Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-07

givan tn settlers on the land, plan which
in the general pre-emption act
n oa,naI residence and cultivation. Twenty
vea rs later the h ON estead laws, were devised
In more securely place actual homes in the
= ossession of actual cultivators OF the soil.
The land was given without price, the sole
conditions being residence, Improvement
and euItiyation. Other laws have followed,
each designed to encourage the acquire
ment and use of land in limited individual
quantities. But in later years these laws,
through vicious administration methods
and under changed conditions of commu-
nication and transportation, have been so
evaded and vi olated that their benefcent
purpose is threatened with entire defeat
The methods of such evasions and viola
tions are set forth in detail in the reports
OF the
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND COMMITS
sIoNER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
The rapid appropriation of our public
lands without bonafde settlements or cult.
vation, and not only without intention of
residence, but before the purpose of their
aggregation in large holdings, in many
cases, in the hand of foreigners, invites the
serious and INN Pdiate attention OF Congress.
The energies of the Land Department have
been devoted, during the present admins
tration to remedy defects and correct abuses
in the public land service, The results OF
these efforts are largely in the nature OF
reforms in the process and methoos OF our
land systems to prevent adequate estimates,
but it appears by a compilation from the re-
ports OF the Comm issioners of the General
Land Office, that the immediate effect In
leading cases which have come to hnal
has been the
RESTORATION TO THE MASS OF PUBLIC LANDS
OF two millions seven hundred and fifty
thousand acres; that two millions three
hundred and seventy thousand acres are en-
braced in investigations now pending for
the Department in the courts, or that action
of Congress has been asked to effect the
restoration of two millions seven hundred
and ninety, thousand acres. additional; be-
sides which four millions acres nave been
withheld from reservation, and the rights OF
entry thereon maintained. l recommend
the repeal of tie Pre-emtion and Timber
culture acts and that the Homestead laws
be SO amended as to better secure compl1-
ance with, and cultivation for the period of
five years from date of entry. without COM
mutation or provision for speculative relin-
quishment: also recommend the repeal OF
the Desert Land laws unless it shall be the
pleasure of the Congress to so amend these
IN y S as to render them less liable to abuse,
as the chief motive for the evasion of the
laws, aud the principal cause of their result
in land distribution is the facility with
which transfers are made of the right in-
tended to be secured to settlers, 1t may be
deemed advisable to provide by legislation.
some guards and checks upon the aliena.
tton of vested rights, and lands covered
thereby until patents issue. Last year an
executive proclamation was issued direct.
ing the removal of fences which enclosed
the public domain. Many OF these have
been removed in obedience to such order,
but
MUCH OF THE PUBLIC LAND
Still remains within the lines of the unlay-
full fences. The ingenious methods resorted
to in order to contrive these trespasses and
the hardihood of the pretenses by which in
some cases such Enclosures are justified,
are fully detailed in the report of the Secre-
tary of the Interior. The removing of the
fences still remaining which enclose public
lands will be enforced with all the authority
and means with which the executive branch
of the government is or shall be invested by
the Congress for that purpose. The report OF
THE COMMISSIONERS OF PENSIONS.
Is detailed and most satisfactory exhibit of
the operations of the Pension Burea dur
ing the last fiscal year. The amount of work
done was the largest in any gear since the
organization OF the bureau and it has been
done at less cost than during the previous
year in every division. On the Both day OF
June, 1886. there were. s,657,O63 pensioners
1861 there have been l,01s,7S5 applicq-
tious for pensions filed, of which
S,S34 were based upon service in the war OF
1872. There were 62l ,754 OF these applica-
diers OF 1872 and their widows. The total
amount paid for pensions since the war of
1872 is S50S. .624, ,Sl1.57 The number OF new
pensions allowed during the year ending
has been allowed in any year save one since
1861. The names of 2229 pensioners which
had previously been dropped from the
rolls were restored during the, year. and af-
same time for various causes the interest
remains for the year of 20,65s names. From
January l, 1881, to December l, 1885, 1868
private pension acts had been passed since
the last mentioned date and during the
last session of Congress ga such acts
became laws. 1t seems to me that
ho one can examine our pension establish
ment and its operations without being con-
vinced that through its instrume ntality
justice can very nearly be done to all who
are entitled under present laws to pension
bounty Of the Government. But it is unde.
niable that cases exist well entitled to re-
lief, in which the Pension Bureau is power
less to relieve. The really worthy cases of
this class are such as only lack by misfor-
tune the kind or quantity of proof which
the law an J regulations of the Bureau re-
quire or which, though their merit is ap-
parent, for some other reason cannot be
These conditions fully Justify application
to the Congress and special enactments but
report to the Congress for
SPECIAL PENSION ACT.
To overrule the deliberate and careful de-
of the Pension Bureau on their
merits or to secure favorable action when
it could not be expected under the most
liberal execu tion of general laws, it must
be admitted opens the door to the allowance
of questionable claims, and presents to the
legislative and executive branches of the
within the law and pl ainly devoid of merit,
but so surrounded by sentiment and pat
riotic feeling that they are hard to resist.
1t will not be denied that many
claims for pensions are made without merit,
and tnat many have been allowed on fraud
ulent representations. This has been de-
clared from the Pension Bureau not only in
this but in prior administrations. The use
fulness aud the justice of any system for
the equality and uniformity of its opera
ton. 1t will be seen from the re-
port of the Commissioner that there
are now paid by the Government
estimates from ihe best he
can obtain that 5000 of those who have
served in the army and navy. of the United
State are now supported in whole or in
part from public funds or by organized
exclusive Of those in
SOLDIERS HOMES UNDER THE DIRECTION
Anu cohtAoi VI euc SOSeTuucAt' Ohiy Ihiit
cen per cent. of these are pensioners, while
Of the entire number of men furnished for
the late war, something like twenty per
cent, including their widows and relatives
have been or are now in the receipt of pen
sions. The America n people, with a patri
otic, grateful reward for our ex-soldiers,
too broad and too sacred to be monopolized
by any special advocates, are not only will
ing but anxious that equal and exact JUS
tice should be done to all honest claims and
for pensions in their sight The friendless
and destitute soldier dependent upon pub
lie charity. If otherwise entitled has precise
ly the same right TO share in the provision
mao e for those who fought their country's
battle as those better able through friends
and influence TO push their claims. Every
pension that is granted under our present
plan upon any other grounds than actual
service, injury or disease incurred in such
service are increased on other grounds than
the merits OF the claim, work an injustice
TO the brave and crippled
BUT POOR AND FRIENDLEss SOLDIER