The maximum number of invalid claims tiled during any one year was reached immediately after the close of the war, in 1866, during which year 35,799 were tiled. Since then the percentage of this maximum number, filed during each succeeding fiscal year, down to June 30, 1873, has been as follows:
- In 1867, 44 per cent.
- In 1868, 20 per cent.
- In 1869, 30 per cent.
- In 1870, 36 per cent.
- In 1871, 24 per cent.
- In 1872, 24 per cent.
- In 1873, 21 per cent.
It will be seen by this that applications for original pensions have settled down upon a basis of about 24 per cent. of the maximum year, or about three-tenths of one per cent. of the whole number of soldiers (2,6S8,523) who served in the late rebellion. This-percentage will probably continue, without much diminution, for a period of years. It is probable that, as those who served during the rebellion advance in life, disabilities will develop with many who left the service apparently sound, which they will regard as having originated in the service; but in a large proportion of such cases their claim will not be susceptible of proof.
The maximum number of claims of widows and dependent relatives tiled during apy one year was reached in 1865, during which year 44,464 were filed. he percentage of this maximum number, tiled during each succeeding fiscal year down to June 30, 1873, has been as follows:
- In 1866, 64 per cent.
- In 1867, 45 per cent.
- In 1868, 29 per cent.
- In 1869, 32 per cent.
- In 1870, 25 per cent.
- In 1871, 20 per cent.
- In 1872, 15 per cent.
- In 1873, 15 per cent.
Probably very few claims of widows and orphans of soldiers who died during the war remain to be presented. The claims growing out of the death of a soldier which are now being filed are principally those where death has occurred subsequent to the discharge of the soldier, (in a large proportion of cases the soldier having been in receipt of invalid pension,) and those of dependent relatives.
There is no reason to expect any considerable increase or diminution in the number of such claims which will annually be filed for some years to come.
THE AVERAGE PENSION.
The average pension to each of the following classes of pensioners was, on the 30th June last:
To Army invalids, $96.46 per annum—$8.04 per month.
To Army widows and dependent relatives, $124.56 per annum—$10.38 per month.
To Navy invalids, $105.27 per annum—88.77 per month.
To Navy Widows and dependent relatives, $158.00 per annum—$13.16 per month.
A careful and accurate examination of the entire invalid roll was made to determine the number of different rates paid to invalid pen-
