al of the Secretary of the Interior, and the
suggestions contained in said communication were embraced in the bill
that was reported to the House by the Committee on Patents at the last
session. The subject of the reorganization of the Patent Office, as
contemplated by the bill referred to, is one of such importance to the
industrial interests of the country that I commend it to the attention
of Congress.

The Commissioner also treats the subject of the separation of the
Patent Office from the Department of the Interior. This subject is also
embraced in the bill heretofore referred to. The Commissioner complains
of the want of room for the model gallery and for the working force and
necessary files of the office. It is impossible to transact the business
of the office properly without more room in which to arrange files and
drawings, that must be consulted hourly in the transaction of business.
The whole of the Patent Office building will soon be needed, if it is
not already, for the accommodation of the business of the Patent Office.

PENSIONS.

The amount paid for pensions in the last fiscal year was $30,169,340, an
amount larger by $3,708,434 than was paid during the preceding year. Of
this amount $2,313,409 were paid under the act of Congress of February
17, 1871, to survivors of the War of 1812. The annual increase of
pensions by the legislation of Congress has more than kept pace with the
natural yearly losses from the rolls. The act of Congress of June 8,
1872, has added an estimated amount of $750,000 per annum to the rolls,
without increasing the number of pensioners. We can not, therefore, look
for any substantial decrease in the expenditures of this Department for
some time to come, or so long as Congress continues to so change the
rates of pension.

The whole number of soldiers enlisted in the War of the Rebellion was
2,688,523. The total number of claims for invalid pensions is 176,000,
being but 6 per cent of the whole number of enlisted men. The total
number of claims on hand at the beginning of the year was 91,689; the
number received during the year was 26,574; the number disposed of was
39,178, making a net gain of 12,604. The number of claims now on file
is 79,085.

On the 30th of June, 1872, there were on the rolls the names of 95,405
invalid military pensioners, 113,518 widows, orphans, and dependent
relatives, making an aggregate of 208,923 army pensioners. At the same
time there were on the