Three civil actions for the recovery of pension money fraudulently obtained are pending. One such action was compromised for $985 by direction of the Solicitor of the Treasury. FAMILY DATA CIRCULARS. There were in round numbers 360,000 new family data circulars received and 178,000 of such circulars formerly received in the bureau, all of which had not been filed with their cases. A very large number of clerks were detailed for a few days for that purpose, and all of these circulars were placed with the files of the particular case to which they belonged. Now every document or paper of any kind pertaining to the merits of a particular case is found within the envelope containing the files of that case. This work necessarily took much time, but it achieved a result of great value for the present and for the future. INDORSEMENTS ON PENSION CHECKS. Under orders heretofore issued each one of the more than 700,000 pensioners was required to exhibit his or her certificate each time when the pension check was indorsed. This to most of them meant some trouble and to many, because of feebleness caused by age and sickness, was a very great hardship. It was finally decided by those in charge of the Pension Bureau that this precaution was not necessary to protect the Government. This requirement was therefore waived, and printed notice was sent during the current year to each pensioner, reading as follows: IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY. Desiring to please the pensioners, the Secretary of the Interior, at the request of the Commissioner of Pensions, has directed that from and after July 1, 1916, there shall be omitted from the statement signed by witnesses on the back of the check the following words: "and entitled to payment thereon, and who exhibits to us at this time the pension certificate of the number given." This will save much trouble and annoyance both to the pensioners and the bankers and others who handle pension checks. Hereafter it will not be necessary for you to exhibit your pension certificate to the witnesses when you sign your check. Notify your bank. GUY O. TAYLOR, Disbursing Clerk. LOST CHECKS. Heretofore when the disbursing officer's check for more than $50 was lost, stolen, or destroyed the owner could not secure a duplicate until after the expiration of six months and within three years from the date of such check; where the amount was less than $50, the Secretary of the Treasury might authorize the issuance of a duplicate at any time after the expiration of 30 days and within three years from the date of such check. By the act approved March 21, 1916, amending section 3646 of the Revised Statutes, and the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder, provision is now made for the issuance of a duplicate after the expiration of 30 days from the date of issue of the original, without reference to the amount, an indemnifying bond being required in each case. This legislation relieves the necessities of pensioners who suffer the loss of their checks, and whose pecuniary condition in so many instances makes timely relief proper, without compelling them to wait six months. PHOTOSTAT. A photostat machine, purchased for the bureau at a cost of $610, was installed December 4, 1915, and thereafter during the remainder of the fiscal year copies of documents, aggregating 9,795 photographic sheets, were made. This machine is a most valuable aid, assuring an absolutely correct copy of any document desired, and has demonstrated the wisdom of its purchase in the saving of time and labor and eliminating errors, all of which were involved prior to its installation where copying by typewriter was necessary. A charge of 15 cents is made for each sheet of photographic copies of documents furnished to others under the act of August 24, 1912, and from that source $262.90 was received, which represents but a small portion of the cash value of the work performed by the photostat. CONDITION OF BUSINESS. The business of the bureau is current. There are a large number of claims pending, but that is because of the delay by the claimants who filed them in making the necessary proofs. It is not by reason. of any fault of the bureau. Innumerable are the messages of gratitude that come to us for the promptness with which the bureau disposes of the business committed to its care. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. G. M. SALTZGABER, Commissioner. |