The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-08

I ready been made to the obstacles
which the United States officers
have encountered in their efforts to
punish violations of the law. Prom
lnent among these obstacles is the
difficulty OF procuring legal evil
dence sufficient to warrant n con-
viction even in the case of n most
notorious offender. Your atten-
ton is called to recent opinion of
the supreme court of the United
States, explaining its judgment OF
a reversal in the case of
Miles, who had been convicted
OF bigamy in Utah. The SUI
preme court refers 10 the fact
that the ceremony attending the
celebration of marriages in that ter
ritory, makes proof of polvgamv
very difficult, and the propriety is
suggested of modifying the law of
evidence when now makes n wife
incompetent TO testify against her
husband. This suggestion is ap-
pended. ! recommend also The pas
sage of an act providing that in the
territories of the United SIales, the
fact that woman has been married
to person charged with bigamy.
shall not disqualify her rs witness
on his trial for that offense. | further
recommend legislation by which any
person solemnizing marriage ia
any of the territories shall be re-
quired, under stringent penalties.
for neglect or refusal TO file GER
tificate of such marriage in the SUI
preme court of such territory.
Doubtless congress may devise other
practicable measures Tor Obviating
the difficulties which have hitherto
attended the efforts to suppress this
iniquity. | assure yoI of my defer
mined purpose 10 cooperate with
you i'll any lawful and discreet
measures which may be proposed
to that end.
Although our system Of govern
ment does not contemplate that the
nation should provide or support a
system of education of our people,
no measures calculated TO promote
general intelligence and virtue, upon
which the perpetuity of our institu-
tons so greatly depends, have ever
been regarded with Indifference by
congress or the executive. A large
portion of the public domain has
been from time to time devoted TO
the promotion of education. There
is now q special reason why, by set
ting 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. Upon many who had
just emerged from condition of
slavery were suddenly devolved re-
spOnslbilities of citizenship in por-
ton of the country most impover-
ished by war. have been pleased
to learn from the report of the com
missioner of education that there
has lately been commendable in
crease of interest and effort for their
instruction: but all that can be done
by local legislation and private gen.
erosity should be supplemented by
such aid as can be cOnstitutionally
afforded by The national govern
ment. would suggest that if any
fund be dedicated TO this purpose il
may be wisely distributed in differ
ent states according TO the ratio of
illlteracy, as by this means those To-
calIties which are more in need of
such assistance will reap the special
benefits.
The report Of the commissioner Of
agriculture exhibits the results of
experiments in which the depart
ment has been engaged during the
past year, and makes important sug-
gcstiOns In reference to the agricul-
tural development of the country.
The steady increase of our popIIla-
ton and the consequent addition TO
the number of those engaged in the
pursuit of husbandry are giving TO
this department Il growing dignity
and Importance. The commission
er's suggestions to urge its capacity
for greater usefulness deserves at
tentiOn as il more and more com
mends itself TO the interests which
it was created to promote.
1t appears from the report of the
commissioner of pensions that since
1860 789,660 original pension claims
have been filed; 459,949 of these
have been allowed, and incribed Oh
the pension roll 1889 have been
rejected and abandoned, beng IS
per cent. of the whole number of
claims settled. There are now pend
ing for settlement 265.575 original
pension claims, 227,0 of which
were filed prior TO July /, $780,
These, when allowed, will involve
payment Of arrears from the date of
discharge, i'll case of being valid, and
from date OF death, or termination
of prior right in all other cases
From all the data obtainable il is
estimated that Is per cent. of the
number of claims now pending will
be rejected or abandoned. This
would show the probable rejection
of "a 900 cases, and the probable ad-
mission of about $4,000 claims, all
of which involves the payment of
arrears of. pensions. With the pre-
sent force employed, The number of
adjudications remaining the same,
and no new business intervening,
this number of claims, $4,000, could
be acted on in a period of six years,
and taking January l, 1881, as a near
period from which to estimate in
each case an average amount of ar
rears, it is found that every case al.
lowed would require for the pay
ment upon il the sum of 1880. Null
tiplying this amount by the whole
of probable admissions,
gives $220,000,0O0 as the sum re-
quired for first payments. This rep
resents the sum which mnst be paid
upon claims which were before July
!, 1880, and are now pending and
entitled to the benefits of the
arrears act. From this amount
$250y000,000 may be deducted
from ten TO fifteen millions for cases
where, the claimant dying, there is
no person who, under the law,
would be entitled to succeed to the
the pension-leaving $235, 0O0, 900 as
the probable amount to be paid.
In these estimates no account has
been taken of the $3.50 filed since
June 30th, 1880, and now pending.
which must receive attention as cur
rent business, but which do not in
vOlve the payment of any arrears
beyond the date of filing the same. |
OF this number, it is estimated that
eighty-six per cent. will be allowed.
As has been stated, with the present |
force OF the pension bureau, 675
clerks, it Is estimated that Il 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 adjudicating force |
rather than the mechanical, double |
the amount Of work could. be ac-