Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/68

748 at the close of the preceding fiscal year, 232,229, gives a grand total of 238,411 pensioners of the United States on the 30th of June, 1873, classified as follows:

Besides the increase to the annual amount of pension attendant upon the above addition of new pensioners to the rolls, the pensions of 20,946 Army invalids have been increased to the amount of $920,930.35 per annum; 239 Navy invalids to the amount of $11,066 per annum; 545 Army widows and minors to the amount of $20 106.07 per annum, and 81 Navy widows and minors to the amount of $1,500 per annum an aggregate of 21,761 pensions increased, and an increase in the annual amount of pension by this increase of rate of former pensioners of $953,605.02 per annum.

The greatest increase in rates has been in the invalid classes, under the act of June 8, 1872, whereby the pensions of those specifically or extremely disabled pensioners then receiving $15, $20, and $25 per month, were increased to $18, 824, and $31.25 per month respectively. Under the provisions of this act, 15,505 Army and 180 Navy pensions were increased to the aggregate amount of $598,254.25

The annual amount of the pensions of the Army invalid pensioners has increased since June 30 1872, from $8,611,854.91 to $9,§27,240.09, while the annual amount of the pensions of Army widows and dependent relatives has fallen from $14,530,778.39 to $13,962 764.39.

The annual amount of the pensions of Navy invalids has increased trom $136,545.30 to $150,537.75; of Navy widows and dependent relatives from $269,208 to $280 550; of survivors of the war of 1812, from $1,641,600 to $1,753,536; and of widows of soldiers of the war of 1812, from $290,592 to $484,656.

The great increase in the annual amount of the Army invalid pension, $1,015,385.18, is partially counterbalanced by the falling off in the annual amount of Army widows and dependent-relatives' pension of $568,014; but the stlll existing increase of $447,371.18 is raised by the increase in amount of Navy invalid pension, $13,992.45; of Navy widows, &c., $11,342; of survivors of the war of 1812, $111,936; of widows of soldiers of the war of 1812, $194,064, to an aggregate increase of $778,705.63 over the annual amount of J une 30, 1872, ($25,4-80,578.80,) making the total annual amount of all pensions June 30, 1873 $26,259,284.43. But, as will be seen in the proper statement, the total disbursements on account of pensions for the fiscal year was $29,185,289.62, including the salaries and commissions paid to agents, fees to examining surgeons, commutations for artificial limbs. and expenses of the agencies.

The Army invalid roll has increased from 95 405 June 30, 1872, to 99,804 June 30, 1873; the Navy widows and dependent relatives from