The Pension Bureau

Commissioner of Pensions Black lias filed with the secretary of the interior his report of the operations of the pension bureau for the fiscal year ended June SO, 18S6. From the report it appears that on June 30 last there were 305, 7S3 pensioners on the rolls, composed of 265,854 army invalids, S0,lö:2 army widows, minor children and dependen t relatives; 2,953 na vy invalids, 1877 widows, minor children, etc. ; 1,53'J survivors of the war of 1812, showing a loss during the year of 1,406 of this class. There weru 13,35)7 widows of soldier of the war of 1S12, showiug a loss duriug the year in this class oí 3,815. Twenty-four original claims were flled in this class during the year; the names of 304 additional widows appearod on the rolls ; 40,857 uew pensioners were added to tho roll during the year; 2,2'iU wero restored to tho rolls ; 22,OS9 pensionors' names were dropped from the roll on account of death, ra-marriage, frauds, etc lea ving a net incrcaso in tho roll of 20,&b5 names. The aunnal average yalue of cach pension was $132.28; a gain of $11. 8s over the average value of the preceding year. The aggregate annual value $44,708,027.44, being an increase in annual value of $0,617,011. 51. The amount paid for pensions during the year was $63,797,831. UI; tho difference in the amount paid and tho annual value representing the accrued and arrearage pensions paid during the year. Since 1S61, 591,102 invalid claims have been iiled, 348,799 claims of widows and dependents, and 78,834 for pension on account of service. During tho same period there have been allowed of tho first class 332,141 claims and of tho second class 229.435: and of all otlier classes, 60,178; making a total of claims ailowed since 1861, 621,764. It will tlnis be seeu tbat nearly one half of all the peusioners whose naines havo been placed upon the rolls have died or their pensions have eeased by reason of arrival at age, re-marriage, otc. One hundred and sixtyone thousand, four hundred and sixteen certiflcates of all kinds, including 79,989 increase certificatos issued to widows and dependents under act of March 19, 1885, were issued during the past year, which, the report says, shows a vast increase in the work of the office. ïhis is espeeially true of the special examination división which, the conimissioner says, has saved the government over $3,000,000. Au attachnd table shows that tuero are in the United States in tho poor houses aboat 9,000 soldiere, of whoin 12 per cent. are pensioners; 86 per cent. non -pensioners; the oldest soldier receiving public support is 103 years of age: the mean age is 57 years; 48 per cent of all tho soldiurs receiving supCort were native bom, 51 per cent foreign orn, 45 per cent were married men, 54 per cent unmarried men, 19 por cent blind or insane. The act increasing the pensions of widows nnd dependeuts from 88 to $12 was approved on the 19th day of March, 1886; on the 4th of June total payments had been made to this class without expense to the beneficiarios. Some 6,C03 of the cases of increaso under the amputation act of Aug. 4, lSijji, have had certificates issued, and the remainder are being disposed of with great rapidity. From Jan. 1, 1801, until Dec. 31, 1885, 1,907 Erivate pension acts have been approved. ince that date 644 such acts have been approved and certificates issued in nearly every case. The commissioner renews his suggestion as to legislation contained in his report of the previous year. Concernirle the Hexican war pensions, be says that the subject of pensions to soldiers of that war is before congress and the people, and that he need not add a word in the way of argument. During the year more thau 2,000,030 letters and packages were received in the office, and it is believed that nearly all of that number have been properly replied to. The amount of expendituros for stationery, printing and binding has been diininished by $13,683 for the past year. Of the appropriations provided for the expenses of the office, $305,963 has been covered into the treasury. The clerical forcé during tho year was diminished by 100. A statement oL the chief clerk is added to the report of the commissioner which Bhows that daring the year of 1884-S5, 54,313 days annual and sick leaves were taken by the employés of the bureau, while for the year 1SS5 Mi, 88,662 days only wero taken, ehowing a net saving of the time of one man for forty-two years, eleven months and four days.