The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-09

class Of war material.
In the matter of the postal service we are
assured that we have the best establishment
in the world. The reduction of the rate of
postage which caused deficiency recently
it appears is soon TO be made up by the ex-
tension and increase of the business, so that
it is already proved that cheap postage is
success in this country. The President
recommends the extension of The free-de-
livery system and the creation of another
Assistant POstmaster-Geueral.
Perhaps the following may be construed as
rs declaration in favor Of mail subsidies:
i suggest that rs distinguished from grant
or subsidy for the mere benefit of any line of
trade or travel, whatever outlay may be re-
quired TO secure additional postal service, neces
sary and proper and not otherwise attainable,
should be regarded as within the limit OF le-
gitimate compensation for such service.
As TO the Indians, he renews his recon-
mendation of last year for Commission as
supplemental agency in their civilization.
He recommends the allotment to them of
land in severalty under homestead law.
The President animadverts against large
land owners, and goes on to say:
l recommend the repeal OF the presumption
and timber-culture acts and that the home
stead laws be so amended as to better secure
compliance with their requirements of resi-
dence, improvement and cultivation for the
period of five years from date OF entry, without
.ss - Il 4.
quishment. i also recommend the repeal OF the
dcsert-land laws unless il shall be the pleasure
of the Congress to SO amend these laws as to
render them less liable to abuses. As the chief
motive for an invasion Of the laws and the
principal cause Of their result in land accumu-
laton instead Of land distribution, is the facility
with which transfers are made Of the right in
tended to be secured TO settlers, il may be
deemed advisable to provide by legislation
some guards and checks upon the alienation of
homestead rights and lands covered thereby
until patents issue.
Last year an executive proclamation was IS
sued directing the removal of fences which
inelosed 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 those unlawful fences. The
ingenious methods resorted TO in order to con-
tinue these trespasses and the haTdihoOd Of the
pretenses by which in some cases such inclOs-
ures are justified, are fully detailed in the re-
port Of the Secretary OF the Interior.
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 that purpose.
The President dwclls at great length on
the subject of pension legislation, and tells
the public, rather than "the" Congress
doubtless, his views about what should be
done for the veterans. He "gets aboard :"
in the following style:
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 il is undeniable that cases exist, we'll en-
| titled to relief, in which the Pension Bureau
is powerless to aid. The really worthy cases
of this class are such as only lack by misfor-
| tune the kind or quantity of proof which the
law and regulations of the Bureau require or
| which, though their merit is apparent, for
| some other reason caunOt be justly dealt with
through general laws. These conditions fully
justify application TO the Congress and special
| enactments. But resort 10 the Congress for q
special pension act to override the deliberate
and careful determination of the Pension Blu
reau on the merits or tosecure favorable action
| when il could not be expected under the most
/ liberal execution Of general laws, il must be
| admitted opens the door to the allowance Of
/ questionable claims and presents to the Legis-
lative and Executive branches of the Govern
ment applications cOneededly not within the
law and plainly devoid of merit, but so sur
rounded by sentiment and patriotic feeling
that they are hard to resist. i suppose it will
not be denied that many claims for pension are
made without merit and that many have been
| allowed upon fraudulent representations. This
| has been declared from the Pension Bureau not
only in this, but in prior Administrations
The usefulness aud the justice of any system
| for the distribution of pensions depend upon
the equality and uniformity of its operation.
| Ii will be seen from the report Of the Com
missioner that there are now paid by the Gov
eminent l3l different rates of pension.
He estimates from the best information he
| can obtain that 5000 Of those who have served
in the army aud navy Of the United States are
now supported, in whole or in part, from public
| funds or by organized charities, exclusive of
| those in Soldiers Homes under the direction
and control Of the Government. Only 10 per
| cent. of these are pensioners, while of the en-
tire number OF men furnished for the late war
something like 20 per cent, including their
widows and relatives, have been or now are in
receipt Of pensions.
The American people, with a 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
sight the friendess and destitute soldier de-
pendent on public charity, If otherwise enti-
tied, has precisely the same right To share in
the provisions 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 pres
ent 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 an injustice
10 the brave and crippled, but poor and friend
less soldier, who is entirely neglected or whC
must be content with the smallest sum allowed
under general laws.
There are far too many neighbOrhoods il
which are found glazing cases of inequality o.
treatment in the matter of pensions; and they
are largely due 10 q yielding in the Pension
Bureau TO importantly on the part Of those
other than the pensioner, who are especiall,
interested, or they arise from special acts paSse(
for the benefit of individuals.
The men who.fought side by side should stani
side by side when they participate in grateful
Nations kind remembrance.
Every considerationof fairness and justice {,
our ex soldiers and the protection of the patri
otto instinct Of our citizens from perversion an,
violation, point to the adoption Of a pension
system broad and comprehensive enough to cove
every contingency, and which shall make un
; necessary an Objectionable volume of specia