The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10

1900; and that, therefore, those widows who
were married subsequent to 1900 were entitled
to pensions, commencing on the 4th March, 1915
the same as those who were pensioned under
said act of goth July, lS4S.
The case was presented to the Secretary
on the single question as to the period OF the
commencement of this new class Of pensions
granted by the act Of February, 1853 The !
Secretary held that the words ain the same.
manner" used in the act of 1853, could not be
regarded as necessarily embracing the tirae of
the commencement Of the pension, nor the term,
'were married before that date" as relating
exclusively to the act Of ls4s, as several acts
had been passed granting pensions to widows
who were married at'aifferent periods prior to
the Is. of Jaly, 1855; that the period of the
commencement of tie pension was left in doubt
by The act of 1853; and that, although the rule
prescribed by the act Of May, 1920, fixing the
commencement d pensions at the date where
proof is completed, might with propriety be
adopted, yet il would secure greater uniform
ity TO construe the law as granting the pension
to commence,Srom its date, and he accordingly
soQlecided.
We think this decision Of Governor McClel-
land was prudent and judcious, for it was the
intention OF Congress to grant the pension from
the 4th Of March 1S48. 1t can easily be so de-
clared next session. and the Secretary's decision
win have merely operated as deferred payment;
whereas, if he had decided this doubtful ques-
ton Otherwise, and his decision should hereafter
be adjudged to have been erroneous. the mis-
chief would be without remedy, as the money
paid could not be reclaimed.
This decision, it is said, has created quite an
excitement amongst the pension agents at
Washington We trust that Governor McClel-
land will continue to act as energetically
as he has begun, and it will put an end
to the vocation Of many Of these gentlemen.
The most glazing abuses have grown up under
the lax administration of the Interior Depart
ment since it's establishment. Frauds Of every
description have been perpetrated and the
ignorance or carelessness of the officers of the
government has afforded splendid harvest for
the ingenuity Of a large number of people who
~ live by their WITS
Properly organized, the Department of the
Interior is one of the most important branches
of the government. Charged with the super
vision of the vast and intricate land system.
the care of the Indian tribes, the Pension Office,
the Patent Office, the. census. and the develope-
ment of the internal growth and prosperity of
the country, it affords splendid opportunity
for it's head to make his mark. The first Secre-
tary. Tom Ewing, although man of ability of
certain kind, wholly failed in developing the
department during his administration. Mr..
Stewart made scarcely respectable clerk,
much less Secretary. 1t remains for the pre-
sent head. Governor McClelland, to carry out
the true intention of Congress in establishing
the department. by making it not only safe
guardian Of the important interests committed
to it's charge, but also by suggesting slch mea-
sures as will more effoctually promote the
prosperity Of the country and displaya proper
solicitude for the interests of the people. His
past history leads us to anticipate that he will
come fully up to the requirements of.his i'm
portant position