The daily union., 1854-12-10

freedOm and hADpineNN,
come general and has been and more enlarged every
year until it has grown into supendous system AL an
early period of history considered derogaor of
hsn tsudood by government unless IA needy or ino
gent circumstances different sentiment however mas nov
obtained and the purest BEST and most honorable OF our
citizens do not refuse it. -
There can be no founded objection this, so long
as the law remains il is But considering the small PIT
lance often under existing laws, only one dollar ana h
two dollars per month doled out 10 lhe
soldier his widow or minor children it question wor
thy Of consde aon whether humanity does not demand
that the system be modified as at least 10 approximate
the principle established by its founders to increase 'e
amount bestowed upon those whose merits ana circu-
stances entie them aid and to give to hem notnne
more such substantial relief as sound policy VIII permit
y adoptnu such pan and cutting on all arreArageS ol
pensions the great evil of the system may be renedled
The Third Auditor of the Treasury executes several
of Congress giving hapay for hys years to WIDOWS
the general character others executed by the Com
missioner of Pensions and the same principles OF consruc
ton applying to both there is manifest Proprey IN con
ferrnR the whole power upon the Pension bureau, ana
thereby preserving uniformity in the decisions
biennial examination of invalid pensioners to detect
fraud and prevent imposition was recommended 70 'he
consideration of Congress but authorized 1t is
striking fact that of the large and entire num-
Der the invalid pension roll with recently two honor
BILE exceptions appears to have been any dlm
mutton of the disability, but frequently increase Be-
Sides the Pension bureau crippled it is for means has
discovered many instances in which papable fraud mas
been perpetraed and gross deception pracsed AS the
imputaon Of guilt may fall upon the innocent as weli as
the guilty it does proper that authority should oe
given the Commissioner OF Pensions on satisfactory proof
OF the commission of such offence to reduce the pension
where the disability has decreased and to strike the name
of the pensoner from the list where 1t has ceased The
Commissioner may safely be clothed win TINS power
for besides subscribing the interests of the public VIII
protect from unjust asperson the honest and worthy PEN
sioner.
The department would again earnestly recommend a
modification OF the of Congress limiting to two years
prosecutions for perjury and forgery committed In pension
and land-warran Why should the criminal escape
when the offence owing to the ingenuity OF the
With all possible vigilance this cannot be avoided The
cunning dupcty of the persons engaged in the COM
mission Of such offences wonderful still many have
been detected through the watchuness Of the Pension bu
reau Up the 3Oh Of September last thirty have been
indicted of whom eleven have been convicted nine he'd
and forfeited their recognizances died. committed
suicide two have eluded the officers and six await trial
Others have not been prosecuted owing to the Limitation
referred and in several cases the statute mas
been successfully pleaded The pernacity and success OF
the Pension ia pursuing the offenders have perceti
bly, diminished the offence and with enlarged power 1t
may probably be totally checked The limitation operates
rs incentive and is in effect bounty to the ingenuity
and cunning of the felon.
By examining the reports of the able and efficient chef
of the Pension bureau the necessity of thorough revis-
ion of the pension laws will be apparent Justice to those
entitled to PENSIONS well sound policy and true econ
omy demand it, With judcious, well-arranged system,
the could diminish the expenditure give more
satisfaction and do vast deal more good than is now
| practicable
By the act Of Congress approved March 1851 this de-
parment authorized to designate three clerks OF the
fourth class disbursing clerks and TO allow each
them hundred dollars additional for their services
as SUCH With vew however to concentrate the respon-
sbiy and the better to preserve uniformity in the dis
bursetent of the public money it deemed best
poy but dsbIng clerk who with the aid OF two or
three assistants Of lower grades should constitute fnan-
ca division of the department where the salaries OF all
the officers the department and its bureaus and all
tingeu and other bills should be paid and all regulations
drawn for thu advance payment OF public money SO
far the plan has worked admirably WELL and II cannot l
to be highly beneficial
l. 1881 edgers other books had been kept in the
department fro which the state OF its various appropr
tons and the amounts in the hands Of agents. could be
asceraned without resort TO those kept by the treasury
The proper books therefore provided and system
devised to supply this important defect and nov the bal
ance the credit of any appropriation be readily
certained and payments advances made az the public
service requires the at the command Of the de-
The adoption of this plan has enabled the department to
ascertain and what it conceived to be mischiey
practice viz the undue accumulation OF public funds
in the hands Of officers who act as disbursng agents.
On the 3lst OF March, l845, there was in
the hands of pension agents alone the sum
04l, ,495 ~
On the slst Of March, ls4e, the sum of 6sl,7s6 81
On the 3lst of March, l8d9, the sum of.., 950,9l8 rs
On the alst of March, 1850, the sum of.. 7asso9 81
On the 3lst Of la-cb 1859, the sum o. 94S,475 so
AS constituting this in part the agents had under
acts enough money ueet their estimated demands
for several years. and they required to repay it into
the treasury; which has been done in the adjustment of
During the last fiscal year. advances have been made
pension agents with strict reference TO carefully
estimates Of the amounts necessary probable de-
mands upon them and by this the amount in their
hands has been reduced from S94S475 80 the als of
March 1853 to S393,s0l 20 on the Both of June last
No ditEcuy has existed in procuring agents to pay PEN
sions On the contrary such offices sought after with
much eagerness Others and from the large amounts
has been heretofore customary for them to have hand
it is doubted but that they have een fully compen-
sated for their services.
The Mexican boundary survey presumed to have been
RECOMMENDED in the field and no doubt entertain
ed of its completion under the accomplished officer at
its head within the time and amount estimated but
intelligence from the commission has reached the
department which may render fnrther appropriation
necessary.
An appropriation of $4,000 will be required COM
petc the maps and drawings Of the previous survey.
The whole estimate for this purpose $20,000 but
ed during the fiscal year, that only asked for
The boundary line between the United States and the
British provinces in the northwest designated il the
convention of june 1885, deserves attention. That part
especially which separates the Territory of Washington
from the British possessions should be traced and marked
As the British government is understood to be ready to
cooperate, there should be no delay our part.
The Territory Of Washington is in process of settlement
and difficulties have already arisen in regard to the extent
of the rights Of the Hudsons Bay and Pugets Sound Com
panes and the interests of many of citizens being
involved in the controversy AS yet not very much value
has attached to the country and is question of
ment whether it is not the wisest policy to settle these
claims at once. They probably be exngushed for
reasonable considerations if so, it should be done
The Patent Office is in excellent condition; and the
faction. STILL the character of the force authorized
by law is not such attain the accomplishment OF all
that could be desired. By adopting arrangement
the result OF urgent necessity, the Commissioner has