The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-17

ana nave railroads. everywhere, so tnat the
whole problem Is changed; and Iadvise the
honorable secretary of war to go to congress
with plan that will approximate perma-
nency instead of as heretofore meeting
specific temporary wants by special appr0-
priatiOn, often in the interests OF parties,
Tor the enlargement and Improvement OF
military posts" Gen. Sherman recon-
mends that the secretary of war ask con-
gress for Sl.0O0,000 per year for five years,
to be expended by him at the discretion or
the officers of the quartermaster's depart
ment. BY that process he thinks they Will
have an abundance of good quarters for the
whole army for the next fifty years.
NEW LAND DECISIONS.
Acting Secretary Joslyn decides that
where settler has failed to comply with
the law In making improvements but has
cultivated the land, and his failure to build
is shown to have been caused by climatic in
fiuence, he will be allowed further period
of six months within which to establish res
licences.
In another case the secretary holds that
contest for land title instituted by par
ent can not be transferred or inherited by a
child even though it shall appear that the
contest was instituted for the child's bene-
fit.
Commissioner Mcfarland in recent de-
cision declares that where person has fall
ed to make entry to tract of land through
officers, when otherwise entitled to make
an entry, he will be protected by the de-
partment and lose nothing, unless required
to do so by the actual demands of law.
The acting secretary of the interior holds
that cash entries of lands reserved by the
first proclamation, made after the date of
the proclamation but before its reception at
the local office, are illegal, as the prOclama-
ton went into effect from its date, and not
from its receipt at the local office. The act
ing secretary has referred said entries to the
board of equitable adjudication.
Acting Secretary of the Interior Joslyn
has decided that the statutes restrict con-
test against prior timbeT-culture entry to
one who. seeks to enter 1t under home
stead or timber-culture laws. In the alb
sence OF an application there is no right of
contest.
THE PENSION OFFICE.
The pension office is somewhat alarmed
over prospective demand for more arrear-
ages. The benefits of the act Of 1879 were
to expire June 30, 1880, but were extended
by act OF congress to June 30, 1881. There
are still million ex-soldiers who have new
ginning to get old and feeble they banker
after pensions and remember that their
present ailments date back eighteen or 20
years. In the case of those who are suffer-
ing from Old age their allment, doubtless,
dates back to their nativity, but they don't
propose to prove such an extreme PROPOSE
ton as that They only want to show that
their sufferings began while in the army,
though thus far they have not been so acute
as to give them an excuse for asking for q
pension. Since July /, 1881, these men can
only get pensions from the time they file
their last proofs. What they want is re-
peal of all time limitations, so that when
ever they begin to feel sick they can ask for
q pension back to the date of discharge from
the service. Petitions for such a repeal
are in extensive circulation and it is expect
ed that they will be presented to congress
this winter. If they are, congress will be
between the devil and the deep sea. On
the one hand there will be great longing
after the soldier vote, but on the other. the
late election wasn't much of a popular in
men will have real difficulty under the cir
cumstances Of seeing clearly the path of
duty. The present arrearages bill has cost
vastly more than what were three years
ago denounced by the champions of the bill
as absurd cxaggeratiOns. If half million
or a million more cases are to be added to
the pension list and arrearages to the time
of discharge to be allowed in each case, the
doors OF the treasury vaults might as we'll
be taken off their hinges.
THE NEXT HOUSE.
The elections to the national house Of
representatives appear to give the demo-
Gratis 19S the republicans 124, and the nde-
the districts have chosen their congressman
by majorities so small that the results in
some of them may be changed on the Off
cial count