The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-12-11


penditures, and business depression also
contributing, resulted IN at excess Of IS0, cost
fHr INC ss ica yesss m o"s aoars
an additional check upon receipts
by Doubling the measure of weight IN
rating sealed &c @corrsspondfsncr ma amin,sn nnsr
age, was imposed by legislation which took
effect with the begianing, OF the past fiscal
ThS ine c"s'an1 sd uenna os or
for the extension nnd increase OF mail faciil,
ties and machinery necessities stcndy annual
advance In outla and tue careful es,,ma.e ,,,le
then existing contemplated tho unavoldabls
augmentation OF the deficiency in the last
nstm year by nearly o su; vcor me ssiind nn5S Of
real zation by about $4,000, hut proper
measures OF economy hav SO satisfactorily
total deficiency in fact fo below that OF
1875. And at this time the increase of revc-
nue. Ia running In ratio over the increase of
present rates OF postage. ultimately to sustain
the service. This is the more pleasing be-
cause our people enjoy now both cheaper
postage, proportlonably to distances. and q
otherupon the globe.
again urge change In the
FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM
To meet the wants of the people and obviate
the delays necessarily attending tho present
condition of affairs In our courts. All are
agreed that something should be done. and
much favor Is shown by those wcll able to
advise. To the plan suggested by the Attor.
ney General ut the last session of Congress
and recommended in my last annual mes
sage. This recommendation Is here renewed
together with another made ut the same
tiino.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Tho President says: There is no authority
OF law for max ny Rlotments on some of the
reservations, and on others the allotlnents
provided for arc so small that the Indians,
though rcudv and DESIRING to settle down. arc
not wi ling TO accent such small areas when
their Ions contain ample lands to af-
meet their present aud future needs. Those
inequalities of existing special laws and
treaties should be corrected. and some
should be prov ded, 80 that the more
progressive members of tho different tribes
may be settled upon homesteads. and by this
example lead others to follow, breaking away
from tribal customs and substituting there
for tho laws OF homo, the interest of the fam
lily and the rule Of the State. The Indian
not easily led while broodnr over unjust
WRONGS. 1t is especially 80 regarding their
lands. Matters arising from the construction
reservations and claims of title nnd right of
occupancy set mp b. white persons to some
of the best lands within other reservations
require legislation for their final adjustment.
The settlement OF these matters will remove
many einbarrassments to progress in the
work of leading the Indians to the adoption
the operation. tho influence and the protec.
tion OF the universal laws of our country.
The recommendations of the ecietary OF the
Interior and the Commissioner of the Gem
cral Land Office, looking to the better pro-
lection of
PUBLIC LANDS
and Of tho public surveys. The preservation
of national forests. the I'D Indication of grants
to States and corDorat!Ons, and of private
land claims, and the increased efficiency of
the public land service, are commended to the
at nfs mn nf Tn w
distribution of public lands II limited quanti-
ties among ttlers of residences and cultiva-
tion. and thus make the gr1 atest number Of
the public land legislation in the carly days
of tho Republic.
This system was simple one 1t com.
menced with nn admirable scheme of public
surveys, by which the humblest citizen could
identify the tract upon which ho wished to es-
tablIsh his home. The price Of land was
placed within the reach of all the enterpris-
ing. industrious aud honest pioneer citize 8
OF the country. 1t was soon, however, found
that the object of the laws was perverted un-
der the system of cash sales IRON distri u
ton of land among tue people to IN accumu-
lation Of land capital by wealthy AMI specu.
lative persons: 10 check this tendency a
preference right of purchase was given to
settlers on the land, plan which culminated
in the general presumption act of 1871.
Irecommend the repeal of the prc-emption
and timber culture acts. and that the home
stead laws be so amended as to better secure
compliance with their requirements of r 81
dcnce, Improvement and cultivation for the
period of i've years from date of entry. with
out communication or provision for specula-
tive rel!nquishment.. also recommend the
repeal OF the desert lnnd laws. unless It shall
be tno pleasure the Congress to 10 amend
these laws rs to render them less Liable 10
abuses. AS tho chief motive for all evasion
of the laws, and Jne principal cause of their
result In land accumulation instead OF land
distribution. is tine facility with which truns-
fers are made of the right intended to be Sc
,..ltf >nAft1 hn IL n1x ,n
to prov de by Legislation some guards and
checks upon the alienation of homestead
rights and lands covered thereby until pat
ents issue.
PENSIONS.
The report Of the Commissioner of PEN sIous
contains Il detailed und most satisfactory ex-
hibit OF the operations OF the Pension Bureau
during the last fiscal year.
The amount OF work done was the largest
in anv year since tho organization of the
bureau. and it has been done nj less cost tn n
during the revious year in every division.
On the 18th day of June, 1885. here were $780,
TS} pc isioners OH the rolls OF the bureau.
Since 1881 ,here have bcen l0lS,735 spplica-
tons for pensions flea, of which 1854 were
based upon services in the war OF lsl2. There
were 82l,1 ,15i OF these applications allowed, in
Guiding Go,l7S to tho soldiers of 1872 aud their
widows.
The total amount paid for pensions since
pensions allowed during tho year ended June
%, 1885, is 1857, larger number than has
bccn allowed n any year save one since 1851;
the names of 2,22J pensioners which hud been
previously dropped from tho rolls werc re-
stored during the year. and after deduct,ns
those dropped within the same time for va.
year Of 2J65S names. From January l, 1851,
TO December J., 1885. 1857 private pension acts
had been passed. Since the last nan, ID date.
and during the last session of the Congress,
6l4such acts became laws.
1t seems to me that no ono cun examine
our pension establishment and It operations
E.nIs, th,f
strumentality justice can he very neaIly
done to all who arc entitled under presena
law. to the pension bounty OF the Govern
ment-
But it 10 undeniable that cases exist. well en-.
titled to relief, In which the Pension Bureau
is pOwer!ess to relieve. The really worthy
lnck by misfortune the kind of quantity OF
proof which the law and regulations OF tho
bureau require, or which, though their mer-
be justly dealt wuh through general laws.
These cond tions fully justify applicat on
to the Congress and special enactments. But
act to overrulo the deliberate aud careful de.
termination OF the Pension Bureau ON the
merits. or to secure favorable action when
It could not be expected under the most lib.
eral execut on OF general laws, it must be
admitted, opens the door to the allow ance of
questionable CLAIMS, and presents to the leg
mcnt applications concededly not within the
law, and plainly devoid of merit, but SO sur
rounded by sentiment and patriotic feeling
that they arc hard to resist
suppose 1t will not be denied that many
claims for pension are made without merit,
fraudulent representations. This has been
declared from the Pension Buresu not only
In this but in prior administrations. The
usefulness and the justice OF any 9, stem for
the distr button of pensions depend upon tho
equality and uniformity of It's operation. 1t
will be seen from the report OF the Commits.
sioner that there are now paid by the Gov.
ernment I3l diilerent rates of pension,