases allowed to invalid
Pensioners, by laws passed at tue last session Of
Congress. and the steady increase in tho number
on the invalid .pension-roll, will probably bring
tho disbursements to tnvads for tho present fia-
cal year up to those Of last year but IN tho pay-
monts to widows, minors, dc., q reduction may
reasonably be expected.
BoUNrY-LANp WAnnANTB AND CLAIMS.
During tho year 234 claims for bountg-land
warrants wore allowed, the warrants calling for
35, GAO acres OF land. Tho number Of npplicu-
tione for bounty-lands received during the year
WIS 529. Thero are now upon the suspended files
ty-la,lds. or this number $50 cases wore prose-
cutod during tho year. The existence Of susnond-
cd claims is temptation to unscrupulous agents
to fabricato Testimony with view to obtaining
existing known evidence. Tho last act Of Con-
gress granting bounty-lands haa boon in force
fur twenty years, q sufficient time for all those
who arc entitled to itH benefits 10 avail thom-
selves Of It's provisions. It would therefore, in
tho opinion Of tho Commissioner, be consistent
with Justice, and for the intorost Of the Govern
mont, that q limit should be put by Congress to
tic period during which tho various acts grant
ing bou0tv-lhEda shall continue in f0rco.
TENSION FRAUDS.
During the Inst fiscal year tho Special Service
Division has performed important service iu lte
detection and prevention of frAud in tue prose-
oution Of claims for pensions. Claims waro in
yestigated By this division numbering 1,2GS, and
during the year thirteen persona wero convicted
Of violation OF tho Inv relative to tho prosecution
Of claims, aud live awaited triai at tho close of
the gear.
THE MEDICAL DIVISION.
An account il given in tho report OF tho sor-
vices OF tho medical division OF the Office, and
tho Commissioner says tlore Gun DO no doubt
TINT IL higher fees were paid to examining sur
geons, better intent wonld be at tie command
Ut this branch of the service, aud. who mora
exact Justice would be dDne to individual peu-
aioner5, saving to the Government would be
effected. 1Io therefore recommends TINT by
proper Legislation the fee for ordinary e1amna-
tions. and certificates therefor, be fixed at 53
and that in all cases requiring Apecinl skill and
the uBo Of instruments tho foe DO fixed at 50.
THE AMOUNT OF APPROPRIATION
that will be required for the pousion servce dur.
ing the fiscal year ol'tllng June 30 1876, will be
$50, SOC, 900.
HlsK or DESTRUCTION or THE RECORDS DY FIRE.
Tho Commissioner would again respectfully
call tho attention OF tho Secretary OF tho Interior
to the danger Of destruction by fire to which the
rocorda at thta otco arc ltahle in consequence Ut
thB exposure of tho Heaton House to Bllch m
accideut. Congress should be reminded OF tue
greAt risk to wnIch these valuable records are
exposed, to tile oud tEaE q more suitable build
ing bu provided for thu uBe of tho Office