The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-11-27

widows of soldiers of 1919 were added to the
roll. and 554 were lost by death during that
period, leaving on the 3Oth of June 1912 PEN
sioners of this class-an increase Tor the year
OF 259 in the number OF pensioners and S24
$40 in the rate Of pensions. :,
The total number OF pensioners or All
classes on the 3Oth OF June 1874, was 2S6, 24l,
decrease OF 2,170 during the year the ag-
gregato annual rate of pensions OF all classes
on June 80 was $26, 254 OIL 10. decrease
from the preceding year OF 30 6i0. 10. Inc
roll contains the names OF 4lO widows ana
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 invaids for the
present fiscal year up to those OF last year ;
but in the payments to widows, minors, ETC.,
reduction may reasonably be- expected.
During the year 23i claims for bounty land
warrants were allowed, the warrants calling
for 80, $40 acres Of land. The number OF APP
plications for bounty lands received during
the year was $40. there are now upon the
suspended files of the Office nearly 100 900
applications for bounty lands or this num-
Der $50 cases were prosecuted during the
wear. The existence of suspended claims is
temptation to interruptions agents to
fabricate testimony with view to obtaining
existing known evidence. The last act OF
Congress granting bounty lands has been in
force for twenty years, sufficient time for
all those who are entitled to its benefits TO
avail themselves OF it's provisions. 1t would,
therefore, in the opinion OF the Commissioner,
be consistent with justice, and for the inter
est of the government. that a limit should be
put by Congress to the period during which
the various acts granting bounty lands shall
ramain in force
During the last fiscal year the special serv-
ice division has performed important service
in tho detection and prevention OF fraud in
the prosecution of claims for pensions.
Claims were investigated by this division
numbering 1858, aud 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
ming 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, 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 80, and that
in all cases requiring special skill and the use
Of instruments, the fee Le fixed at S.
The amount of appropriations that will be
required for the pension service during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1876, will be $50,
500, 900.
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
n an aaNiHant COnOrpaa ShOnl0
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.