The sun., 1886-12-09

cheney of the public land service, are commended
to the attention of congress To secure the widest
distribution Of public lands in limited quanti-
ties among settlers OF residence and cultivation
and thus make the greatest number of ind1vld-
ual homes was the primary object OF the pub
lie land legislation in the early days of the re-
public This system was simple one 1t COM
menced with an admirable scheme of public
land survey by which the humblest citizen
could identify tho traot upon which he wished
to establish his home The price of lands was
placed within the reach of all the enterprising,
industrious and honest pioneer citizens OF the
country. 1t was soon, however, found that the
object of the laws was perverted under the sys-
tenn OF cash sales from distribution OF land
among the people to an accumulation of land
capital by wealthy and speculative persons.
To check this tendency a preference right or
purchase was given to settlers on the land,
plan which eliminated in the general pre-emp-
tion act of S4l. The foundation OF this system
WAS actual residence and cultivation. Twenty
years later the homestead law was devised to
more surely place actual homes i'll the posses
sion of actual cultivators of the soil. The land
was given without price, the sole conditions be-
ing residence, Improvement and cultivation.
Other laws have followed, each designed To en-
courage the requirement and use OF land IN lin
tied individual quantities.. But i'll late years
these laws, through vicious administrative
methods and under changed conditions of COM
and TRANSPORTATION, have been so
evaded and violated that their beneticent pur
pose is threat ened with entire defeat. The
methods of such evasions and violations are set
forth in detail in the reports of the secretary of
the interior and commissioner OF the general
land office The rapid appropriation or our pub
lie lands without bona tide settlements or CIV
illzation, and not only without intention OF res
idence but for the purpose OF their aggregation
in large holdings. IN many cases III the hands OF
foreigners. invite the serious and immediate at
tention of congress. The earnings of the land
department. have been devoted during the pres
ent admiuistratio ion to remedy defects and
CORRECT ABUSES
in the public land service The results of these
efforts are so largely in the nat of reforms
the practice and methods OF our land system as
to prevent adequate estimates; but 1t appears
from compilation from the reports of the COM
missioner of the general land office that the I'M
mediate effect In leading cases which have come
to final terminate n has been the restoration
TO the masses OF public lands aggregatlng
2,15O 900 acres; that 100000 acres are en-
braced III investigations now pending before the
department or the courts, and that action or
congress has been asked to effect the restoration
Of = 100000 acres additional; besides which
1000, 600 acres have been withheld from reserva-
tlon and the rights of entering thereon main
tanned. | recommend the repeal OF the pre-
emption and timber-culture acts, and that the
homestead law be so amended as to require res
idence for the period of i've wears from date OF
entry without Communication provision for
speculative REIMBURSEMENT. also recommend
the repeal Of the desert land laws, unless 1t
shall be the pleasure of congress to 50 amend
these laws as to render them less liable to abuse
As the chief motive for the evasion OF the laws,
and the principal cause of their result in land
accumulat ion instead of land distribution is the
facility with which transfers made OF the
right Intended to be secured to settlers. 1t may
be deemed advisable to provide by legislation
some guards and checks upon the allnation OF
vested rights and lands covered thereby until
patent Sissue. Last year an executive proclama-
tion was issued directing the removal of fences
which iuclosed the public domain. Many Of
these have been removed in obedience to such
order but much OF the public land still remains
within the lines of these unlawful fences. The
ingenious methods resorted TO in order to con-
tlnue these tres ,asses and the hardlhood of the
by which such In
closures are justified are fully detailed in the
report Of the secretary of the interior. The re-
noyal of the fences still remaining which in
close public lands will be enforced with all the
authority and means with which the executive
branch of the government is or shall lie Invested
by congress for that purpose.
The report OF the commissioner of pensions
contains detailed and most satisfactory exhibit
of the operations of the pension bureau during
the l. ST fiscal year. The amount OF WORK done
was the largest in any year since the OrganlZa-
tion of the bureau; and IL has been done at less
cost than during the previous year In every dIvl-
sion. Or June so, 1856, there were $50, 1S3
pensions on the rolls of the bureau. Since 1861
there have been LOIS. 135 applications for pen
sions filed, of which IS S34 were based up n
service in the war of 1872; there were 62l,I53
OF these applications allowed, including COLTS
to the soldiers OF 1872 and their widows The
total amount paid for pensions since 1861 Il
allowed during the year ended June 80,
1856 Is 4O,257. larger number
than has been allowed in any year
save one since 1865. The names of 1929 pen
sioners which had been previously dropped
from the rolls were restored during the year,
and after deducting those dropped within the
same time for various causes, net increase re-
mains for the year of 2o,65S names. From Jan.
/. 1861, to Dec l, 1885, 1867 private pension
aots had been passed Since the last-mentloned
date and during tine last session of the congress,
GA such acts became laws. 1t seems TO me
that no one can examine our pension establish
ment and its operations without being con-
vinced that through its instrumentality justto.
can he very nearly done TO all who are entitled
under present laws to the pension bounty of the
governments. But it is undeniabie that cases
exist we'll entitled TO relief IL which the pens
sion bureau is powerless TO relieve. The really
worthy cases Of the class are such as only lack
by misfortune the kind or quantity Of proof
which the law and regulation OF the bureau re-
quire, or which. though their merit is ap
justly dealt with through neral laws These
conditions fully justify application to the con-
gress and special enactments, but report to the
congress for special pension act to overrule the
deliberate and careful determination of the pen
sion blreaI on the merits or to secure favorable
action when 1t coula not be expected under the
be admitted opens the door to allowance OF
questionable claims, and presents to the legisla-
tive and executive branches OF the government
applications clearly not within the law and
plainly devoid of merit, but SO surrounded by
sentiment and patriotic feeling that they arc
hard TO resist. suppose it will not be denied
merit, and that many have been allowed upon
fraudulent representations. This has been de-
elared by the pension bureau, not only In this
but il prior administrations. The usefulness
and the justice OF any system for the dstribu-
rion OF pensions depend upon the equality and
uniformity Of its operation. 1t viii be seen
from the report Of the commissioner that there
are now paid by the government 131 different
rates of pensions. He estimates, from the
best Information he c1n obtain. that 5000 Of
these who have served in the army and navy OF
the United States are
SUPPORTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
from public funds. or by organized charities ex-
elusive of those in soldiers homes under TIE
direction and control OF the government. Only
3 pef eeul o. these are pensioners, while OF the
number Of men furnished for the late war some
thing like 20 per cent, including their widows
and rel 4tives have been or now re In the re-
ceiDo Of pensione. The American people, with a
patriotic and grateful regard for ex-soldierS,
too broad and toe saCred to be nemorized by
any special advocate, are not only willing but
s1lXio,;s that equal and exoet justice should be
be done TO all honest claimants for pensions,
In their sight the friendiess and destitute soldier
dependent on public charity, if otherwise en-
ii led, has precisely the same right to share in
the provision made for those who fought their
lountrY's battles those better able through
friends auG influence to push their claim s.
Every pension that Is glaated pnCer our present
plan upon any other grounds than actual seTY
ice injury or disease incurred in such seIvlca,
and every instance OF the many in which pen
siops are increased on other grounds than the
merits of the claim. work an injustice to the
brave and crippled but pool aud friendlesI sol
dior who is entirely neglected or who must bl
content with the smallest sum allowed under
general laws. There are far too many neighbor.
hoods in which are found glaring OF inc
quality Of treatment in the matter of pensions
rnd they are largely due to yielding ir
the i.eLs;or bureau to importantly on the
part OF those othet than the pensioner
who are especially Interested, they arise from
special acts passed for the benefit of individuals
The men who fought side by side should stanc
side BY side when they participate in q grateful
nations kind IGnemb mbrapce Every consd IRA
tion of fairness and justice to Our ex-soldiers
and the protection of the patriotic instincts o
our citizens from pcrversion and violence, points
to the adoption of pension system broad ant
comprehensive enough to cover every co tin
gency, and which shall make unnecessary al
Objectionable volume of special legislation. A.
long NO adhere to the principle Of grantin!
pensions for service Lnd disability as the resul
of the service, the allowance OF pensions should
be restricted to cases presenting these features
Every patriotic heart responds to a tender con
! silerstion for those who having served thei
| country I6Ae apd we'll are reduced to destftu
| tion and depondenee, not IS ag incident of thei
! service. but with advancing age o, through sick
| ness or misfortune. We are all tempted by th
! contemplation of such condition to supply re
! lief, and are often impatient Of the liri
! tatiops OF public duty. Yielding t.
/ no one la the desire to Indulge thi
fanlinp of cOnai liberation ( cannot ri