Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-12-08
fully compensated. But while nj. :.

admission o, fabricated aud frsulalen, cI;na. =
me present mode of proceeding. the ,t,os,.,iaaa
and certificates of judicial officers of Tho 80
States, torn a considerable portion of h. -.
winch are interposed against The con.,iss,.a -
frauds. These, however, have been. and ma, he
'eo''ea'e', anu IN s'iei a way as TO elade detec,,an
" '"' eAa"n'nils oilces. AMI independently OF
'''s practical ditheulty, II Is asceriained thai these
documents are often loosely granted sonoc,,,,.s
even oiank certificates have oeen issued :sonet,mas
prepared papers have been signed withoat inoui,v
and, IN one instance, at leasl, the seal of The rou,,
mas been within reach of a person most interested
IN lis improper application. Ii is oby iouS that IN.
der such circumstances, no severity Of aam,nistra.
tion can check the abuse Of the law and in,orm,-
'ioh mas, rom Time 10 time, be n communicated 10
'nc L ehsIPh oIhee, questioning or denying the
right of persons placed upon the pension list IN In,
bounty OF the country. Such Cautions are always
attended 10, AMI examined. Blu a far moro GENE
raj investigation is called for. And therefore re-
commend, IN conformity with the suggestion of the
Secretary OF War, tina. an actual inspection should
De maze, IN each State, into the circumstances and
claims OF every person now drawing n pension.
The honest veteran has nothing to fear from, such
a scrutiny, while the fraudulent claimant will be
detected, and the public treasury relieved to an
amount, have reason TO believe, far greater than
has heretofore been suspected. The details of such
a plan, could be SO regulated us to intorposo the ne
cessary checks, without any bnrthensome operation
upon The pensioners. The object should be- two
fold
Il 10 look into the original Justice of the claims,
SO lar as 'his can be done under a proper system of
regulations, by an examination of The claimants
themselves, and by inquiring, in the vicinity OF
her residence, INTO their history, and in The opin-
ION entertained of their revolutionary services.
,. To asce. tain, in all cases, whether the original
claimant is still living, and this by acual personal
inspection.
This measure will, if a lop,ed, be productive, |
;hiuk, of the desired results, and | therefore recon-
mend 1t 10 your consideration, with the further sug-
ges'lon, that all payments should be susHcndcd Til
The necessary reports are received.
Ii viii be seen by Il tabular statement annexed to
The docaments Transmitted 10 Congress, that the
appropriations for objects connected with the War
Department, made at the last session, for he ser
vice OF the year 1884 excluding the permanent APP
preparation tor the payment of military gratulIles
under the act ofJune, !, 1882, the Appropriation Of
two hundred thousand dollars for aiming ana equip
ping the militia, and the appropriation of ten thou
sani dollars for the civilization of the Indians,
which are rot annually renewed, amounted to the
sum OF nine millions three thousand TWO hundred
and slGty-one dollars, and that the estimates ofap-
propllAtions necessary for the same branches OF
service for the year 1888, amount to the sum of
1--WE millions seven hundred and seventy cight. thou
sand nine hundred and sixty.tour dollars, making a
Inference IN the appropriations of the current year
over HE estimates of appropriations for the next, of
three millions two hundred and twenty-four
thousand TWO hundred and ninety-seven dollars.
The principal causes which have operated at this
tine 10 produce this great difference, are shown in
the reports ard documents, and in the detailed cs-
timates. Some OF these causes are accidental and
temporary, while others are permanent, and, ald3d
by q just course of administration, may continue 10
opetale benelicially upon the public expenditures.
A Just economy, extending where the public
service requires and Withholding where II does not,
is among the Indispensable duties oil the Govern
mCut.
| refer you to the accompanying report Of tao Sc
ofthe Navy, and 10 the documents withlt,
Tor a fall view Of the operations of that important
of our service, during The present year. Ii
VIII be seen that the WIS ION and l1berallty with
which Co gross have provided for the gradual M
cease of our navy material, have been seconded by
i corresponding zeal and fidelity on the part OF
TO whom has been conf led the execution OF
the laws on the subject, and that but a short period
would be required to put IN commission a iofee
large enough Tor any ex'gcney INTO which tie conn
try may be thrown.
When we reflect upon our position in relation to
other nations, it must be apparent, that IN the C.
vent Of conflicts with them, we must look chiefly to
our navy for the protection of our national rights
The wide seas which separate US from other gov
must of necessity be the thrca're on
which an enemy will aim TO assall us, ana unless
we are prepared to meet him on this clement, VIC
cannot be said 10 possess the power requisite 10 re-
pei or prevent aggressions. We cannot, therefore,
a.. =, ,,ftb tu, p,ncL attenIlOn this arm OF our de-
feacc. or cherish with TOO much care the meant by
which i, cali possess the necessary efficiency and
extension. To this end our policy has been here
toforc wisely directed 10 the constant employment
of n force sufficient to guard our commerce, and to
the rapid accumulation OF the materials, which are
necessary to repair our vessels, and construct win
ease such new ones us may be required IN a state
Of war.
In accordance with this policy, | recommend to
YOUR consideration the erection OF the add tional Dry
Dock described by the Secretary OF The Navy, ana
also the construction Of the Steam Batteries 10
which he has referred, for the purpose OF testing
their eff ,acy as nuxlllaIics to the system oil de-
fence now III use.
The report Of the Postmaster General, herewith
submitted, exhibits the condition AMI prospects o'
that department. From that document II appears
that, there was q deficit in the funds OF the Depart
ment, al the commencement OF the present year. oc-
vood lis available means, of three hundred ana
fifteen thousand. five hundred aud nincty-n'hc oo'-
lars and ninety-eight cents, which on the irst oil
I,,v nat had been reduced TO Two hundred and
s,xtv. eight thousand g. ninety-two dollars q seven
,v-four cents. Il appears, also, that the revenues lor
Inc coming year will exceed the expenditures a.
hout two hundred anu seventy thousand dollars
which with the excess Of revenue winch VIII result
from the onerations Of the current half year, may