The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

easily done to all who are entitled under the pre-
sent laws, 20 the pension bounty OF the Govern.
mcnt. But it 10 undeniable that cases exist well
entitled to relief in which the Pension Bureau h
poweriese TO aid. The really worthy cases OF this
class such a. only lack BY misf,rtune the kind
or quantity OF proof which the law and regulations
of the Bureau require, which, though their merit
Is apparent for other reason cannot be Justly
deali with through general laws These Conditions
fully justify application to Congress and special en-
act ments but resort to Congress for specii pen
sion to override the deliberate and careful de-
termination of the Pension Bureau on the merits,
or to secure favorable action which could not be
expected under the most liberal execution OF the
general laws Il must be admitted, opens the doors
to the allowance of questionable claims and pre-
sents to the legislative aud executive branches OF
the government applications concededly not within
the Law aud plainly devoid ofm er but 50 surrounded
by sentiment and patriotic feeling that they are
hard to resist suppose it will not be denied that
many claims for pensions are made without merit
and that many have been allowed upon fraudulent
representations. This has been declared from the
Pension Bureau, not only ia this, but In PRIOR al
ministrations. The usefulness and the justice OF
any system for the distribution OF pensions depend
upon the equality and uniformity OF It's operation IL
will be seen from the report OF the Commissioner
dred and thirty-one different rates of pension Is
Inmates from the best information he can obtain are
that 1000 of those who have served in the army and
navy Of the United States are now supported 10
whole or in part from public funds or by organized
charities exclusive of those in soldiers homes under
the direction and control of the government: Only
IL per cent of these are pensioners while OF the en-
tire number of furnished for the late war some
thing like 20 per cent, including their widows and
relatives have been now are in the receipt Of pen
sions
The American people, with pltriotic and CRATE
fuI regard for exsoldiers too broad and sacred
TO be mouopolized by any special advocate, are not
only willing but anxious that equal and exact justice
be done all honest claimants for pensions theirs
by right. The frendless aud destitute soldier who
depends on pubic charity, If otherwise entitled,
has precisely the right to share in the provis-
ion made for those who fought their country's bat
ties as those better able through friends and iuhu-
ence to push their claims. Every pension that is
granted under our present plan upon any otter
grounds than actual service and injury, or disease
incurred in such service, aud instance OF the
many in which pensions are increased on other
grounds than the merits of the claim, work an in
justice to the brave and crippled but poor and
friendless soldier who is only neglected, or who
must be content with the smallest sum allowed un-
der the general laws There are far too many neigh
borhoode in which found glaring cases in the
quality OF treatment in the matter OF pensions, and
they largely due TO a yielding in the Pension
Burciu TO partalty the part of those other than
the pensioners, who are especially interested, or
they arise from special acts passed Tor the benefit Of
individuals. The men who fought side by side
should stand side ny side when they participate in
a grateful nations kind remembrance. Every con-
sideraon of fairness and justice to our cx soldiers
and the protection of the patriotic instinct OF our
citizens from perveroiOn and violation. point to
the adoption OF pension system broad
and comprehensive enough to cover every
contingency, and which shall make unnec-
essary an objectional volume Of special legislation.
As long as we adhere to the principle of granting
pensions for service and disability as the result OF
the service. the allowance of pensions should be
| restricted to presenting these features Ev
cry patriotic heart ponds TO tender consldera
| ton for those who have served their country long
| and well and reduced TO restitution aud independ
| eice, not incident of their service but with
| advancing age through sickness or misfortune. VIZ
are all tempted by the contemplation Of such con
dition to supply relief and often impatient o
| the imitation. of public duty. Yielding 70 no ont
in the desire To indulge this feeling ut consideration
| | cannot rid myself Of the conviction that if thes,
ex- soldiers to be relieved they and their caus
| are entitled to the benefit of an enactment, under
| which relief may he claimed AS right. and thai
this relief should be granted under the sanctiop
law, not n evasion OF it, should sncu worth!
object, Of care, all equally entitled, be reunited
| the unequal operation OF sympathy and n lcufe
memories of social and political inf ence with thei
unjust determinations
The discharged soldiers and sailors Of tue cOuu
try are our fellOwctiZcns and Interested with US il
the passage and faithful execution Of wholesom
laws They caunnt be swerycd from their duty q
citizenship by artful appeals to their spirit &
brotherhood born of common peril and euh ring
nor will they exact, az test oil devotion 10 thei
welfare, Willingness to neglect pubc duty in thei
behalf
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 4ih Of March, 1885, the current business
the patent Off e was, average five and a ha
months III arrears, aud IN several divisions nor
| 80
last fiscal gar such clrrent work was hut thre
month, in arrears, and it il asserted and believe
that in the next few months the delay in obtaining
examination OF an application for patent will
but nominal. The number of applications for pa
EMS during the last fiscal year, including refs.
designs for trade marks and labels, equals 1867
which lie considerably in excess of the number r
ccivcd during any preceding year. The receipts
the Patent Office during the year Aggregated $40
OIL 49, - enabling the office to turn into the Urea
ury surplus of revenue over and above all cXpel
| OF of n
ents granted duriug the last fiscal year, iucudin
reissues, trade marks, and designs of label was y
GIG. numaer also quite largely in excess of that
any preceding year The report of the COMM
sioner shows the otfce1o be in u prosperous cond
ton and constantly increasing in its business. n
increase Of force is asked for. The amount est
mated for the fiscal year ending June goth, 1873
r was $3.50 100 The amount estimated for the yes
ending June 3Dih. 1857, was 1888 The amour
estimated for the fiscal year ending June Both, lSS
s$Ts,770
THE PACIFIC SUBSIDIZED ROADS.
The Secretary Of the Interior suggests chang
in the plan for the payment Of the Indebtedness
the Pacific subsidized roads to the Government
His suggestion has the unanimous endorsement
the persons selected by the Government to act
directors OF these roads and protect the ntercs
of the United States in the board of direction.
considering the plan proposed the sole matt
which should be taken into account, in my opinio
is the situation Of the Government as creditor al
the surest way to secure the payment of the pri
cipal and interest OF its debt.
By recent decisions OF the Supreme Court of Il
United States it has been adjudgtd that the laws
the several States are imperative TO regulate rat
!. OF transportation railroads II such regul At Of
interfere with the rate of carriage from one State
: another. This important field Of control and re
ulation having been thus left entirely unoccupie
= the expediency of public action the subject
: worthy OF consideration.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The relations of labor to capital and of laborir
men to their employers are of the utmost concern
every patriotic citizen. When these strained al
distorted uDjustifable claims apt to be insist
: upon by both interests and in tie controver
which results the welfare of all and the prospect
, OF the country are JcopardiZed. ANY interventiC
. OF the General Government within the limits of
. constitutional authority to such a conditit
| should be willingly accorded. In special MESA,
{ transmitted to Congress at its last session, su
a | gested the enlargement of our present Labor b
= reau and adding to its present function the pow
of arbitration in where differences arise b
: | tween emplo,c and employed, and when the
differences reach such stage as to result in u
interruption Of commerce between the States, II
= | application OF this remedy by the General Cover
meut might b. regarded as entirely within its co
| stitntional powers, and think we might rcasO
ably hope that such arbitrators, if carefully seet
ed and If entitled to the confidence of the parties
be affected, would be voluntarily called to the st
r. Element of controversies of less extent and n
. necessarily within tue domain of Federal regu
:, | ton. | am of the opinion that this suggt
" ton is worthy the attention Of CoDgrcs
,. but after all has been done by the p,ssa
of laws either Federal State TO relic
y a situation full of solicitude, much more remain
to be accomplished by the reinstatement and cult
: walton of a true American sentiment which rec0
= nizes the equality of American citizenship. Ti
, in the light of traditions and loyalty to the spi
{ of our institutions would teach that a hearty
. operation the part Of all interests Is the su
o path to National greatness and the happiness Of;
our people, and that capital should, in recognize
90 ~. ..:.... 4