National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-25
ANATI6S'S DELIVERIES.
tconfiaaed frow Pint Psas.l

taiis for service as L sgsau s.s made iron
the clerical force Of this oa... whisn -.snt Work
quate for the performance Of the cu.- :
within the otice. Any large detail unaer me
practicable. Under the present system, and
owing to the limited appropriation Tor the service
not more than thirteen agents have pee9 regu,
larry employed, and these have been driven 70
A large number Of claims are now held for In
vestigat which It has been impossible to order
owing to the insuficiency OF the force employed.
Some Of these have been held for this purpose Tor
the past two years, during which time the eismor
iIl-feeling has been engendered By the delay.
1t is earnestly recommended that the attention
of Congress be directed to the necessity OF Q re-
ORGANIZATION Of the special service Of this bureau
upon basis similar to that Of the Post Once and
Treasury Departments, providing for the ap.
least thirty in number, az stated annual salary
and liberal allowance per diem for subsistence,
in addition to their actual travelling expenses:
The present system permitting the detail Of
clerks Of this office for this special duty should
be retained, 80 that such details should be made
when practicable and necessary, should the num-
Der Of regular agents be found inadequate to per-
form the service required.
Owing to the fact that the dement's Of the PEN
ECHOES Sfths SopDtrV and that there is
so little publicity In the manner of payment OF
pension, violations Of the law in the majority Of
cer until after the expiration Of the time within
which the guilty parties may be prosecuted.
1t is uggested that the limitation should be ex-
tended to i've years, as provided In cases arising
If Congress would authorize the publication Of
a printed list of pensioners residing In each
the post Office Of the shire-town or courthouse,
for instance-with request that persons having
be entitled to pension would report the name to
this office, It would result in bringing promptly 70
notice many cases Of fraud which otherwise would
remain undiscovered.
During the past fiscal year, in addition to the
applications for pension and bounty land, the num-
Der Of which has already been stated herein,
War Department (Adjutant and Surgeon Gen
erals ottices) relative to service Of soldiers and
their treatment in hospital Is, 900 communications
81, 900 pieces Of additional evidence from other
than official sources, and q, 400 examining sur
geons certificates in original and increase claims
The value OF postage stamps used during the
year was $4,000, an average of as per day.
sEAToN HOUSE.
The objections to the occupancy of the Seaton
house for the transaction Of business and as re-
posftory Of the valuable records and files OF this
office have been annually stated by my predeces-
sor, and have been so forcibly brought to the at
tsntiSn Of congress through the snnuai rsports Of
ther comment here. They still exist, even In an
increased degree.
has been held, expired on the 10th day Of August
last, and Il is now held under condition or that
lease, which provides for further occupancy from
year TO year. as may be necessary, at the same
yearly rental tslO 000) is therein provided. Ef
fort was made before the expiration Of the four
years to rent more suitable building, but none
ire proof and Of sufficient capacity could be found.
1t is earnestly desired that Congress be again
urged to provide for a building better adapted for
the purposes Of public office.
INCREASE OF CLERICAL FORCE.
Owing TO the lapse of time since the service was
rendered which gives title to pension in the
greater number Of the claims presented for con-
sideration, the consequently increased diticulty
in obtaining reliable evidence In support thereof
and the many complications which time has
wrought in the disabilities Of claimants rendering
their claims more intricate and difficult Of adjudi
icaton, the duties and responsibilities Of the cer
tcal force Of this office are steadily augmented.
Though every effort has been made 70 promptly
dispose or the current work Of the office, delays
have occurred which have occasioned much CON-
plant throughout the country, but which, with the
force now allowed by law, could not possibly have
been avoided. have, therefore, to recommend
that the present force Of this office be increased
by ten clerks Of class four ten Of class three and
BY four assistant messengers, two watchmen and
four laborers, at S720 each per annum, and that
some plan Of Reorganization be applied TO the
bureau which will insure higher rates OF salary TO
those clerks employed in its most responsible