COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. 13

the last twelve months, to furnish a largo number of rolls which
had been applied for a long time ago, and from this fact, the proof
has been completed and the claims brought to a close sooner than
was anticipated at the time of my last Report to the Governor.

The claims paid during the last fiscal year, and since its close,
comprise nearly all that are capable of proof, and I congratulate
the Legislature that this item of expenditure, suggestive of so
many unpleasant reminiscences, is soon to cease to appear in the

accounts of the Department.

PENSIONS.

The amount expended during the fiscal year, under this head, was
$67,180.00, being a decrease, from that of the fiscal year 1870, to

the amount of $22,480.00, and from that of 1869, to the amount of
$51,17.0.00. As I said in my last Report, a number of those per-
sons intended to be benefited by the Pension Act of 1870, chap.
477, are unable to avail themselves of its provisions, from the fact

that in copying the law the names have been so misspelled and
varied, that it is impossible to prove that the Legislature intended
to benefit those who claim to be the parties entitled.

If it is the intention of the Legislature to continue these chari-
ties, it is suggested that the law be amended and re-enacted so as
to show the real parties intended to be benefited. And in any event,
it is but fair and proper, that such legislation should be had as will

secure to those, really intended to be named in the Act of 1870,
the benefits designed to be given them.

I would also suggest, that the cumbrous amount of proof, re-
quired by the Act of 1870, is unnecessary, and entails an expense
on the Pensioners, besides the amount of .trouble it gives them,
which detracts largely from the value of the donation.

If the Legislature is satisfied of the propriety of granting a pen-
sion to a particular individual, during his life, and enacts a law for
that purpose, I think that the proof of the continuance of his life
is all that need be required.

I am informed by a number of the Pensioners, that it costs them
at least one-fourth of the amount given them, by the State, to
defray the expense of obtaining the various items of proof neces-
sary to enable them to draw the money.

The accompanying tables, from 1 to 13 inclusive, show in detail
the various receipts into the Treasury, from all sources during the
fiscal year. The receipts from Clerks of Courts, and other items in
Table No. 1, amounted to $484,867.58, which is an increase over
those of last year, of $2,786,02 upon the same accounts.