Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/71

Rh The appropriations for the present fiscal year are as follows:

These appropriations would have been amply sufficient had no additional expenditure been imposed by new legislation. The act of March 3, 1873, by extending the provision for $2 per month additional pension of act of July 25, 1866, to the children of officers and to single minors of privates, will increase very materially the amount paid to widow and minor pensioners, especially during the present fiscal year, as, upon the re-adjustment of the pension, arrears of increase from July 25, 1866, (or from commencement of original pension if subsequent to July 25, 1866,) are allowed. (The extent of this increase cannot be accurately estimated, but up to October 1, 1873, over eight thousand claims have been filed.)

By providing for the intermediate grades of $12, $13, $14, &c., for certain classes of invalid pensioners now receiving but $8, a further unexpected demand has been made upon the fund.

It is possible that the appropriation for "Army pensions" may be found sudicient, but the extremely small balance of the "Navy pension" appropriation remaining unexpended at the close of the past fiscal year indicates that with these new demands upon an appropriation of like amount for the present year it may be found insufficient.

Number of claims or pension arising from the war of the rebellion filed in the Pension-Office up to June 30, 1873, with the number allowed,rejected, and unadjudicated at that date.

A tabular statement was prepared for the last annual report from this office, showing the number of claims filed and allowed during each fiscal year since June 30, 1861 for wounds or injuries received, disease contracted in, or death resulting from, service in the war of the rebellion. The same statement is reproduced below, brought down to J une 30, 187 3.