The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-10
CITY OF WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING DECEMBER TO- 1858

and in the same month in the years 1850, 1881, ans
lso2 much less; aud yet in five days IN September last
alter The route OF the road had been estabshed and ht
alternate setons designated by the Stale, 1880
wetc sold or s3i 03d, being $96l3 more than Their az
aIegste value al the minimum price Ia the Columbus
dlsc IN the short space of twelve days, in the month
oil September last 22,50I were disposed OF
whereas. IN all the mouth OF September lSl9 the guam
uy sold was only 2,35S acres
The lands Withdrawn from market in June. 1882, to
enable Ae Stale OF Missouri to locate the routes and Sc
ee The ands granted to her. by the act approved the loh
OF that mih, for the construction OF certain railroads
were restored to market on the 9th OF July last, and be-
tween that day aAd the 30h OF September following
3l5,s39 acres were sold, being nearly 10000
more Than We're sold in the corresponding quarters in
1850, 1881, and 1852 combined.
like effect has been produced upon the sales OF the
alternate sections reserved 10 The United States wherever
siml grants have been made as. Fl
Previous the grant for the construction OF the SauIt
Se Mare canal the sales Of lands ~ the Lake Superior
region were not large, amounting in the second and
thrd quarters OF 1852, 10 only 40 $50 whereas
during the corresponding Quarters in 1852 alter The canal
wassommenced the sales increased TO o9,073 acteSand
TINS when The work is in progress oil construc ton.
Doubtless, the increase will be far greater when the ca
nal Is completed
lAsse can be as little doubt Of the constiuona,y OF
such giants as OF their proprety The right to donate a
par ioi the enhancement OF the value OF The residue
no longer be justly questioned. The principle has been
adopted and acted upon Tor nearly thirty years. and since
experience has shown II TO be productive OF much
good, sound reason is perceived why it should
be abandoned II has been OF incalcuable importance
TO the great West, and, either directly or Indirectly to all
the States
As many projects have been. and many others proba
bly, will be- presented 10 Congress by interested parties
ii may be difficult, practically, discriminate between
those lhattre worthy and those thatars not Congress
will have Ill the facts in each before it, and, in it's
wisdom, Mll decide as in similar oil legislation.
BY making every grant specific, and throwing proper
guards rertclions. and limitations around it. the object
10 be atan,d may be secured, and plans and combna-
tons for speculation frustrated and defeated,
Somethns is mantesty due to the hardy pioneer,
without whose labor industry, and enterprise the West
would now Ee of le moment No one who has not
been eye witness Can appreciate the hardships and
pTiyatlons endured by him. and government should
talny not hesitate 10 aid him, especially when It can be
done without detTment to the other States, to any
other inieress.
Atlenon is particularly invited to the importance OF
extending the present land system the Territories OF
Utah and NsW Mexico. with such notifications as the
peculiar features OF the country require.
The report OF the Commissioner of the General Land
Ofhce contains some recommendations on this subject,
which are commended to your consideration. eU
The disposition OF the mineral lands in California has
widely engaged public attention. The various projects
heretofore suggested OF which experience has test
ed, open p many objections.
10 guard against their becoming dangerous source OF
speculation and monopoly seems the most important
point oil consideration. The vast results already real.
zed from unrestricted individual industry and enterprise
have been so manifest that whether any further resrc-
ton than that above indicated, with the addition OF con-
tDlng the working OF the mines to own citizens, and
those who may declare their intention to become such,
requires mature deberation
The comassion 10 ascertain and settle the private land
claims in The State of California expires by Limitation on
the 4h OF March next From reliable information, have
doubt many OF great importance will have re-
manned undecded the public interests therefore, require
that the law creating the commission be 40 amended as
TO fulfil the object for which II was enacted
Officers connected with the sale and survey OF the pub
lie lands frequently purchasers and, owing 10 their
facilities OF dealing unfairly with bona fde applicants,
often excite grave and perhaps we'll founded suspicious
They can now with impnniiy commit many acts which
sbnul ha utpuo urpi n m hpt
they should be prohibited, under penalties, from
purchasing or being interested in the purchase OF The
public lands.
The business of the Pension Office has conducted
with great promplnes, energy and ability In none of
lis branches IL it now IN arfear everything having been
brought up TO the present date.
The labor performed within the last six months has
been very great and the number Of daily disposed
OF is lar more than usual. 5000 ..s. =
Tn. act OF 81 February ls53 extended The benefits Of
the pension laws 10 the widows OF othcers and soldiers
OF the evolutionary army who were married subsequent
TO January, in the year 1900 II was supposed there
but lew that could properly come within iis
provisions, and The estimate, and the appropriation based
thereon, for the present fiscal year meet its require
men only S24 900, which has proved totally made
quate, the deficiency being upwards OF 100000 The
n lumber examined, admitted and placed upon the pen
sion list 10 the LIST October 1853. l5 and is
estimated that il will reach 5000, and require an annual
appropriation OF S240,o0O. 1000
The widows OF the officers, nom commissioned officers,
narnes and mariners who served in the navy during The
same period not embraced by the act but why such
dscrim patton should be made be well conceived
Numerous frauds have been committed under the PEN
sion laws In perpcrabng them, pee1ury and forgery
have beeR frequently resofted TO- Several prosecutions
have been successfully instituted: the CRIMINALS have
been convicted, and are now expating their ofiences
Some whose guilt palpable have escaped in conse-
quence OF the act ot Congress limiting prosecutions oil
this character two years from the commission " The
offence These offences are committed IN secret. Every
xpedent is adopted 10 avoid detection; and II is seldom
that with the greatest vigilance they are discovered
within the time limited by law for their prosecution
change is therefore earnestly recommended and if any
limit liked. OF which the propreiy Is doubled should
be much extended ~
From recent examinations, has been discovered that
Invalid PENSIONS have been obtained by persons who do
not within the provisions OF the laws and many,
since the issue OF the pension certificates have been
found whou, any disability whatever. To prevent this
in future, and detect such imposons. the Connie
sioncr OF Pensions recommends the enactment OF law
similar TO that OF 1872 requiring an Immediate examina-
lion of The invalid pensioners and biennial exam
thereafter, BY two approved surgeons In the most
heartily concur, believing that would aiord an elective
remedy against the abuse OF the laws, and save TO the
large sums fraudulenly obtained from the
treasury. heEt
The laws relating TO pensions have become so numer-
ous and complicated. many various and conflicting
have been given 10 them, and they are IN
volved in much doubt and uncertainty that revision
and codihcaion necessary. II ludic iously and
refuy executed IL would conduce greatly to the des-
patch OF business relieve by its simplicity The sprlicants
and benehcarcs from large expenses and gross imposl-
tons and prove very advantageous to the government
II might involve some labor, and yet nut llue ex-
pense
Some of the most important questions that arise in
this branch Of business those relating TO the com
and arrears of pensions. Hence the necess
ty in draughing pension laws amendments. OF using
language that cannot be readily misunderstood. -
The time when Ne pension ~ 10 commence should bt
fixed with positive certainty, and arrears OF pension ex
frot ntat,is so