and dutiable imports during the year ending June 30, 1891, as compared with 1890, was as follows: There was an increase in the value of our imports in 1891 over 1890 13,863,081 4,397,185 The value of imported merchandise entered for consumption and the duty collected thereon, during the last five fiscal years, has been as follows: Trade with Central and South America. Our total imports of merchandise from Mexico, Central and South American states, British Honduras, and the West Indies, during the fiscal year 1891, amounted to $242,512,577, or 28.70 per cent. of our total imports of merchandise. The value of our exports of merchandise to these same countries during the same period was $90,413,516, or 10.22 per cent. of the value of our total exports of merchandise. Our total imports and exports of merchandise from and to these countries, during the same period, amounted to $332,926,093, or 19.26 per cent. of our total imports and exports of merchandise. It will be seen that the excess of our imports of merchandise from these countries over our exports to them amounted to $152,099,061. In other words, our imports of merchandise were 72.84 per cent. and exports 27.16 of the total trade with these countries, and we imported merchandise to the value of $2.68 for every dollar in value exported to these countries. The excess of imports over exports of merchandise for the fiscal year 1890 was $108,054,472. For the fiscal year 1889 this excess was $117,917,883. A comparison of our commerce with this entire group of countries for the years 1870, 1880, and 1891 shows a gradual increase of both imports and exports of merchandise. During the year 1870 the value of imports was $117,398,951 and of exports $55,140,322, an excess of $62,258,629. During the year 1880 the value of imports was $178,985,906 and of exports $61,546,474, an excess of $117,439,432. The per cent. of our commerce with these countries, as compared with our total commerce, in 1870, was 20.82; in 1880, 15.99; and in 1891, 19.26. TABLE SHOWING THE VALUE OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF MERCHANDISE IN THE TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH MEXICO, CEN TRAL AMERICA, THE WEST INDIES, AND SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE EXCESS OF IMPORTS OR OF EXPORTS, DURING THE YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1889, 1890, AND 1891. ported and to which exported. Exports, Exports, Imports. domestic Excess of Excess of Imports. domestic Excess of Excess of and foreign. imports.exports. and imports. exports. foreign. THE annual report of the Commissioner of Pensions shows that on June 30, 1891, there were 676,160 pensioners borne on the rolls of the bureau, being 138,216 more than were carried on the rolls at the close of the last fiscal year. These include: Widows and daughters of revolutionary soldiers, 23; army invalid pensioners, 413,597; army widows, minor children, etc., 108,537; navy invalid pensioners, 5,449; navy widows, minor children, etc., 2,568; survivors of the war of 1812, 7,590; survivors of the Mexican war, 16,379; widows of soldiers of the Mexican war, 6,976. The number of pensions of the several classes granted under the act of June 27, 1890, is as follows: Army invalid pensioners, 97,136; army widows, minor children, etc., 12,209; navy invalid pensioners, 3,976; navy widows, minor children, etc., 1,436. During the last fiscal year first payments were paid upon 131,160 original claims, requiring $31,391,538 for their payment. This is an increase in the number of original payments over the year 1890 of 64,532. The aggregate cost, however, was $1,087,302 less. There were 222,521 first payments of every description, requiring $38,552,274, being $69,592 less than was required for the 130,514 first payments made during the last fiscal year. The average value of first payments made during the year was $239.33 and the average value of first payments on claims allowed under the act of June 27, 1890, was $71.28. The average value of first payments for the preceding year was $485.71, a reduction in the average first payments of $246.38. The aggregate annual value of the 676,150 pensions on the roll June 31, 1891, was $89,247,200 and the average annual value of each pension was $139.99 and the average annual value of each pension under the act of June 27, 1890, was $121.51. At the end of June, 1891, there were 38,574 pensioners on the roll who remained unpaid for the want of time and who were entitled to receive $4,883,242, which will be paid out of the appropriation for the current fiscal year. There remained at the close of the fiscal year 1891 in the hands of the several pension agents the sum of $5,713,852.84 which has since been covered into the treasury. This amount added to $3,607,133.22 of the pension amount not drawn from the treasury aggregates $9,320.986.06 of the appropriation which was not expended. There will be a deficiency in the appropriation for the payment of fees and expenses of examining surgeons of about $300,000. The total amount disbursed on account of pensions, expenses, etc., during the fiscal year was $118,548,959.71 as compared with $106,493,890.19 disbursed during the preceding fiscal year. So that it appears that 136,216 pensions were added to the rolls during the fiscal year just closed, at an increased cost to the nation of $12,055,069 as compared with the expenditures for the previous fiscal year, and said expenditure includes $4,357,347 paid upon vouchers remaining unpaid at the close of the year. The largest number of certificates issued to any class was 4,693 to men who served thirty-six months. The age of the greatest number of pensioners under both the old and new law was forty-seven years. During the last year 20,525 pensioners were dropped from the rolls for various causes, and of this number 13,229 were dropped by reason of death. The loss to the pension rolls by the decease of widows and dependent mothers and fathers was at the rate of thirty-five per 1,000 in 1891. It is There are about 1,208,707 soldiers of the Union now living, and of the DISBURSEMENTS, 1891. AMOUNT DISBURSED AT U. S. PENSION AGENCIES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1891. Total.... $114,637,786.25 $116,164,303.92 $2,221,917.16 $2,255,657.15 $12,229.54 $13,922.88 $118,435,827.48 |