Mr. PERHAM. In presenting this report I am directed by the ComInvalidPens to make a brief statement to the House of our legislation in reference to the subject of granting pensions. Early in the last congress and repeatedly during the whole Congress propositions were presented to the committee or an increase of pensions, and the committee became satisfied that the tax payers of this country generally desired that the pensions of the wounded 801' diers and of the dependents of such as have been killed in the service should beincreasod. The committee full recognized the propriety of that, believing that the increase in the cost of living would warrant to the fullest extent an increase of pension. The question arose in the committee, how shall that increase be made? The committee found that there was a large class of persons who, in their opinion, were entitled to pensions, but who were excluded by the provisions of the law and the rules for the administration of the law in that regard. They therefore thought it proper to extend the provisions of the law to that class of people. They also found that a large number of persons who were receiving 8 dollars permonth were suffering under comparatively slight disability, to whom 8 dollars a month is a very fair compensation for their disability. They found, also, that a great many other persons entitled to pensions were entirely disabled, who had lost both hands or both eyes or had been shot almost to pieces, who were in such a condition that absolutely required the constant attention of others to help them along through life. We came to the conclusion that the best way to increase pensions was to increase them to these disable pensioners in proportion to their disabilities. Previous to the act of July 14, 1862, privates in the Marine corps were entitled to $3 50 and sailors 5 dollars permonth. Widows of the Florida and Indian and Mexican wars, $3 60, and of the war of 1812 4 dollars permonth. By this act the pensions to these classes of persons engaged in the war then in progress, as well as all the widows, were increased to 8 dollars; and extended to mine r children and dependent mothers, and sisters of deceased officers, soldiers, and sailors. By the act of July 4, 1864, the provisions of the pension laws were extended to persons, not enlisted, who volunteered to fight in any organized military force. It was found that in some instances persons who had been enlisted but not mustered into the service were forced into battle at once and were either killed or disabled before they were mustered in. This act allows pensions to such soldiers the same as if they had been mustered in. It also proposes to increase the pensions of those who had lost 2 eyes or 2 hands to 25 dollars a month, and those who have lost 2 feet to 20 dollars permonth.