Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-12-11
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE,

CULTURE ACTS,

without Communication or provision for specula.
tive REIMBURSEMENT. also the re-
peal of the desert land laws. unless it shall
be the pleasure Of Congress to so amend
these laws US to render them less liable to
abuse. The facility with which transfers are
made results in land accumulation instead Of
land distribution. and that the public domain
be secured to settlers. it may be deemed advis-
able to provide by legislation some guards
and checks upon the alienation Of vested
rights and lands covered thereby until patents
issue.
FENCING PUBLIC LANDS.
sued directing the removal If fences which
inclosed the public domain. Many Of
to such order, but much Of tie public land still
remains within the lines of these unlawful
fences. The ingenious methods resorted to in
order to continue these trespasses, and the har.
dihood of the pretenses by which, in some
cases, such Enclosures are justified, are fully de-
tailed in the repo'to of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. The removal Of the fences Still remain
ing. which nclose public lands, will be enforced
with all the authority and means with which
the executive branch Of the Government is or
snail he invested by the Congress for that pur-
pose.
GOVERNMENT PENSIONS.
The report OF the Commissioners OF Pensions
contains u detailed and most satisfactory ex-
hibit of the operations of t Q Pension Bureau.
During the last fiscal year the amount Of work
done was the largest in any year since the or.
GanIzation OF the bureau and it has been done
ut less cost than during the previous year in
every division. on the Soth day of June, 1886,
there were )OJ, 100 ptuSlDueIS on the Tolls OF The
bureau. Since 1861 there have been LOIS, 735
applications for pensions filed, Of which
1854 were basel upon service in the war of
1872. There were 62l, 75i of these applications
allowed, including 10, lis to the soldiers of 1872
and their widows. The total amount paid for
pensions since 1851 is $50, i.i,sl7;5l. The num-
ended June 81, 1885,, is 4i,s57. q larger num-
Der Il an has been allo ell in any year
save one since 1861; The names Of 2,a29 pen:
sioners which had been previously dropped
from the pension roll were restored during the
year, and after deducting the SO dropped within
tie same time for various causes, Il net increase
remains for the year OF 1913 names. From
January ], 1851, to December l. 1885, ,G7 pri-
vute pension acts hud he n PASSED. Since the
aforementioned date, and during the last session
of Congress, GA such acts bs came laws.
SPECIAL PENSION LAWS.
It seems to me that no one can examine our
3ension establishment and its operations with.
out being convinced that through its instrument
tally justice can be very nearlydone to ali who
are entitled under present laws to the pension
that cases exist we'll entitled to relief in which
the Pension Bureau is powerless to relieve the
really worthy cases. ofthis class are such -
only lack by misfortune the X nd or quantity
O.; proof which the law und regula-
lions Of the bureau re .uire, or which.
though their merit is apparent
for some reason or other, Gun not b
Justly dealt with through general laws. These
conditions FULLY justify application to the Con-
gre S and special enactlnents. but resort to the
congress for Il special pension act to over-rule
Vic uSllUtIdLe ul1Q CuTtlul uclcEIlllIldLlDu y lie
Pension Bureau on the merits. or to secure
favorable action when It could not he exp, cs:d
under the most liberal execution CT general
las, it must be admitted opens the uoor t.
allowance of questionable claims, and presents
t, the Legislative anu executive branches of
the Government applications conccdedly not
merit, but SO surrounded by sentiment and
p%ntriotic feeling that they are hard to resist.
FRAUDULENT PENSION CLAIMS.
suppose it will not be denied that many
claims for pension are made without merit, aud
that many have been allowed upon fraudulent
representations. This has been declared from
the Pension Bureau, not only i'll this but in prior
administrations The Usefulness and the justice
of any system for the distribution of pensions
oei end upon the equality and un :forrnity OF its
operation. It will he seen from the report OF the
commissioner that there are now paid by the
Government l3l different rates of pension.
The Commissioner estimates, from the best
information he can OBTAIN, that >, w OF those
who have served in the army and navy OF the
Unit d States a e now SUPP jrten i'll whole o; in
part from public funds or by organized chair
ties, exclusive Of those in soldiers homes under
the direction and control of the Government.
tnly Ii Ter cent. of these are pensioners, while,
of the entire number Of men furnished for tn
late war. sometime like 20 per cent, including
Their widows and relatives. have been or now
are in the receipt of pensions.
The American people, with a patriotic and
grateful regard for our ex-soldiers, too broad
and too sacred to be monopolized by any special
advocates, are not only Willing, but anxious t.at
equal and exact justice should be done to all
honest claimants for pensions. In their sight
the friendless and destitute SO der dependent
on public charity. if otherwise entitled. has pre-
cisely tue same right to share in the provision
made for those who fought theT country's bat
ties. as those better able, through friends and
influence. to push their claims Every pension
that is grant d under our present p an upon
any other grounds than actual service, injury.
or disease iuc.rred in such service, and
every instance Of the many in which pen
Sions are increased ON otner grounds than the
merits of the claim, work an injustice to the
brave and crippled, but poor and friendle"s. SOL
dier, who is neglected. or who must he content
with the smallest SUM allowed under general
laws. There are far too many neighborhoods
in which are found giaring cases OF inequality
OF treatment in the mater Of pensions; and
they a:e largely due to "a yielding in the Pen
sion Bureau to Importantly on the part
of those otter than the p%ensioner,
who are , specially interes ed, or they arise from
special acts passed Tor he b .netit OF individuals.
The men Who fought side 10y 81 e should stand
side by side when they participate in a grateful
nations kind remembrance. Livery considers
tion of fairness and Justice to our ex-soldiers.
III. the protection Of the patriotic instincts OF
our citizens from perversion and violence. point