The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-15

qualify iiof ~ witness ~ tla
ifd fpf that offence, I further
recommend legislation by which any per.
son sOleunlklng marriage IN any " tho
Territories shall bo required 10 give bond
under stringent penalties, Tor neglect, or
required ~ ille u certificate 0f such mar
riage In the Supreme Court " THO Tcrrlt0'
ry, Doubtless Congress may devise other
pIF@ctlG,ape measures ior oD'la'ia,g ,,n alo
attended the efforts to suppress this In.
Equity. | assure you Of my dctcrm med
purpose TO cooperate with you In any law
ful and discreet measures which may be
proposed TO that end.
EDUCATION.
Although our system of government
does not contemplate that n
nation should provide or, sup
port system of education
of our people, no measures calculated to
promote the general intelligence and virtue
upon which the prosperity of our institu-
tions so greatly depends, have ever been re-
garded with indifference by Congress or the
Executive. A large part of the public domain
has been from time to time devoted to the
promotion of education. There is now, a
special reason why by setting apart the
proceeds of its sales Of public lands or by
some other course, the Government should
aid the work of education. Many
who now exercise the right OF
suffrage are unable to read the ballot
which they cast, who have just emerged
from a condition of slavery, and who sud
denly devolyed the responsibilities Of citi-
the war. have been pleased to learn from
the report of the Commissioner
of Education, that there has lately
been O considerable increase of in
terest and effort for their instruction,
but all that can be done by local legislation
and private generosity should be supple
mented by such aid as can be constitution
ally afforded by the National Government.
1 would suggest that il. any fund be desig'
tributed in different States, according to
the ratio of illiteracy, as by that means
those localities which are more in need OF
such assistance will reap the special
benefits.
ON AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture exhibits the results of experiments
in which the Department has been engaged
during the past year, and makes important
suggestions in reference to the agricultural
department of the country. The steady
increase of our population and
the consequent addition to the number
of those engaged in the pursuit of husband
nv giving to this department growing dig
nity and Importance. The Commissioner
suggestions to urge its capacity for greater
usefulness deserves attention, as it
more and more commends itself to the in
terests which it was created to promote.
ON PENSIONS.
1t appears from the report of the Com
missioner of Pensions that since 1860,
$7S9,O6O original claims have been
fled $500 of these have been allowed
and inscribed on the pension roll; S72,539
have been rejected and abandoned, being
thirteen per cent. of the whole number of
claims settled. There are now pending
for settlement S365,575 original
pension claims, 1921, 040 of which were filed
prior to July list, 1880. These when al
lowed, will involve the payment of arrears
valid claim, and from the date of death or
termination of prior right in all other
cases. From all the data obtainable it
is estimated that Is per cent. of the number
of claims now pending will be rejected or
abandoned. This would show probable
rejection of 3,404 cases and the probable adj
mission of about 1893, 900 cases, all of which
involve the payment of arrears of PEN
sion. With the present force en-
ployed, the number of adjudications
remaining the same and no new business
intervening, this number of claims Use, 600
could be acted on in a period of six
years, and taking January 1, 1884, as a
near period from which to estimate in each
case an average amount of arrears,
it is found that every case allowed would
require for the first payment upon it the
the whole number Of probable admissions,
gives $250,00O as the sum required
for the first payment. This repre-
.ents the sum which must
be paid upon claims which were filed before
July l, 1881, and are now pending and en-
titled to the benefits Of the arrears act
F-om this amount, $25O0OO,O O0, may be
deducted from S10,000000 to S15,0OO,0O0 for
eases where the claimant dying, there is no
person who under the law, would be entitled
TO the pension. leaving say 1896, 000, 600 as
the probable amount to be paid. In these
estimates no account has been taken of the
S3s $50 filed since June 80, 1880, and now
pending which must receive attention as
current business, but which does not in
volve the payment of any arrears beyond
the date of the filing of the same. Of this
number iC is estimated that eighty-six per-
sons will be allowed, as has been stated,
with the present force of the Pension
Bureau, 675 clerks. 1t is es-
timated that it will take six years
to dispose of the claims now pending. 1t is
stated by the Commissioner of Pensions
that by an addition of $50 clerks, increasing
the adiudicating force rather than the me-
chanical, double the amount of work could
be accomplished, so that these cases could
be acted upon within three years. Aside
from the consideration of Justice which
may be urged for a speedy settlement Of
the claims ON the files of the Pension Office.
1t is now less important on the, score OF
economy, inasmuch. as. fully one
third Of the clerical force of the
= uFlT cd
in giving attention TO the
with thousands of claim
ants, whose cases have been on files for the
past eighteen years. The fact that sum so
enormous must be expended by the Gov
eminent TO meet the demands for the ar
rears of pensions is am admonition to
Congress and the Executive to give
cautions consideration to any similar pro-
iect in the future. The great temptation to
The presentation of fictitious claims offered
by the fact that the average sum obtained
upon each application is 81 300, leads me
to suggest the propriety of making some
special legislation for presentation OF fraud.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I advise an appropriation for such inter
nal improvements as the wisdom Of Con-
rress may deem TO be Of public importance.
The necessity Of improving the navigation
IF the Mississippi river justihes special
allusion 70 that subject. suggest the
adoption Of some measure for the remedy
Df tie distractions which now impede the
navigation Of that great channel Of com
merce.
WINS, ETC.
In my letter accepting the nomination
or the yice-Presidency, ! stated that, in
nv Judgment, no man should be the in
.umbenf OF an Office, the duties Of which be
: for any cause unfit 20 perform, who is
acking in the ability, fidelity or integrity,
which a proper administration Of such an
flee demand. This sentiment would
Iouhfless meet with general
.cuuiesence. but the opinion has been widely
divided upon the wisdom and prncticabilly
n the various information schemes which |
ave been suggested, and Of certain pro |
,Osa EQUATIONS governing appointments /
o tiIt i.sIblic Office. Tie efficiency Of such |
egu,1 IONS has been distrust, because they /