The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-04

grant forfeited because the road is not COM
pleted within the time fixed in the grant The
Supreme Court OF the United States declared
failure to complete the road within the time
liked In the grant did not forfeit the grant.
Under this decision the department cannot
panies. or TO the States for the benefit of such
corporations, as public lands: and TO all intents
and purposes. so far as the pubic In co cerned,
the grants are private property. notwithstand-
Ing that the companies In some instances have
not even attempted to comply with the CON-
dtttons OF the grant. Complaint IL made that
grants made more than quarter OF century
ana the settler for hidden TO go thereon, although
nothing has been done toward the building of
the road. which must be built before the rail-
title given to IL by the Government so many
years before IL the grants are not forfeited
when there has not been full compliance with
the conditions of the grant. 1t seems to be just
ana proper that some provision should be made
py which the settlers, who, through ignorance
or because they believed such grants had been
or would be forfeited, have made settlement on
such railroad lands can secure title through
the railroad company or from the Government"
The figures given in Commissioner Dudley's
recent report are repeated, and In conclusion
Persons applying for pension prior to July I,
iooo are entlted 70 pension from the time OF
discharge or the death Of the person on whose
account the claim Is made, unless the disability
occurred after discharge. In all claims made
subsequent to that date the pension must com
mence from the time of the fling of the applica-
ton. No good reasons can be given WHY the
claimants who Tile their claims after July ],
1880, ought not to receive their pensions
from the time of discharge IL such dis
ability then existed, or IL not then existing,
from the time such disability originated.
1t Is but Just that all persons who are able TO
establish the right to receive pension should
be treated alike with reference to time of the
commencement thereof 1t has been urged in
favor OF this limitation that the large amount
OF arrears is an inducement TO applicants to
amount to be realized is O temptation to com
init fraud on the Government by means of false
witnesses. The Government has the means of
detecting fraud IL attempted, and injustice
should not be done to the deserving end needy
soldier for fear the Government may In some
few instances be imposed upon and compelled
TO pay pension to which the soldier is not
justly entitled. IL is impossible for soldier TO
secure pension for disabilities not existing:
1t Is often, however, question whether such
disability Is or Is not the result of service in the
line OF duty. The rules of the Pension Office
Tor the determination of this question are suf-
fciently strict, and. with proper administra-
ton or the affairs of that office, very few PEN
sions Will be allowed parties not entitled TO re-
ceive the same"
The relations of the land grant railroads to
the Government are given in detail, and are
comprised in the following summaries The
accounts with the Pacific roads as TO moneys
actually covered in to their credit, but taking
no account OF the moneys in the sinking fund
held by the United States Treasurer or of the
compensation for services not settled at the
time are as follows: