Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-03

widows of soldiers of 1912 were added to the
roll and 554 were lost by death during that
period leaving on the seth of June 5,3l2 pen
sioners of this class-an increase for the year
of 259 in the number OF pensioners and S24,-
SAG in the rate OF pensions.
The total number of pensioners of all
classes on the 30th of June, 1874, was $50, PAL,
decrease Of 2, ITO during the year; the ag-
gregate annual rate of pensions of all classes
on June 80 was $40, 254. OIL TO- a decrease
from the preceding year of S5,64513. The
roll contains the names of 40 widows and
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 in the
number on the invalid roll, will probably
bring the disbursements to invalids for the
present fiscal year up to those of last year !;
but in the payments to widows, minors, etc,
a reduction may reasonably be expected. -
During the year 234 claims for bounty land
warrapts were allowed, the warrants calling
for 80. $40 acres of land. The number of an
plications for bounty lands received durin,
the year was 529. there are now upon the
suspended files of the Office nearly 100. 900
applications for bounty lands OF this num-
Der $50 cases were prosecuted during the
year. The existence of suspended claims is
temptation to INSCRIPTIONS agents to
fabricate testimony with view to obtaining
the allowance of claims not admissible 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 who are entitled to it's benefits to
avail themselves of its provisions. 1t would,
therefore, in the opinion of the Commissioner,
be consistent with justice, and for the inter
est of the government, that limit should be
put by Congress to the period during which
the various acts granting bounty lands shall
remain in force
During the last fiscal year the special serv-
ice 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 1928, and during the year IS
persons were convicted Of violation of the
law relative to the prosecution of claims,
and five awaited trial at the close Of the
year.
An account is given in The report Of the
service of the medical division of the Office,
and the Commissioner says there can be no
doubt that if higher fees were paid to Exam
iEing Surgeons, better talent would be at the
command Of this branch of the service,
and, while more exact justice would be
done to individual pensioners, q saving to
the government would be effected. He
therefore recommends that by proper legisla-
ton the fee for ordinary examinations, and
certificates therefor, be fixed at 50, and that
III HI cases requiring specldi Skill anu the use
of instruments, the fee lie fixed at SIS.
The amount of appropriations that will be
required for the pension service during the
fiscal wear ending June 80, 1876, will be $780,,
SOC, 1000.
The Commissioner would again respectfully
call the attention of the Secretary of the In
terror to the danger of destruction by fire to
which the records of this Office are liable in
consequence Of the exposure of the Seaton
House to such An accident COnpraes ahOuld
be reminded of the great risk to which these
valuable records are exposed, to the end that
more suitable building be provided for the
use of this office.