The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

entiuleu, nad precisely the same right to
share in the provision made for those who
fought their country's battles 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 and iniurv
or disease incurred in such service. and
every instance of the many in which pen.
slons are increased on other grounds than
the merits of the claim works an injury
to the brave and crippled, but poor and
frlendless soldiers, who is entirely neg
lected, or who must be content with the
smallest sum allowed under general laws.
There are far two many neighborhoods
In which are fonnd glaring cases inc
quality of treatment in the matter of
pensions, and they are largely due to a
yielding in the pension bureau 70 impor-
tunity on the part of those other than the
pensioner who are especially in
terested, or they arise from spe,
clal acts passed for the benefit
OF individuals. The men who
fought side by side should stand side by
side where they participate in grateful
nations kind remembrance. Every con
sideration of fairness and justice to our
ex-soldiers, and the protection of the pa
triotic instincts of our citizens from per-
version and violation, point to the adop-
ton of pension system, broad and com
prehensive enough to cover every contin-
gency which shall make unnecessary an OBJ.
jectionable volume of special legislation
SERVICES AND DIABILITY.
As long as we adhere to the principles
of granting pensions for services
and disability as the result of the service
the allowance of pensions should be re-
stricted to cases presenting these features
Every patriotic heart responds 70 ten.
der consideration for those who, having
served their country long and WE'LL are re-
duced to restitution and dependence, no
as an incident of their services, but with
advancing age, or thorough sickness, OF
misfortune. We are all tempted by thu
contemplation of such a condition tt
supply relief, and are often impatient Of
one i'll the desire to indulge this
feeling of consideration, l cannot rio
myself of the conviction that these ex
soldiers are to be selected. They anG
their cause are entitled to the benefit OF
an enactment under which relief may be
claimed as right, and that such relief
should be granted under the sanction OF
law, not in evasion of it; nor should
worthy objects of care-all equally en-
titled-be subjected to unequal operation
of sympathy, nor the tender mercies OF
social and political influence with theil
unjust determinations. The discharged
soldiers and sailors of the country
are our fellow citizens and inter
ested with US in the passage ant
the faithful execution of laws that cannot
be swIyed from their duty of citizenship
by artful appeals TO their spirit of broth
erhood, born of common peril and suffer
ing, nor will they exact as test of devo
ton to their welfare willingness to ne
glect public duty in their behalf.
PATENT OFFICE.
On the fourth of March, 1885, the cur,
rent business of the patent office was, on
an average, five and half months be-
hind. At the close of the last fiscal year
such current work was but three months
in arrears and it is asserted and believed
that in the next few months the delay In
obtaining an examination of an appllca-
ton for patent will be but nominal. The
number of applications for patents dur
ing the last fiscal year, including reissues,
designs. trademarks and labels, equals
4O.67S, which is considerably in excess of
the number received during any preceding
year. The receipts of the patent Office
during the year aggregate $12O,5l6,7oO,
enabling the officer to turn into the treas
ury a surplus revenue, over and above all
expenditures, of about $16,371, 030.
The number of patents granted during
the fiscal year, including reissues, trade
marks, designs and labels, was 25,6l9-a
number also quite largely in excess OF
that of any preceding year. The report
of the commissioner shows the office to be
in a prosperous condition and constantly
increasing in its business. No increase
of force is asked for. The amount estl
mated for the fiscal year ending June 30
1886, was $890,760. The amount est
mated for the year ending June 80, 1887
was $S53960
The amount estimated for the fisca
year ending June Both, 1888, is $77S,T9
PACIFIC ROADS.
The secretary of the interior suggests
change in the plan for payment of tn
indebtedness of the Pacific subsidy road
TO the government. His suggestion ha
the unanimous endorsement of person
selected by the government to act a
directors of the roads and protect tn
interests of the United States in the boar
of directors. In considering the plal
nroposed, the sole ma tiers whlc
shonld be taken into account
in my opinion, are the selection OF tn
government as a creditor and the sures
way to secure the payment of the primer
nal and interest of its debt.
Rv recent decision of the suprem
conrt of the United States it has been ad
indeed that the laws of the several state
are imperative to regulate rates OF Trans
portation upon railroads II such reguia
tion interferes with the rate OF carrlag
from one state into another. Ihis lie
portant field of control ana feguia.io
having been thus entirely unoccupleu o
the expediency of federal action upon IN
subject is worthy of consideration
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The relations of labor
capital and OF laboring me
to their employees are of the utmost col
Germ to every patriotic citizen. VINE
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