The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-16

Justice eX-SOidlerS, and the protection of
the patriotic instinct of citizens from perver
sion and violation, point to the adoption of pen
sion system broad and comprehensive enough to
cover every contingency. and which shall make
unnecessary an Objectionable 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 pen
sions should be restricted to cases presenting
hese features Every patriotic heart responds to
a tender consideration for those who, having
served their country long and WELL are reduced to
their service. but with advancing age through
sickness or misfortune. We are all tempted by
relief. and are often impatient Of the limitations
of public duty Yielding to no one in the desire
to indulge this feeling of consideration, cannot
rid myself of the conviction that if these
soldiers to be relieved they and their
are entitled to the benefit of enactment. under
which relief may be claimed as a right. and that
such relief should be grantad ursler the sanction
of law, not in evasion of it; nor should such
mitted to the unequal operation of sympathy or
the tender mercies of social and political nfiu-
with their I'M uSt Determinations.
The discharged soldiers and sailors of the coun-
try are our feIow-citizens and interested with us
some laws They cannot be swerved from their
duty of citizenship by artful appeals to their
suffering, nor will they exact as q test OF deyo-
lion to their welfare a willingness to neglect pub
lie duty in their behalf
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 4th of March, 1885, the current business
Of the patent office was, an average, five and
a half months in arrears and in several divisions
the last fiscal year such current work was but
three months III arrears. and it is asserted and be-
lieved that in tn next few months the delay in
obtaining an eAanination of an application tor a
patent VIII be but nominal The number of ap-
pcations for patents during the last fiscal year,
including reissues designs. trademarks and
labels equa's 1878, which is considerably in ex-
cess OF the number received during any preced-
ing the year aggregate ST. POS, 1e7 So enabling the
office to turn into the treasury surplus revenue,
over and above all expenditures of about S163,-
1000. The number of patents granted during
the last fiscal year, including reissues, trade
marks, designs and labels, was %. 619-a number
also quite largely in excess of that of any pre-
cedins year. The report of the commissioner
and constantly increasing in its business. No in
crease of force is asked for. The amount eSti-
mated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886,
was $3.50, 160. The amount estimated for the year
ending June 80, 1897. was SS53, $50. The amount
estimated for the fiscal year ending June 90 1888,
PACIFIC 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
directors of these roads and protect the interests
of the United States in the board of direction. In
which should be taken into account, in my opin-
ion, the situation of the government
creditor and the surest way to secure the pay
ment 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 imperative to regulate
rates of transportation railroads. if such regu-
Iaton interferes with the rate of carriage from
one state into another. This important field Of
control and regulation having been thus left en-
tirely unoccupied the eXpediency of federal &C
ton upon the subject is worthy of consideration
CAPITAL LABOR
The relations of labor to capital and of labor
ing men to their employers are of the utmost
concern to every patriotic citiz2 When these
are strained and distorted uniustifabIe claims
apt to be insisted upon by both inter SITS, and
in the controversy which results the welfare of
all and the prosperity of the country jeopar-
died. Any intervention of the general govern
ment, within the limits of its constitll ional
thority, to avert such condition SHOULD be WILL
ingly accorded. In a special IneSSa-- transmit
ted to the congress at its last se- suggested
adding to its present functions the, -, -. OF ar
bitration in where differences ri- Il = cen
employer and employed When t.t..-,' iifer,
enceS reach such q stage us to result - ar
ruption of commerce between the state, z, up
plfcation of this remedy by the gene.9, IN
constitutional powers And I think we might
reasonably hope that such arbitrator If IRE
fully selected and if entitled to the conf II ef
the parties to be affected would - .,.tult :iy
called to the settlement of contrD"s' .: H. $
extent and not necessarily wtli.i t. of
federal regulation am OF TIE "l..;",t iat this
suggestion is worthy the att ntiot III liz. CON
gress. But after all has been done by IT,. Usage
of laws, either federal state. to reltv situ;l-
ton full of solicitude, much more be
| accomplished by the reinstatement cultiva-
| ton of a true American sentiment which recof,-
nzes the equality of American citizenship. This
in the light of traditions and in loyalty the
spirit of institutions would teach that a
hearty cooperation on the part OF all interests is
the surest path to national greatness and the hap
piness of all our people, that capital should, il
and in spirit of American fairness, generously
accord to labor its just compensation and consid
protection and faithful ally. 1t would teach, too
that the diverse situations of our people are in
separable from our civilization; that every either
should, in his sphere, he contributor to the gen
eral good; that capital does not necessarily tent
to the oppression of labor, and that violent dis
turbances and disorders ALLEVIATE from their pro
motors true American sympathy and kindly feel
ing.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The department of agriculture, representing
the oldest and largest of our national Industries
ton. by the introduction of new subjects o
farming enterprise and by opening new source
of agricultural wealth and the dissemination O
early information concerning production an,
prices it has contributed largely to the country
thought and investigation touching the subjects
! has in charge should, among other things, b
practically applied to the home production at
low cost of articles of food which are now i'm
ported from abroad. Such an innovation wi
necessarily, of course, in the beginning be With
the domain of intelligent experiment; and tn
subject in every stage should receive all possibl
i encouragement from the government
The interests of millions of our citizens eI
gagged in agriculture are involved in enlarge
inent and improvement of the results of the
should be u willing tribute to those whose pre-
ductive returns are a main source of our progress
and power. The existence of pleuro- pneumoni
among the cattle of various states has led to buI
densome and in some cases disastrous restriction
in an important branch of our commerce, threa
ening to affect the quantity and quality of OF
food supply. This is a matter of such importanc
and of such far-reaching consequences that
hope it viii engage the serious attention of tn
congress, to the end that such a remedy may b
applied as the limits of constitutional deegs
ton of power to the general government will pc
init. commend to the consideration of the col
gress the report of the commissioner and b
! suggestions concerning the interest intrusted
his care.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued operation of the law relating
aIXT hpC fla
proofs of its necessity and usefulness. 1t is fax
worthy of note that every public officer who ha
a just idea of his duty to the people, testifies
the value of this reform It's stauncheSt frienC
are found among those who understand it bes
and its warmest supporters those who are r.
strained and protected by its requirements Tt
meaning of such restraint and protection is n,
appreciated by those who want places under tt
government, regardless of merit and efficienc,
by those who insist that the selection for sue
places should rest upon proper credential shoy
ing active partisan work. They mean to publ
officers IL not their lives. the only cnportunii