The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-07

t .ioh rom Vne reports of the C0mmiSsiohS. VI
a saS uGneral Land Office that the llnlneulate
e sLeI ~ leaulng cases which have come W
Ilna az accumulation; has been the. restoration
~ ~ we mass OF public lands Of s,I50OOo acres
tnat z,o'O,OOO acres are embraced IN mNeSIl-
eations now pending before the department
~ t,e courts, and that the action OF congress
5sS U.s. D e asked to effect the restoration Oh
~,..yv,vOo acres additional besides when TOUR
million acres have been withheld from reser-
saeloil' ana the rights Of entry thereon MAIN
talneq. recommend the repeal OF the RE
emptlon and Timber Culture acts. and that
the homestead laws be so amended as to bet
Vel secure compliance with their require
mlenls OF residence, of improvement and cul-
OVATION Tor the period of five years from
GATE Oh entry without Communication or pro-
VISION LOT speculative REIMBURSEMENT. al
SO recommend the repeal of the desert
iand laws unless It shall be the
pleasure of the Congress to so amend
these laws as to render them less liable to
ABUSES; AS the chief motive of an evasion
Oh the laws and the principal cause of their
result Is land accumulation instead Of land
distribution, the facility with which transfers
are MADE OF the right intended to be
secured to settlers, il may be deemed
advisable to provide by legislation some
guards and checks upon the alienatio on of
homestead rights and lands covered thereby
untll patents issue. Last year an Executive
proclamation was issued, directing the re-
movai OF fences which inclosed the public
domain. Many of these have been removed
in obedience to such order but much of the
puDlc land still remains within the lines of
THESE unlawful fences. The ingenious meth
DDS resorted to in order to continue these
trespasses and the hardihood of the preten-
ces by which in some cases such Enclosures
are Justified are fully detailed in the report
OF the Secretary of the Interior. The re-
moyal OF the fences still remaining which in
close pubic lands Will be enforced with all
the authority and means which the Execu-
tive Branch of the Government is or shall be
invested by the Congress for that purpose.
OUR PENSION SYSTEM
The report of the Commissioner of Pen
sions contains detailed and most satifacto-
ry exhibit of the operations Of the Pension
Bureau during the fiscal year. The amount
OF work done was the largest in any wear
since the organization of the bureau and it
has been done at less cost than during the
previous year in every division. On the thir-
tieth day of June, 1886, there were 365. 1888
pensioners on the rolls Of the bureau. Since
1861 there have been 1,01S,735 applications
for pensions filed, of which 1884 were based
upon service in the war of 1872. There were
62l, 156 OF these applications allowed, includ-
ing 6O,l7S to the soldiers of 1912 and their
widows. The total amount paid for pen
sions since 1861 is SSOS, 62A, S11.57. The num-
Der OF new pensions allowed during the year
endlng June 3d. 1885, is 49, Asst, a larger num-
Der than has been allowed in any wear save
one since 1861. The names of 2229 pension
ers, which had been previously dropped from
the rolls, were restored during the wear. and.
after deducting those dropped within the
same time for various causes, a net increase
remains for the year of 20,65S names. From
Jan. 1856, to Dec. l, 1885, 1867 private pension
acts had been passed and since the last mem
toned date, and during the last session of the
Congress GA such acts became laws. II
pension establishment and its operations
without being convinced that through its in
strumentality Justice can be very nearly
done to all who are entitled under present
laws to the pension bounty of the govern
ment. But 1t is undeniable that eases exist
well entitled to relief in which the Pension
Bureau is powerless to aid. The really wor-
thy cases of this class are such as only lack
by misfortune the kind or quantity of proof
which the law and regulations Of the bu-
reau require, or which though their merit is
apparent, for some other reason cannot he
Justly dealt with through general laws.
These conditions fully justify application to
Congress and special enactments But resort
TO Congress for special pension act to over
rule the deliberate and careful determination
OF the fenslon Bureau on the merits or to
secure favorable action when Ii could not be
expected under the most liberal execution of
general laws. 1t must be admitted. opens the
door to the allowance of questionable claims.
and presents to the Legislative and Execu-
tive branches OF the government applica-
tlons concededly not within the law, and
plainly devoid OF merit, but so surrounded
by sentiment and patriotic feeling that they
are hard to resist. / suppose it will not be
denied that claims for pensions are made
without merit, and that many have been al
lowed upon fraudulent representations. This
has been declared from the Pension Bureau,
not only in this but in prior administrations.
Inc usefulness and the justice of any system
Tor the distribution of pensions depends unOn
the equality and uniformity of its operation.
1t Will be seen from the report of the Com.
missioner that there are now paid by the
government 13l different rates of pension.
He estimates from the best information he
can obtain that nine thousand of those who
nave served in the army or navy of the Uni
ted States are now supported, in whole or in
part, from public funds or by organized char
tiles, exclusive of those in the Soldiers
Home, under the direction and control of the
government. Only thirteen per cent. of these
are pensioners, while of the entire number
of men furnished for the late war
like 20 per cent, including their
widows and relatives, have been or are now
In the receipt of pensions. The American
people. with a patriotic and grateful regard
Tor our ex-soldiers, too broad and too sacred
to be mOnopoliZed by any special advocates
are not only willing and anxious that
equal and exact justice should be
done TO all honest claimants for pen
and destitute soldier, dependent on
public charity. if otherwise entitled,
has 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 injury or
disease incurred in such service, and every
instance of the many in which pensions are
increased on other grounds than the merits
OF the claim work injustice to tho brave
ana crippled, but poor and friendless soldier.
who is entirely neglected, or who must be
content with the smallest sum allowed under
general laws. There are far too many neigh
borhoods in which are found glaring cases of
inequality OF treatment on the matter of PEN
sions, and they are largely due to a yielding
in the Pension Bureau to importantly on the
part Of those other than the pensioner, who
are especially interested or they arise from
special acts passed for the benefit OF indiyid-
uals.. The men who fought side by side
should stand side by side when they partici-
Every consideration Of fairness and Justice
to our ex-soldiers, and the protection of the
patriotic instincts of our citizens from pre-
emption and violation, point to the adoption
OF pension system broad and eomprehen-
slye enough to cover every contingency, and
volume Of special legislation, as long as We
adhere to the principle Of granting
Of pensions as the result OF
disabilities contracted in the service.
The allowance Of pensions should be
restricted to cases presenting these features.
Every patriotic heart responds to a tender
consideration for those who, having served
their country long and well. are re duced To
restitution and dependence, not as an incl
lent of their service, but with advancing age
)r through sickness or misfortune We are
al tempted by the contemplation of such a
to supply relief, and are often i'm
patient OF the limitations of public duty.
! ieldlng to no one in the desire to indulge
his feeling of consideration / cannot rid
myself Of the conviction that If these .ex-sol-
liers are to be relieved, they and their cause
ire entitled to the benefit of an enactment
lnder which relief may be claimed as a right.
md that such relief should be granted under
he sanction of law, not in evasion of it, nor
should such worthy objects of care. all
equally entitled, be RENTED to the UNEQUAL
operation of sympathy or the tender mercies
If social and political influence with their
Unjust determinations. The discharged
oldiers and sailors of the country are now
elbow citizens and interested with us in the
passage and faithful execution of wholesome
avs. They cannot be swerved from their
luty of citizenship by artful appeals to their
motherhood born of common peril and suf-
erlng, nor will they exact as test of deyo-
ION 10 their welfare Willingness to neglect
'ublic duty in their behalf.
THE WORK OF TEE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 4th of March, 1885, the current bus
ness was, on an average, five and half
months In arrears, and in several divisions