Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1878.djvu/27

Rh and that much complaint continues to be made against the Union Pacific Railroad Company for non-compliance with the requirements of law in this respect, it is hoped that the whole subject will receive early consideration by Congress, so that some final settlement of those difficulties may be had.

The report of the government directors of the Union Pacific Railroad Company has not yet been received, but it is understood that it will be shortly made, and will be laid before Congress during the present session.

The number of unsettled pension claims of all classes at the beginning of the year was 91,444, of which 49,369 were original Army invalid claims, 5,610 invalid increase; 32,969 original widows, dependent relations, and minors, 907 widows increase; 1,053 original Navy invalid, 65 invalid increase; 485 original widows, dependent relations, and minors, 1 widow increase; 448 survivors War of 1812, and 537 widows.

During the year there were 67,218 new pension claims of all classes filed, of which 18,812 were original Army invalid, 21,915 invalid increase; 6,661 original widows, dependent relations, and minors, 516 widows increase; 300 original Navy invalid, 182 invalid increase; 131 original widows, dependent relations, and minors, 14 widows increase; 2,789 survivors War of 1812, and 15,898 widows. There were filed in addition 291 claims for bounty land warrants. Besides these, 5,095 claims of the several classes which had been rejected were reopened for further consideration.

Of the new claims, 18,240 were under the act of March 9, 1878.

During the year, 43,370 pension claims of the various classes and 394 claims for bounty land warrants were settled.

The whole number of unsettled pension claims at the close of the year was 120,387.

As shown by an actual count in all the agencies, there were at the beginning of the year 226,643 pensioners on the rolls. At the close of the year there were on the rolls 223,998 pensioners, a decrease of 2,645.

Owing to the large number of 1812 claims, which will be settled within the year, it is probable that there will be a considerable increase in the number of pensioners during the current year.

The amount appropriated for pensions for the year ending June 30, 1878, exclusive of surgeons' fees and the salaries and fees of the agents for paying pensions, was $27,850,000, of which $26,530,792.10 were disbursed for pensions, leaving unexpended $1,319,207.90.

For a more particular statistical account of the transactions of the Pension Bureau, reference is made to the Commissioner's annual report.

The special service division of the office investigated during the year 1,830 cases, resulting in a total saving to the government, by dropping