The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1886-12-09

and operation of railroads across some OF the
reservations aud claims OF title and rixht OF
occupancy set up by white persons to some
of the best lands within other reservations
require legislation for their final adjustment.
The settlement OF these matters VIII remove
many enbarrassments TO progress in the
work of leading the Indians TO the adoption
Of our institutions and bringing them under
the operation. the influence and the protec-
tiOn OF the universal laws OF our country.
The recommendations of the secretary OF the
Interior and the Commissioner of the GEN
eral Land ONCE, looking TO the better pro
lection OF
PUBLIC LANDS
and OF the public surveys. The preservation
OF national forests. the adjudication OF grants
to States and corporations. and of private
land claims, and the increased efficiency of
the public land service, are commended to the
attention OF Congress. To secure the widest
ties among settlers Of residence and cultiva-
ton, and thus make the greatest number OF
Individual homes, was the primary object OF
the public land legislation In the early days
Of the Republic,
This system was a simple one 1t COM
menced with an admirable scheme of public
surveys. by which the humbleet citizen could
Identity the tract upon which be wished TO S.
placed within the reach OF all the enterpris-
ing, Industrious and honest pioneer citize s
Of the country. i was soon, however, found
der the system OF cash sales from distrihu-
tion of land among the people 10 an accumu-
lation OF land capital by wealthy and specu.
latiye persons: To check this tendency q
preference right of purchase was given TO
settlers on the land. plan which eliminated
in the general prescription act OF lsii.
recommend the repeal of the presumption
and timber culture acts. and that the home
stead laws be SO amended as to better secure
compliance with their requirements OF ST.
dence, Improvement and cultivation for the
period OF i've years from date of entry, with
out communication or provision for specula-
tive REIMBURSEMENT. also recommend the
repeal OF the desert land laws. unless it shall
he the pleasure % the Congress to- 70 SO lame amend %
abuses AS the chief motive for an evasion
OF the laws. and the principal cause OF their
result in land accu mutation instead of land
fers are madeof the right intended TO be Sc
cured TO settlers, IL may be deemed advisable
to provide by legislation some guards and
checks upon The alienation OF homestead
rights and lands covered thereby until pat
ents issue. ~tli
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions
contains a detailed and most satisfactory ex-
hibit of the operations OF the Pension Bureau
during the last fiscal year
The amount OF work done was the largest
in anv year since the organization Of the
bureau. and IL has been done at less cost than
on the i3th day of June, 1885 there were 1885,
7S8 pc isloncrs on the rolls OF the bureau.
Since 1851 there have been LOIS, 735 applica.
tIons for pensions filed. OF which 1884 were
based upon services In the war of 1879. There
were 62i ,75t OF these applications allowed. in
cludIng Its to the soldiers Of lsl2 and their
widows.
The total amount paid for pensions since
1861 is SSOS, "a, 4,sli.57. The number Of new
pensions allowed during the year ended June
20, 1856, is 1857. larger number than has
aOt ten
I he nj mee of22 ~ pensioners which had been
previously dropped from the rolls were re-
stored during the year, and after deducting
those dropped within the same time Tor va
year of 20,s5s names. From January l, 1851,
TO December !, 1885. 1857 private pension acts
had hoen passed Since the last named date,
and during the last session OF the Congress-,
6ff such acts became laws.
IL seems to me that no one can examine
our pension establishment and its operations
without being convinced that through It's in
strumentality Justice can be very nearly
dune to all who are entitled under present
laws TO tho pension bounty OF the Govern
ment. tHt ..{l. l.s
titled 10 relief In which the Pension Bureau
is powerless to relieve. The really worthy
cases of this class are snch as only
lack by misfortune the kind Of quantity Of
proof which the law and regulations of the
bureau require, or which, though their mer-
Il Is apparent, for some other reason can not
DO Justly dealt with through general laws.
These cond tions fully justify applicat on
to the Congress and special enactments. But
resort to the Congess for special pens on
act to override the deliberate aud careful de-
termination Of the Pension Bureau on the
it could not be expected under the most lib
eral exccut on OF general laws, u must be
admitted, opens the door to the allowance or
questionable claims, and presents TO the leg
lative and executive branches of the Govern
ment applications concededly not within the
law, and plainly devoid of merit, but so sur
rounded by sentiment and patriotic feeling
that they are hard to resist.
l suppose Il will not be denied that many
claims for pension are made without merit,
and that many have been allowed upon
fraudulent representations. This has been
declared from the Pension Bureau not only
in this but in prior administrations. The
usefulness aud the justice of any system for
the distribution Of pensions depend upon the
equality and uniformity OF its operation. IL
will be seen from the report OF the Commits
sioner that there are now paid by the Gov
ernment l3l different rates OF pension.
Estimates from the best information we
can obtain show that 500 of those who have
served in the army and navy OF the United
States are now supported, In 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 thirteen per cent.
III the entirs areo number Of men furnished for the
late war something like twenty per cent, In
Guiding their widows and relatives. have been
bare in receipt Of pensions. The Amer.
lcun people with a patriotic grateful regard
for our ex-soldiers too broad and too sacred
20 be monopoized by any special advocates,
are not only willing but anxious that equal
and exact justice should be donc to all hon
stclaimants for. pensions.
Every patriotic heart responds to tender
consideration for those who, having served
their country long and well, are reduced TO
drstitution and dependence, not as an incl
dent of their service, but with advancing age
or through sickness or misfortune. We are
condition to supply relief and are often impa-
tient Of the limitations of public duty. Yield
ing 10 no one in the desire to indulge this
feeling of consideration can not rid myself
OF the conviction that II these ex-soidiers
are to be relieved, they aud their cause are
under which relief may be claimed
as a right. and that such relief should be
granted under the sanction of law, not in
evasion Of IL; nor should such worthy OBJ
jeots of care, all equally entitled, be re-
mitted to the unequal operation of sympathy
influence, with their unjust determinations.
n THE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 9Th of March, 1876, the current busi-
ness of the Patent ONCE was. on an average,
Ave and half months behind. At the close
of the last fiscal year such current work was
serted and believed that in the next
few months the delay in obtaining
an examination of an application for q
patent will be but nominal. The number of
applications for patents during the tast fiscal
year, including reissues. designs, trademarks
In excess OF the number received during any
preceding year. The receipts OF the Patent