Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-08
Presidents MESSAGE.

Presidents MESSAGE
Continued from First Page.
devoid OF merit, but 20 surrounded by cen
timens and patriotic feeling that they an
hard to resist.
Isuppose it will not be denied that many
claims for pensions are made without
merit, and many have been allowed on
fraudulent representations. This has been
declared from the Pension Bureau, not only
in this but in prior administrations.
Estimates from the best information
obtained, are hat about 5000 Of those
Who nave served in the army n navy Of
the United States are now supported, in
whole or in part. from public funds or by
organized charities, exclusive Of those in
Soldiers Homes under the direction or
control of the government. Only 13 per
cent. Of these are pensioners, while OF the
entire number of men furnished for the late
war something like 20 per cent, including
their widows and relatives, have been or
are now in the receipt of pensions. The
American people, with a patriotic and
grateful reward for our ex-soldiers, too
broad and too sacred to be mon0poized
by any special advocates, are not only
willing, but anxious, hat equal and exact
Justice should be done to honest claimants
for pensions. In their sight the frieDdless
and destitute soldier. dependent on public
charity, If not otherwise entitled, has pre-
cisely the same right to share the provision
made for those who fought their country's
battle as those better able, through friends
and Influence, to pueh their claims.
E-o-v ~oDu;oo fbof IN 0ponfod undor nuP
present plan upon any other grounds than
actual service, injury. or disease incurred
in such service, and every instance of the
many in which pensions are increased on
other grounds than the merits Of the claim,
work an injustice to the brave and crippled,
but pool and fnen6less soldier. who is eu-
tirely neglected, or who must be content
with the smallest sum allowed under gene
raj laws. There are far too many neigh
borhoods in which are found glazing cases
of inequality of treatment in the matter Of
pensions. and they are largely due
to a yielding in the Pension Bureau
those other than the pensioners
who are especially interested, or they arise
from special acts passed for the benefit Of
individuals. The men who fought side by
side should stand side by side when they
participate in a grateful nations kind re-
membrance.
Every consideration OF fairness and JUS
tice t o our ex-soldiers and the protection
of the patriotic instincts Of our citizens
from perversion and violence point to the
adoption of a pension system, broad and
comprehensive enough to cover every con-
tingency, and which shall make unnecessary
and Objectionable volume o special legisla-
ton. As long as we adhere to the principle
of granting pensions for service and disa bill
ity as the result of the service, the allow
ance of pensions should be restricted to
cases presenting these features. Every
patriotic heart responds to q tender con-
sideration for those who, having served
their country, long and well, are reduced
to restitution and dependence, not as an
incident OF their service, but with advanc-
ing age or through sickness or misfortune.
We are all tempted by the contemplation
of such a condition to supply relief, and
are often impatient of the limitations OF
in the desire to indulge this feel
ing OF consideration l cannot rid
myself of the conviction that If these ex-
soldiers are to be relieved they and their
cause are entitled to the benefit of an en-
actment under which relief may be claimed
as q right, and that such relief should be
granted under the sanction OF law, not in
evasion of it; nor should such worthy OBJ
jects of are, all equally entitled, be remit
ted to the unequal operation Of the SYM
patty or tender mercies of social and po-
litical influence, with their unjust discrimi-
nation.
The discharged soldiers and sailors OF the
country are our fellow citizens and are in
terested with US in the passage and faith
full execution of a wholesome Law. They
cannot be severed from their duty OF citi-
zenship by artful appeal to their spirit OF
brotherhood born OF common peril and
suffering, nor will they act as a test of de-
votion to their peril and suffering. nor will
they act as a test of devotion to the well
fare or willingness to neglect public duty in
their behalf.
On the fourth OF March, 1855, the cur
rent business OF the Patent Office was on
an average five months and a half behind,
and at the close OF the last fiscal year such
current work was but three months in ar
rears, and it is asserted and believed that
in the next few months the delay in obtain
ing an examination of an application for
q patent will be but nominal. The number
Of applications for patents during the last
fiscal year including reissues, designs, trade
marks and labels equals 4O,678, which is
considerably in excess of the number re-
ceived during the preceding..year. The re
ceipts OF the patent Office during the year
aggregates 81, 25O,167.3O, enabling the Of
flee to turn into the Treasury over and
about all expenditures about $163, FOL.
The report OF the Commissioner shows the
office to be in a prosperous condition and
constantly increasing in it's business. No
increase in force is asked for. The amount
estimated for the year ending June 80,
1887. was $685., 969. The amount esti-
mated for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1888, is SITS, 40.
PACIFIC SUBSIDIZED ROADS.
The Secretary OF the Interior suggests a
change in the plan for the payment OF the
Indebtedness Of the Pacific subsidized roads
to the government. In considering the
plan proposed the sole matters which
should be taken into account, in my opin-
ion, are the situation of the government
az q creditor, and the surest way to secure
the payment Of the principal and interest |
OF the debt. By a recent decision OF the |
Supreme Court of the United States it has
been adjudged that the Avs of the several
States are inoperativet to regulate the rates
transportatio upon railroads, if such |
interfere with the rate of car
riage from one State into another. This |
important field of control and regulation
having been thus left entirely unoccupied,
the expediency OF federal action upon the
is worthy of consideration. The
relations of labor to capital and of
MEN TO THEIR
are OF the utmost concern to every pa
citizen. When these ere strained
and distorted unjustifiable claims are apt
TO be insisted upon by both interests, and
IN the controversy which results, the wei.
are OF all and the prosperity Of the country
ire jeopardized. Any Intervention of the
government within the limits OF it's
authority to avert such a
condition should be willingly accorded. In
special message transmitted to Congress
1t it's last session, l suggested the enlarge.
nent OF VI present labor bureau and
'dding to it's present functions the power
II arbitration in cases where differences
rise between employees and employers.
Vhsn these differences reach such a stage
70 to result in the interruption of COM
nerce between states and the applica-