Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1886-12-10

the alienation of vested rights and lands
covered thereby until patents issue. Last
year an executive proclamation was issued
directing the removal Of fences which in
closed the public domain. Many of these
have been removed In obedience to such,
but much Of the public land still remains
within the lines Of these unlawful fences
The ingenious methods resOrted to in order
to continue these trespasses and the hardi-
hood of the pretenses by which, IN some
detailed in the report Of the Secretary % Of
the interior: The removal of the fences
still remaining, which inclose public lands,
will be enforced with all the authority and
means which the executive branch Of the
government is or shall be invested by the
congress for that purpose.
.-s PENSIONS.
The report of the commissioner of pen
sions contains a detailed and most satisfac-
tory exhibit of the operations of the pen
sion bureau. During the last fiscal year the
amount of work done was the largest in any
year since the organization of the bureau,
and it has been done at less cost than dur
ing the previous year in every division.
On June Is, 1885, there were 965,78S pen
sioners on the rolls of the bureau. Since
1881, there have been 1,O18,7s5 applications
for pensions filed, of which 1884 were
based upon service in the war of 1912.
There were 621,754 of these applications
allowed, including COLTS to the soldiers Of
1912 and their widows. The total amount
paid for pensions since 1851 is $808624,-
8lL57. The number of new pensions al
lowed during the year ended June 80, 1886,
is 4O,867, a larger number than has been al
Gas pnVesrs WheS sHSs ees ee
previously dropped from the rolls were re-
stored during the year, and after deducting
those dropped within the same time for
various causes, a net increase remains for
the year of 20,658 names. From January /,
1851, to December l, 1885, 1887 private pen
sion acts had been passed. since the last
mentioned date, and during the last session
of congress, 644 such acts became laws.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 4th of March, 1885, the current
business of the patent office was on an av-
erage of five and one-half months behind.
At the close of the last fiscal year such cur
rent work was but three months in arrears,
and it is asserted and believed that in the
next few months the delay in attaining an
examination Of an application for a patent
will be but nominal. The number of appli-
cations for patents during the last fiscal
year. including reissues, designs, trade
marks and labels, equals 40,678, which is
considerably in excess OF the number re-
ceived during the preceding year. The re-
ceipts OF the patent office during the year
aggregate 81 ,25o, 1880, enabling the office
all expenditures $l63, 3,70l.7s The number
of patents granted dnring the last fiscal
year, including reissues, trademarks, de-
signs and labels, was 25y y619; also largely in
excess OF that OF any preceding year. The
report of the commissioner shows the Of
fee to be in prosperous condition, and
constantly increasing in its business. No
increase of the force was asked for. The
amount estimated for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1886, was $890,760; the amount es-
timated for the year ending June 80, 1887,
was $685. $3.50.
THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS.
The secretary of the interior suggests
change in the plan for the payment of the
indebtedness OF the Pacific subsidized roads
to the government. His suggestion has
the unanimous endorsement of the persons
selected by the government as directors Of
these roads and protects the interests of
the United States in the board of directors.
In considering the.plan proposed, the sole
matters which should be taken into account,
in my opinion, are the situation of the gov
ernment as creditor, and the surest way
to secure the payment of the principal and
interest of its debt. By a. recent. decision
of the supreme court of the United States,
it has been adjudged that the laws of the
several states are imperative; to regulate
rates of transportation upon railroads, if
such regulation interfereS with the rate of
carriage from one state into another. This
important field of control and regulation
having been left entirely unoccupied. the
expediency of federal action upon the sub
ject is worthy Of consideration.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The relations of labor to capital and of
laboring men to their employers are of the
utmost concern to every patriotic citizen.
When these are strained and distorted, un-
justifable claims are apt to be insisted upon
by both interests, and in the controversy
which results, the welfare of all and the
prosperity of the country are jeopardized.
ANY intervention of the general govern
ment within the limits of it's constitutional
authority, to avert such condition, should
be willingly accorded. In Especial message
transmitted to congress at Its last session,
suggested the enlargement of our present
labor bureau and adding to its present func-
tions the power of arbitration in cases
where differences arise between employees
and employers. When these differences
reach such stage as 10 result in the inter-
ruptiOn of commerce between the states,
the application Of this remedy by the gen.
eral government might be regarded as en-
tirely within its constitutional powers
REDUCED APPROPRIATIONS.
The estimates presented for appropria-
tions for the ensuing fiscal year amount to
81, 5,608, ,87S64, or $442,386.20 less than those
laid before congress last year.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
representing the Oldest and largest of our
national industries, is subscribing well the
purposes Of its organization. BY the intro
ducti0n of new subjects of farming enter