The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-16

for some reason or other, can not 10
Justly dealt with through general laws. These
conditions fully justify Application TO the Con-
gress and special enactnents. but resort 20 the
Congress for n special pens on act t. over-rule
the deliberate and careful determination OF the
Pension Bureau ON the merits OF 10 secure
favorable sction when II could not be expo c:ed
under the most liberal execution Of general
laws, il must be admitted opeES the uoor t.
allowance OF questionable elaine, and presents
q the Legislative and executive branches OF
the Government applications concededly not
within the law and plainly devoid Of
merit, but so surrounded by sentiment and
patriotic feeling tina. they are hard 10 res.st
FRAUDULENT PENSION CLAIMS.
suppose IL will not be den eel that many
clL-ms for pension are made without merit, ami
that many have been allowed upon fraudLl mt
representations. This has been declared from
the Pension Bureau, not only in tnis but in prior
administrations. The usefulness and the JusJIce
OF any system for the distribution of pensions
depend upon the equality AMI un lforlnf of its
operation. II will toe seen from the report OF the
Commissioners that there are now paid by the
Government l3l Cssfierent rates of pension.
The Commissioner estimates, from the l est
information he can obtain, that y % of those
who have served in the army and navy of the
Unit ii States are now SUI u Jrted i'll whole o. IN
part from public funds or by organized chart
ties, exclusive of those in soldiers homes under
the direction and control of the Government.
Cnly is ler cent. OF these are pensioners, while,
OF the entire numher Of men fdrnishe for tn >
late war, something like - per cent. including
their widows and relatives, have been or now
The American people, with q patriotic and
grateful regard for our eX-soldiers, too broad
and too sacred To be monopolized by any special
advocates, are not only willing, but anxious That
equal and exact justice should be done To all
honest claimants for pensions In their signt
the friendless and destitute so dier dependent
on public charity IL otherwise entitled, has pre-
cisely tue same right TO share in the provision
made for those who fought their countrys bat
ties as those better able, through friends and
influence, TO push their claims. Every pension
that IA granted under our present pan upon
any other grounds than actual service, injury
or disease incdrred in such service, and
every instance of the many in which pen
sions are increased on other grounds than the
merits of the claim, WORK an injustice 10 the
brave and crippled Dut poor and triendleNs, sol
dler, who Is neglected or WHO must DO content
with the smallest sum allowed under general
laws. There are far too many heighborhoods
in which are found glaring cases OF inequality
they are largely due 10 II yielding in the Pen
sion 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 b nett Of individuals
The men who fought side 10y 81 g should stand
side by side when they participate in II grateful
nations kind remembrance. Every oonsidera-
ZION of fairness and justice t. our eN-soldiers
am the protection Of the patriotic instincts of
our citizens from perVersion and violence, point
10 the adoption OF II pension system broad and
comprehensive enough to cover every contin-
gency, and which shall make unnecessary
nm Objectionable volume OF special legisa-
ciple Of granting pensions for service,
and disability rs the result Of the servi ,e, tho
allowance of pensions should DO restricted TO
cases presenting these features, Every pa
trotic heart r, spends TO IL tender consideration
for those who having served their country long
and well, are reduced % destitut on and de-
pendence, not as al incident OF their service
but with advancing aSe or through sickness,
or misfortune. We are all tempted by the
contemplation OF such condition to sup
ply relief and are often inn atient OF tire
no one in the desire TO indulgs this
feeling OF consideration, can no. rid
myself of the conviction thatif these ex-sOdiers
are TO lie relieved they and their are
entitled to the benefit OF IN enactment under
which relief may be claimed as IL right and
that such relief should Do granted under the
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 gympa-
thy, or the tender mercles OF social and pOliti-
cll influence with their unjust discrim nations
The discharged soldiers and sailors of
the country are our fellow-citizens aud
interested with us in the passage ana
faithful execution Of wholesome law They can
not be swerved from their duty Of citizen ship
by artful appeals TO their spirit OF brotherhood
born of common peril and suffering, will
they exact test of devotion to tneir welfare
Willingness To neglect public duty IN their be-
half.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On the 4th OF March, 1885, the current bust
ness of the Patent Office was al aver
age five and half months behind
such current work was but three months in
arrears, and it is asserted ard believed that in
the next few months the delay in obtaining al
examination o. an application for n patent will
be but nominal the number of applications
for patents during the last fiscal year, includ-
ing reissues, designs, trade marks and labels,
equal 4oO'o, which IS considerably in excess OF
the number received during the preceding year
The receipts OF the Patent Ofiice during the
year aggregate :! ESQ, 1880, enabling the
office t. turn into the Treasury, over and
The number Of patents granted during the Last
fiscal year including reissues trad .-lnnrks de-
signs, and labels, was $500 number a 80
quite largely in excess Of that OF any preceding
year. The report OF the commissioner shows
the Office 70 he in n prosperous condition. and
consequently increasing IN its business. No in
crease OF force is asked for. The amount esti-
mated for the year ending June 80, 1887, was
sSJ3,9j0 The amount estimated for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1855, is S,7s,779
THE SUBSIDIZED EAILKoADs
The Secretary OF the Interior suggests change
in the plan for the payment OF the indie Otedness
of the Pacific subsidized oads TO theGoyernment.
His suggestion has the unanimous Endorsement
Of the persons selected by the Government TO
act as Directors of those roads aud protect the
interests of the United States in the board OF
direction. In considering the plar. proposed, the
sole matters which should be taken into nc
count, in my opinion are the situation OF the
Government as n creditor and the surest way
TO secure the payment OF the trincipal and in
terest of its debt.
INTERSTATE TRAFFIC.
by n recent decision or the supreme Court OF
the United States il has been udiudged that
the laws Of the several states are imperative to
regulate rates Of transport ttion VI ON railroads
IL such regulation interferes with the rate of
carriage from one State into another. Thus i'm
portant field of control and regulation having
been thus left entirely unoccupied, the ex-
pediency If Federal action upon tue subject is
worthy OF consideration.
CAPITAL AND LAB X
The relations of labor To capital and Of labor
ing men 20 their employers are of the utmost
concern 70 every patriotic citizen. When these
are strained and distorted, unjustihaDle claims
are apt to be insisted upon by both interests
and i'm tine controversy which results the well
fare Of all and the prosperity OF the country
ieopardized. ANY Intervention OF the q IL
eral Government, within the limits Of
its constitutional authority. TO avert such
In special message trunsmi ted 10 Con-
grcss at its last session | suggested the
enlargement Of our ~ sent Labor Bureau and
adding 70 its present fuL ctions the power Of
arbitration in cases where differences arise be-
tween employees and employers. When these
differences reach such stage as to result i'm the
Interruption OF commerce between tue States
the application Of this remedy by tle General
Government might be regarded entirely
within its constitutional powers and / think
we might reasonably hope that such arb. traton
commission, IL carefully selected and If entitled
TO the confidence OF the parties TO he affected.
would be voluntarily called to the settlement OF
cont oversies Of less extent and not necessarily
within the domain OF Federal regulation,