The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-12-03
pensions for army widows and dependent

L
relatives were allowed, at an aggregate
annual rate of sic, 433, and the pensions
of 1882 pensioners of this class were
increased at an aggregate annual rate of
$4O3, lll.22. There were stricken from
the roll of this class of pensioners 1923
names, whose pensions aggregated ST.
ESQ, 1905. On the 3Oth Of June. 1874.
there were on the roll of army widows
and dependent relatives 1O7,5i6 names,
at an aggregate annual rate of $13,537,-
1858 the increase for the year being
1872 names, and the decrease of pensions
of this class Icing $424, 56SO3.
On the 3Oth of June there were 1,5J1
navy invalid pensioners, at an aggregate
annual rate of $169, 492, an increase in
the year of 121 in the number of pen
sioners, and SIS, 95425 in the annual rate
of pensions of this class. On the 3Oth of
June there were 1876 pensioners on the
navy roll of widows and dependent rela-
tivcs, at total rate of $2S7 ,534, an in
crease for the year of Is in the number
of names, and $6,9S4 in the rate of pen
sions.
The names of 81 new pensioners were
added to the roll of survivors of the war
of 1912, and 1917 of this class were lost
by death, leaving on the Both of June
1880 pensioners of this class at total
annual rate of 81 ,691, 52O-a decrease for
the year of GAG in the number of pen
sioners and $62 ,0j1 in the rate of pen
sions of this class. The names of Sl3
widows of soldiers of the war of 1912
were added to the roll, and 554 were lost
by death during that period, leaving on
the Both of June 5,3l2 pensioners of this
class-an increase for the year of $50 in
the number of pensioners and $24,S64 in
the rate of pensions.
The total number of pensioners of all
classes ON the Both of June, 1874, was
PIG, 241, II decrease of 2,17O during the
year; the aggregate annual rate of pen
sions of all classes on June 30 was $780,
254 ,O71.16, a decrease from the preceding
year of $5,645.13. The roll contains the
names of 4l0 widows of soldiers in the
Revolutionary war.
Certain specific increases allowed to
invalid pensioners by laws passed at the
last session of Congress, and the steady
increase of the number on the invalid
pension roll, will probably bring the dis
fiscal year up to those of last year; but
in the payments to widows, minors, etc. :,
reduction may reasonably be expected.
During the year 234 claims for bounty
land warrants were allowed, the warrants
calling for $3.50 acres of land. The
number of applications for bounty lands
received during the year was 529. There
are now upon the suspended files of the
office nearly 100000 applications for
bounty lands. OF this number $50 cases
were prosecuted during the year. The
existence of suspended claims is a
temptation to INSCRIPTIONS agents to
fabricate testimony with view to Oh
tanning the allowance of claims not adj
Missile upon existing known evidence.
The last act of Congress granting bounty
lands has been in force for twenty
years, a sufficient time for all those " no
are entitled to the benefits to avail them
selves of its provisions. 1t would, there
fore, in the opinion of the Commissioner,
be consistent with justice, and for the in
terest of the Government, that limit
should be put by Congress to the period
during which the various acts granting
bounty lands should continue in force.
During the last fiscal year the Special
Service Division has performed important
service in the detection and prevention
of fraud in the prosecution of claims for
pensions. Claims were investigated by
this division numbering 1868, and during
the year thirteen persons were convicted
of violation of the law relative to the
prosecution of claims, and five awaited
trial at the close of the year.
The amount of appropriation that will
be required for the pension service dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876,
will be $50, 100000.