The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-11


foreigners. invites the serious and immediate
attention OF the Congress.
recommend the repeal Of the Presumption
and Tlmber-Culture acts, and that the Home
compliance with and cultivation for the period
OF five years from date Of entry without COM
mutation or provision for speculative relln,
OF the Desert Land laws, unless IT
shall be the pleasure Of the Congress to so
amend these laws as TO render them less liable
TO abuse.
The removal Of the fences still remaining,
which inclose 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 thatspur-
pose.
GOVERNMENT PENSIONS.
The report OF the Commissioner OF Pensions
contains 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 any year since the Or
ganization OF the bureau; and 1t has been done
Ut less cost than during the previous year In
every division.
1t seems to me that no one can examine our
pension establishment and its operations with
out being convinced that through its instru-
mentality justice can be very nearly done to
all who are entitled under present laws to the
pension bounty OF the Government. But 1t is
undeniable that cases exist well entitled to re-
lief in which the Pension Bureau is powerless
TO relieve the really worthy cases. These condi-
tons fully justify application to the Congress
anu sptCldl tudCtinentS, Dut TcSOTt W tne
Congress for special pension act to over-rue
the deliberate and careful determination OF the
Pension Bureau on the merits or to secure IA
vorable action when 1t could not be expected
under the most liberal execution OF general
laws, 1t must be admitted opens the door to al
lowance of questionable claims, and presents
TO the legislative and executive branches of the
Government applications concededy not within
the law and plainly devoid OF merit but 50 sur
rounded by sentiment and patriotic feeling that
they are hard to resist.
The Amer can people, with a patriotic and
grateful regard for our ex-soldlers too broad
and too sacred to be monopoliZed by any special
advocates, are not only willing, but anxious that
equal and exact justice shoCld be done to all
honest claimants for pensions, In their sight
The fricndlcsS ana destitute soldier dependent
on public charity, if otherwise entitled has pre-
5isely The same right to share in the provision
made for those VINO fought their country bat
sles as those better able, through friends and
influence, TO push their claims. Every pension
chat is granted under our present plan upon any
other grounds than actual service, injury or dis
ease incurred in such service, and every in
stance of the many i'll which pensions are in
creased ON other grounds than the merits of the
claim work an injustice TO tie brave and Grip
pied, but poor and iriendless soldier, who is en-
tirely neglected, or who must be content with
the smallest sum allowed under general laws.
Every consideration OF fairness and justice to
our eX-soldierS and the protection of the patri-
Otto instincts OF our citizens from perversion
and violence, point to the adoption OF pension
system broad and comprehensive enough to
cover every contingency and VIII Oh shall make
unnecessary an objectionable volume OF special
legislation
Yielding to no one In the desire to indulge this
feeling of consideration | can not rid myself OF
She conviction that If these eX-soldierS are to be
relieved they and their cause are entitled to
the benefit of an enactment under which
relief may be claimed right, and
that such relief should be granted under the
sanction OF the law, not in evasion OF IL; nor
should such worthy objects OF care, all equally
entitled, be RENTED to the unequal operation
of sympathy, or the tender merces OF social
and political influence, with their unjust dis
ordinations.
INTERSTATE TRAFFIC.
BY recent decision of the Supreme Court OF
Me United States, it has been adjudged
hat the laws OF the several States are in
operative to regulate rates of transportation
apon railroads. If such regulation lnterferes
With the rate of carriage from one State into
another This important field of control and
regulation having been thus left entirely UNI
occupied, the eXpcdiency OF Federal action
upon the subject is worthy of consideration.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The relations of labor to capital and OF labor
ing men 10 their employers are OF the utmost
concern , every patriotic citizen. When these
are strained ana distorted, unjustitiable claims
are apt to be insisted upon by both interests,
and III the controversy which results the vel
fare of all and the prosperity of the country
are icopardizcd. Any Intervention of the
general Government within the linn
It's OF its constitutional authority, to
corded. In special message transmitted To
congress IN its last session, | suggested the en-
iargemcnt of our present Labor Bureau, and
adding To its present functions the power OF
arbitration, in cases where differences arise be-
.ween employees and employers. When these
differences reach such stage as to result in the
interruption of commerce between the States
she application Of this remedy by the General
government might be regarded as entirely
within its constitutional powers; and / think
"e might reasonably hope that such arbitration
commission, if carefully selected and II en-
tled to the confidence OF the parties to be af
CCtcd, would bc voluntarily called to the settle |
ncnt of controversies OF less extent and not
necessarily within the domain OF Federal regu
anon. | am of the opinion that this suggestion |
worthy the attention of Congress.
But after all has been done by the pas
sage Of laws either Federal or State, to relieve |
! situation full of sOlcitudc, much more re- |
mains 10 be accomplished by the reinstatement |
ma cultivation OF a true American sentiment, |
which recognizes the equality OF Amer |
can citizenship. This, in the light OF our
traditions and in loyalty to the spirit Of |
our institutions, would teach that |
hearty cooperation on the plrt OF all interests |
: the surcst path to National greatness and the |
happiness OF all our people; that capital should,
recognition of the brotherhood Of our citizon-
ihip, and in Il spirit of american fairness, gen
'rousIy accord to labor its just compensa,
ion and consideration, and that contented |
abOr is capitals best protection and |
atniul ally
CATTLE DISEASR
The existence of plcurO- pneumonia among the !
'attlc OF various States has led to the burden. |
.ome and. in some cases, disastrous restrictions
II an important branch OF our commerce,
threatening To affect the quantity and quail
~ of our food supply. This is
matter OF such Importance and
II such far reaching consequences that
hope IL VIII engage the serious attention OF
congress- to the end that such remedy may
)c applied as the limits OF "A constitutional dele
cation OF power to the General Government
Will permit. | commend to the consideration OF
congress the report OF the Commissioner
ma his suggestions concerning the interests
ntrusted to his care.
CIvIT-SERyICE REFORM.
The continued operation OF the law relating 10
,ur Civll-scrvice has added to the most con |
'incng proofs of its necessity and usefulness.
{ is fact worthy OF note that every public |
lticer who has u Just idea % his duty to the
people teStities To the value OF this reform. Its
tauchest friends are found among those who
understand 1t best, and its warmest sup
,ortcrs are those who are restrained and
projected by its requirements. The
meaning Of such restraint and protection
: not appreciated by those who want places
lndCr the Government regardless of merit and
nor by those who insist that the Sc
ectOn for such places should rest upon u
proper credential showing active partisan
work. They mean to public officers the only
opportunity afforded them to attend to public
BUSINESS, and they mean TO the good people Of
he country the better performance OF the work
Il their Government. 1t Is exceedingly strange
hat the scope and nature OF this reform
re so little understood, and that SO many
hinss not included within its plan are called by