American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-11-23
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Pension Office.

Mr., Bentley, the Commissioner Of PEN
sions has completed his report for the year
ending June 80, 1873.
The number of new claims of all classes
hled during the year was $500. OF these
1S,S12 were original invalid claims, being
more than double the number Of the same
class fled in either of the four years from
1871 to 1874; As many as 1920 were for
service in the war of 1872. One in six only
were the claims of survivors, the balance
being those of widows. Claims to the num-
Der of Az, 764 were settled at an average cost
for salaries of $i0:15 per ease. The average
cost In 1877 was $12 81, and in 1876, Sill.
The saving through the Increased efiicien-
oy OF the office, including the reduction in
the salary appropriation, OF $33.550 In 1877
over 1879, was SlS3, $50, and in 1873 over 1876,
So, 800, was $40, I72. The number of cases
than in ISii, apaa 1873 o. per cent. greater
than in
At Il The year the number
Of pen Ieduced from 5s to
IS. saving - The year $142 900,
making an aggregate saving il the bureau
for The year OF $4s2,I72. Since he CONSOLE
dation the pensions have been paid more
promptly than before. The pay service has
advanced to a high degree of efficiency.
The Commissioner Is of the opinion that the
reduction in the rate Of the agents. compen-
current year can not be maintained without
injury to the service, and some further al
lOwance should be made for their expenses.
On the goth of June. 1868, there We're 223,.
99S pensioners on the rolls, reduction OF
2.645 during the year. 1t is expected that
the number will increase considerably DUR
ing the current year on account of the 1919
pensions.
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was $26,53O, 1872 10. or this amount,
$40 ,90I 80 was retained from the pensioners
and paid to claim agents for their fees. ~
The special Investigation of fraud under
Section 4,144 Revised Statutes, cost $685.
1880, and resulted a in saving of S4sa, 096 IS,
besides the discovery that many claim agents
and other persons were guilty OF violations
Of the Pension law. A considerable mum.
Der of these persons have been convicted
and punished by the courts, and many
others by suspension or permanent prohibit
ton from practice in the Department of the
Interior.
Considerable space is devoted in the re-
port to the cliim.agency system, and to an
explanation of the act of Congress Of June
20, 1878, reducing the claim agents fee from
S25 10 $40, and changing the plan of collec-
fees instead Of having them collected by the
Government through the pension agencies.
The Commission approves of the act, and is
of opinion that it will greatly benefit both
honest claimants and the Government.
The Commissioner reviews his recon-
mendation of last year and the year before
for an entire change in the system Of settling
claims by dividing the country into dis
tricfs, and sending into each district a sur
geon and q skilled clerk to examine the
claimants, and to collect the testimony in
support of the claims. He also renews sew
eral other minor recommendations Of his
last report, and makes the new recommen-
dation that the biennial examinations he dis
pensed with. lie thinks they are no longer
necessary. t-.4,t