Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/67

Rh provision was made for a reservation for said Indians. The treaty, however, was never ratiiied, and, to secure to them the reservation, an Executive order was issued November 9, 1855, setting the some apart for Indian purposes. These Indians are well advanced in civilization, and enrnestly desire allotments, with patents for the same. Congress shouldtherefore provide for the allotment of their lands and the issue of patents to such of said Indians as desire to cultivate the soil.

Much inconvenience is caused by the want of an official seal for the purpose of certifying copies of files and records frequently called for as evidence in the civil courts. As it is, the seal of the Department has to be used for the purpose of certifying to the official character of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. I therefore recommend that Congress authorize the use of a seal by this office, and provide that papers authenticated therewith shall have the same validity as in case of the use of a seal by other bureaus.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, EDW. P. SMITH, Commissioner. The Hon.

, Pension Office, Washington, D. C., November —, 1873.
 * I have the honor to submit the following region of the tranactions of this Bureau for the year ending June, 1873:

There have been added to the pension-rolls during the past year, by the allowance of original claims, 6,422 Army invalid pensioners 5 3,949 Army widow and dependent relative pensioners; 129 Navy invalid pensioners; 124 Navy widow and dependent relntive pensioners; and, pensioned under the act of February 14, 1871, 3,186 survivors, and 2,242 widows of soldiers of the war of 1812. By restoration, under section 3, act of July, 27, 1868, 233 Army invalids; 59 widows and dependent relatives; 1 Navy invalid and 2 Navy widows and minors. By restoration, for incidental causes, 18 Army invalids; 14 Army widows and dependent relatives; 4 Navy widows; 16 survivors of the war of 1812, and 6 widows of soldiers of the war of 1812—making, in all, an addition of 16,405 new pensioners.

The losses have been to the invalid roll by death, recovery from disability, and failure to claim pension for three years, as required by section 3 act of July 27, 1868, 2,423; to the widows and dependent relatives' roll by death, remarriage of widows and mothers, expiration of minors' pensions, and failure to claim within three years, 5,542; to the war-of-1812 roll by death, soldiers, 2,036; widows, 222—making a total loss from all causes of 10,223 pensioners.

The additions, 16,405—less the losses, 10,223—give a net gain of all classes of pensions of 6,182. This, added to the number on the rolls