of 24,734 pensioners to the rolls during the year. These added to the number on the rolls June 30, 1871, 207,495, make the total number of pensioners of all classes June 30, 1872, 232,229, classified as follows: In addition, there have been increased the pensions of 5,116 Army inva lids to the amount of $261,165.50 per annum. Sixty-eight Navy invalids to the amount of $3,915 per annum. Two hundred and ninety Army widows and minors to the amount of $15,853.35, and six Navy widows to the amount of $654 per annum. A total of 5,480 pensions increased, and a total increase to the annual amount of the pension-roll of $281,587.85 per annum. The annual amount of Army invalid pensions has been increased from $8,266,969.10, June 30, 1871, to $8,611,854.91; the annual amount of Navy invalid pensions from $125,233.25 to $136,545.50; of Army widows and dependent relatives from $14,212,551.19 to $14,530,778.39; of Navy widows and dependent relatives from $257,682 to 8269,208; of survivors of the war of 1812 from $67,792 to $1,641,600; of widows of soldiers of same, from $4,224 to $290,592; thus increasing the total annual amount of all pensions, June 30, 1871, ($22,804,994.29,) by the amount of $2,675,583.71, making the total annual amount of all pensions upon the roll, June 30, 1872, $25,480,578. The total amount, however, of the expenditures for all pension purposes for the fiscal year, as elsewhere shown, was $30,169,341, the difference between these sums being mostly the aggregate of arrearages upon pensions granted during the year, and including the salaries and commissions paid to agents, fees to ex-surgeons, and for artificial limbs, and expenses of the agencies. INCREASE AND LOSS. The roll of Army invalid pensions has increased from 91,290 June 30, 1871, to 95,405, June 30, 1872; of Army widows and dependent relatives from 112,428 to 113,518; of Navy invalid pensions from 1,377 to 1,449; of Navy widows and dependent relatives from 1,673 to 1,730; of sur vivors of the war of 1812, from GS3 to 17,100; and the widows of the soldiers of the war of 1812 from 44 to 3,027. Total June 30, 1871.. Net increase... 207,495 232, 229 24,734 There have been dropped from the invalid rolls, from a variety of causes, a total of 2,281 pensioners. From the widows and dependent relatives' roll by death, 805; by remarriage, 1,462; by children reaching the age of sixteen years, by failure to claim pension for three years, and other causes not reported, 4,230. Total, 6,097. From the roll of survivors of the war of 1812 by death, 604; widows of soldiers of the war of 1812 by death, 122. Total, 726. Grand total dropped from all causes, 9,104. TABULAR STATEMENT OF THE GAINS, LOSSES, AND EXPENDITURES. Below is a tabular statement of these gains and losses during the past year, together with net gain of expenditures. The following comparative statement will exhibit the number of all pensioners, together with the annual and total amount of expenditures for the years 1871 and 1872: 604 122 726 19, 400 69,696 00 1,862, 400 00 The amount appropriated for the payment of Army pensions other than those of War of 1812, for the year ended June 30, 1872, was $28,550,000. The amount disbursed is as follows: To invalids $10, 145, 145 49 To widows and dependent relatives, including the cost of disbursement of Army pensions 17, 266, 156 62 27, 411, 302 11 Total. The amount appropriated for pensions to survivors of the war of 1812 was $4,500,000 The amount paid is as follows: To survivors To widows of soldiers Total...... The amount appropriated for Navy pensioners was $500,000. The amount disbursed to invalid pensioners, including the cost of dis bursement of Navy pensions, was.. To widows.. $1,987, 415 84 335, 933 63 2,323, 409 47 $149,442 85 295,186 57 444, 629 42 $33,050, 000 00 29,724, 711 55 3,325, 288 4 $500,000 00 444, 629 42 55,370 58 $33, 550, 000 00 30, 169, 341 00 3,380, 659 00 Of the unexpended balance of the Army appropriation, there was in the hands of the pension-agents June 30, 1872, $984,582.36. (See Table D, appendix.) Of the unexpended balance of the Navy appropriation, there was in the hands of the pension-agents June 30, 1872, $25,669.57. (See Table H, appendix.) These sums have, under the act of July 12, 1870, been covered into the Treasury. The appropriations for the present fiscal year are: $30,000, 000 00 480,000 00 Heretofore, appropriations have been for each class of pensions, as "invalids," "widows," &c., specifically. Appropriations for one class could not, under the law, be used to meet a deficiency in another. Such distinction being unnecessary, and under the act of July 12, 1870, liable to embarrass the annual settlement of the accounts, the appropriations for the present year were, at the suggestion of this Office, made under two heads only, to wit: "For Army pensions" and "For Navy pensions.” NUMBER OF CLAIMS FOR PENSION ARISING FROM THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, FILED IN THE PENSION-OFFICE UP TO JUNE 30, 1872, WITH THE NUMBER ALLOWED, REJECTED, AND UNADJUDICATED AT THAT DATE. An exhibit is given below of the number of claims for pension presented to this Office since June 30, 1861, for wounds or injuries received, disease contracted in or death resulting from service in the war of the rebellion, together with the number of each class of claims allowed during each fiscal year. The number of claims filed during each year will be of interest in showing the increase in the several classes yearly, till a maximum was reached, with the irregular diminution since, which, while not sufficiently gradual or regular to form a basis for a reliable estimate of the number yet to be presented, will indicate the extent and duration of the work in this Office in adjudicating those claims, and the yearly demands upon the Treasury. It will be observed that the exhibit begins contemporaneous with the war of the rebellion. Year ended June No. of applications No. of claims al- No. of applications No. of claims alfiled. lowed. 30. lowed. filed. Invalids. Widows. Invalids. Widows. Invalids. Widows. Invalids. Widows. Number allowed Total number of Army widow and dependent relatives' pension claims filed.. 204, 200 Number rejected 158,651 174,553 Total number of Navy widow and dependent relatives' pension claims filed.. 2,820 Number allowed. Number rejected Number now pending...... 1,976 219 2, 195 625 The maximum of invalid claims filed was reached in 1866, immediately upon the close of the war. During the next year but 44 per cent., and the year succeeding but 20 per cent., of the number filed in 1866, were presented. Had this ratio of decrease continued, the claims would have been speedily exhausted; but in 1869 the percentage increased to 30 of the maximum year, and further increased to 36 per cent. in 1870. In 1871 and 1872 the number filed were equal to 24 per cent. of the maximum year. The claims presented during and immediately after the close of the war were chiefly for wounds or injuries received or disease which disabled the soldier from returning to his accustomed vocation in civil life; while those made in later years are largely on account of disease which developed to a disabling extent some time after his return from the Army, and are of somewhat doubtful origin. Of 2,688,523 soldiers serving in the war, it will be seen that but 176,000, or but little over 6 per cent., have yet made claim for im paired health or disability resulting from their period of service. With so large a number yet possibly to be heard from, it is but reasonable to suppose that claims varying from 50 to 100 per cent. of the number presented during the past year will be made yearly for several years to come. The maximum of widows, minors, and dependent relatives' claims was reached in 1865, and the ratio of decrease since then has been exceedingly regular. The percentage of the maximum number filed in 1866 was 64; in 1867, 45; in 1868, 29; in 1869, 32; in 1870, 25; in 1871, 20; and in 1872, 15 per cent. The increase to 32 per cent. in 1869, from 29 per cent. in 1868, is due, undoubtedly, very much to the liberal provisions of the act of July 27, 1868, granting a separate pension to the minors of a deceased soldier by a former wife. This ratio of decrease will probably continue until about 50 per cent. of the number of the past year's applications have been reached. There it will probably remain for several years to come. Claims of this class existing at the close of the war, or arising soon after, are be lieved to be already nearly exhausted, and the further supply will depend upon the more recent death of soldiers leaving widows surviving,. or the remarriage of widows who have minor children entitled to sueceed to the pension. Advancing years and increasing infirmities also lead many parents who lost sons in the service to make claim for the benefits of the law granting pensions to dependent fathers and mothers. A large per centage of these claims will be rejected by reason of the inability of the claimants to establish actual dependence prior to death of sons. Attention is here invited to Table I in the appendix, showing the uumber of pensioners, with the amount paid for pensions each year, from 1791 to 1872. This table has been prepared with much care after great research, and is as accurate as the records and material in possession of the Office will permit. It will be seen by this, that the amount paid for pensions increased rapidly from 1863 to 1869, when the maximum 828,445,089.09, resulting from the war of the rebellion, was apparently reached. In 1870, the amount fell to $27,780.811.81. In 1871, the amount paid was $33,077,383,63, but, as explained in my report of last year, this, by the operation of the act of July 8, 1870, making pensions |