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too late to be favorably considered by the Senate. I have to recommend that the attention of the Senate be called to the matter with a view to its favorable consideration at an early date after the convening of that body.

I also recommend that Congress be requested to favorably consider the question of repealing the act of July 13, 1870, and amendments so far as they limit the time for filing claims for bounty under act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat., 322).

There is no other statute limiting the time within which claims for bounty for service during the war of the rebellion shall be filed with the accounting officers. There is no bounty law more equitable in its terms than the act of July 28, 1866, and no records more complete and accurate than the record of payments already made thereunder.

The act provides for the payment of $100 or $50 for service of three years or two years, respectively, provided the soldier never received or was entitled to receive more than $100 bounty under any other law or laws for all his services during the rebellion, and limits the payment to the soldier, his widow, minor children, or parents. The great majority of all who were entitled under the act of July 28, 1866, have been paid, and while the amount of money involved will be very small, the apparent injustice to deserving claimants will be removed by the repeal of the law of limitation in this case.

I am persuaded that I should not close this report without a word of commendation for the faithful and efficient service rendered by the force of the bureau, including laborers, clerks, chiefs of divisions, and other officers. With scarcely an exception, each has performed his respective duty with zeal and fidelity to the public.

During the month of June it became important that more work should be done than could be crowded into the hours between 9 a. m. and 4 p. m., in order to keep abreast with the increasing business incident to the Spanish war, before the increased force authorized by Congress could be appointed and their service to any great extent utilized. In the emergency it was found necessary to work over hours. It was a source of extreme pleasure to note the willing and ready response to the order by nearly every clerk in the office, as well as the great increase of work turned out during the extra hour of labor required of them. While I should be opposed to a general extension of the hours of labor in the Bureau, I can plainly see the importance of occasional resort to this plan of expediting business, and, when such resort is nec essary, of a ready and willing response thereto. In this connection I deem it my duty to urge the importance of the electric wiring of the Winder Building, so that artificial illumination-found necessary often in the winter, between 3 and 4 o'clock-may be supplied for the building during such extra time in the evening as may, in emergency, be needed.

Respectfully submitted.

The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

W. W. BROWN, Auditor.

REPORT OF THE AUDITOR FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF AUDITOR FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., October 4, 1898.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of this Bureau for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898.

I desire especially to call your attention to the following data, which show the very great increase of the work of the Bureau:

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In some of the divisions of the office, particularly the division of claims, in which claims for arrears of pay, traveling expenses, etc., are adjusted, the increase of work incident to the war has not yet been felt to any considerable extent, but the work will very materially increase during the fiscal year ending June, 1899. It is certain that there will be no decrease of work in this Bureau even for the fiscal year 1900. The work pertaining to the computation and distribution of prize money resulting from captures made by our Navy in the present war, which is all performed in this Bureau, has not yet begun and is not expected to be reached much before the year 1899. This will further increase the work to be performed.

I desire especially to commend to your notice my three chiefs of divi sion, Louis K. Brown, George P. Davis, and Paul T. Bowen. For earnestness, efficiency, and thorough knowledge of their duties their superiors are not to be found in the public service. It is with great pleasure, too, that I commend the service of this office. My clerks, generally, through the severe trial of the past six months have taken hold with a will and have responded cheerfully to the additional serv ice required. The increased amount of work which has been accomplished speaks volumes for their faithful cooperation, and it is owing to their efficiency and industry that I am able to report that the business of the office is practically up to date.

The following table exhibits in detail the appropriations and expenditures for the fiscal year 1898:

APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1898.

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APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1898-Continued.

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Repairs and preservation, navy-yards.
Repairs and preservation, navy-yards.
Civil establishment, yards and docks..
Civil establishment, yards and docks.
Civil establishment, yards and docks.

Contingent, yards and docks...

Contingent, yards and docks.
Contingent, yards and docks
Navy-yard, Portsmouth, N. H.
Navy yard, Boston, Mass
Navy-yard, Brooklyn, N. Y
Navy-yard, League Island, Pa..
Navy-yard, Washington, D. C.
Navy-yard, Norfolk, Va..

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296, 694.73

19, 744. 18 1,574.30

388, 330.67 60, 604.98 4,540, 25

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Navy-yard, Mare Island, Cal..

933, 264.96

691, 755. 94

Naval station, Port Royal, S. C..

608, 089.00

Naval station, Key West, Fla..

93, 850. 40

Naval station, Puget Sound, Wash..

212, 975. 62

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110. 20

60, 696. 97

1,000.00 133, 152. 10

197, 435. 62

56, 980. 33

200,000.00 250,000.00

497. 18 1,712.20 26, 320. 41 800,000.00 200, 000, 00

3,000.00 16, 847.90 5,000.00 150,000.00

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APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1898-Continued.

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