The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-09

tnat the natiOu bnOulu prOVluo OF support u
system for the education OF our people, no
measures calculated to provide that general
intelligence and virtue upon which the perpetu-
ity Of our institutions 30 greatly depend nave
eser been regarded with indifference by
either Congress or the Executive.
very large portion of the pull
domain has been, from time to time, devoted
Ia the promotion OF the c.uso OF education.
There y now a special reason why, 10y setting
apart the proceeds Of the sales of public lands,
or by some other meal Q, 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 deyolved
the responsibilities Of citizenship in that por-
ton Of the country most impoverished by
war. l have been pleased to learn iro n the
report of the Commissioner OF l. iucaiiOh that
there has been lately commendabe Increase
o interest and effort for their instruction, ut
all that can be done by local legislation aud
y iyate generosity should be supplemented by
su IN aid "a can DO constitutionaly afforded by
the National Government. | would suggest
that III any fund be dedicated TO this purpose,
it may be wisely dstr buted in the different
States according to the ratio of illiteracy, as by
this means those locations which are most in
ED of such assistance will reap the especial
benefits.
TIE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRI-
CULTURE
exhibits results of experiments in which that
department has been engaged during the past
' ar, and makes impor ant suggestions in ref
eten 70 to the agricultu develC pnent Of q o
country. The steady Increase OF our popua-
ton, and the consequent addition t0 the num-
Der OF those engaged In the pursuit OF hui
bandrv are giving to this department growing
dignity ana Importance. Ihe Commissioners
suggestions touching Its capacity for greater
usefulness deserve attention, as 1t more and
more commends itself to the interest which it
was create to promote.
1t appears from
TIE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS
tlat since 1860 7S9, 063 origna pension claims
have been filed, 450 $40 of these have been al
lowed and inscribed on the pension roll, H. 539
have been rejected and abandoned, being Is
per cent OF the whole number of ella ms se.-
tied. There are now pending for settlement
266,575 original pension claims. %, 7O4 Of which
were filed prior to July l. 1880. These, when
allowed, wIil involve the payment OF arrears
from the date Of the discharge III the case OF
aninvaiil, and from the date OF death or termina-
ton of prior right i'll all other cases. From
all the data obtainablo it is estimated that Is
per cent. Of the CLAIMS now pending will be re-
lecte or abandoned This would show the
pr babe rejection Of 34,04O cases, and the
probable admission of about 1913, OO0 claims, all
OF which involve the payment of arrears OF
pensions. With the present force employed,
same, and no business intervening, this
number of claims (193, 00O) could be acted upon
A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS,
and, taking Jan. l, 1861, as a near period from
which to estimate in each case an average
amount of arrears. 1t is found that every case
allowed would require for the first payment
upon it the sum of $3.50. Multiplying this
amountby the whole numter OF probable ad-
missions gives s25O,O0O,O00 as the sum re-
quired for first payments. This represents the
sum which must be paid upon claims which
were filed before July /, 1880, and are now
pending and entitled to the benefits of Arrears
act. From this amount (S250, 900, O00) may be
deducted from ten to fifteen millions for
cases when, the claimant dying, there Is no per-
son who under the law would be entitled to
succeed to the pension, leaving S235, 000, 600 as
the probable amount to be paid. In these esti-
mates no account has been taken of the $500
cases filed since June 80, 1880, and now pend
ing, which must receive attention, Is current
business, but which do not involve payment
of any arrears beyond the date Of filing
the claim. Of this number ii is now esti-
mated that Sc per cent. will be allowed, as
has been stated. With the present force
of the Pension Bureau, 675 clerks, it Is esti-
mated that it will take six years to dispose
of the claims now pending. 1t Is stated by the
Commissioner Of Pensions that If an addition
OF 25g clerks Increasing the adjudicating force
rather than the mechanical), double the amount
of work could be accomplished, 80 chat these
cases could be acted upon within three years.
Aside from the consideration Of justice which
may be urged for speedy settlement OF the
claims now on the files of the Pension Office,
1t Is no less important on the score of economy,
inasmuch as fully onc-thrd of the clerical force
of the Office Is now wholly occupied III giving
attention to correspondence with thousands of
claimants whose cases have been on the files
for tho past eighteen years. The fact that
sum so enormous may be expended by the
Government to meet the demands for arrears
Of pensions is an admonition to Congress and
the Executive to give cautious consideration to
any similar project in the future. The great
temptation to the presentation of fictitious
claims afforded by the fact that the average sum
obtained upon each application is 81 300, leads
me to suggest the propriety Of making some
special appropriation for the prevention of
fraud.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
l advise appropriations for such internal
improvements as the wisdom of Congress may
seem to be of public Importance. The neces-
sity of improving the navigation Of the Mssis-
sippi river justifies special alusion to that
subject. l suggest the adoption of some
measure for removal of distractions which
now impede the navigation of that great cham
mel of commerce.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my letter accepting the nomination for
the Vice Presidency stated that in my judg-
ment "no man should be incumbent of an Of
flee the duties of which be is for any cause
unfit to perform, or who is lacking in the abil-
ity. fidelity or integrity which a proper admin
istration of such Office demands" This senti-
ment would doubtless meet with general acqui-
essence, but opinion has been widely divided
dpon the wisdom and impracticability OF tine
various reformatory schemes which have been
suggested, and Of certain proposed regulations
governing appointments to public Office
The efficiency Of such regulations has
been dis rusted mainly because they have
seemed to exalt mece educational and abstract
tests above general business capacity, and even
special fitness for the work in hand. 1t seems
to me lat the rules that shoald be applied to
the management OF the u Jlic S ryce " may
properly conform, in the main, to such as reg
ulate the condition OF successful private bus-
ness. Original appointments should be based
upon ascertained iess. The tenure Of Office
should be stable positions of response
billty should, 30 far a practicable,
be filed by the promotion OF wortbv
and efficient o Ulcers. The investigation OF all
complaints and the punishment of all miscon-
duct should be prompt and thorough"
The views expressed i'm the foregoing letter
are those which will govern my administration
OF the executive ofhce. They are doubtless
shared by all intelligent and patriotic citizens