The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-07

vision for speculative REIMBURSEMENT i also
recommend the repeal of the desert-land laws,
unless it shall be the pleasure OF the Congress
60 go amend these laws as to render them less
liable to abuses. As the chief motive for
evasion of the laws and the principal cause of
their result in land accumulation, instead of
land distribution. is the facility with which
transfers are made Of the right intended TO be
secured to settlers. it 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 issued
directing the removal of fences which iEclosed
the public domain. Many Of these have been
removed in obedience to such order, but much OF
the public land still remains within the bounds
of these unlawful fences. The ingenious meth
DDS resorted to in order to continue these tres
passes. and the hardihood of the pretenses by
which in some cases such Enclosures are justified,
are fully detailed in the report of the Secretary
of the Interior. The removal of the fences still
remaining which inclose public lands will be en-
forced 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 PENSION BUREAU.
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions
contains detailed and most satisfactory ex-
hibit of the operations of the Pension Bureau
during the last fiscal year. The amount of work
done was the largest in any year since the or
ganization of the bureau, and it has been done
at less cost than during the previous year in
every division On the Both day of June. 1886,
there were $685. 1888 pensioners on the rolls of the
bureau Since 1861 there have been 1,0l8, 735
applications for pensions filed. of which 70, 834
were based upon service in the war OF 1872
There we're 621 754 of these applications allowed,
including 60, 178 to the soldiers of 1872 and their
widows. The total amount paid for pensions
since 1861 is $808, 624, 81. SO. The number of
6A1
June 80, 1856. was 64.857, larger num-
Der than has been allowed in any year.
save one, since 1861, the names of 1929 pension
ers which had been previously dropped from the
rolls were restored during the year, and after
deductng those dropped within the same time
for various causes, net increase remains for
the year of 20, 658 names. From Jan. l. 1861, to
Dec l. 1885, l 967 private pension acts had been
passed. Since the aforementioned date, and
during the last session of the Cor gress, 644 such
acts became laws Il seems to me that no one
can examine our pension establishment and it's
operations without being convinced that, through
its instrumentality, justice very nearly be
done to all who are entitled under present laws
to the pension bounty of the government But
it is undeniable that cases exist well entitled to
relief which the Pension Bureau is powerless to
relieve The really worthy cases Of this
class are such as only lack, by mis-
fortune, the kind or quantity of proof
which the law and the regulations of the bureau
require, or which, though their merit is apparent
for some other reason cannot be justly dealt
with through the general laws These conii-
tons fully Justify application for thorough and
special enactments. But resort to the Congress
for special pension act to override the deliber-
ate and careful determination Of the Pension
Bureau on the merits or TO secure favorable ac-
ton when it could not be expected under the
most liberal execution of general laws, it must
be admitted, opens the door to the allowance of
questionable claims and presents to the legis
lative 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 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 representation. This has been de-
clared from the Pension Bureau, not only in
this but in prior administrations. The useful
ness and the justice of any system for the dis
tribution of pensions depends upon the equality
and uniformity of it's operation.
1t will be seen from the report of the Commits
sioner that there are now paid by the govern
ment III different rates OF pension. He esti-
mates from the best information he can obtain
that 5000 of those who have served in the army
and navy of the United States are now sup
ported 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 ID per cent. Of
these are pensioners while of the entire number
of men furnished for the late war, something
relatives. have been or are now in
receipt OF pensions. The American peo-
pie, with patriotic and grateful re-
gard for our ex.solders. too broad and too
sacred to be monopolized by any special advo-
Gates are not only willing, but anxious that
equal and exact justice should be done to all hon
est claimants for pensions. In their sight the
friendless and destitute soldier. dependent on
public charity, il otherwise entitled has pre-
cisely the same right to share in the provision
made for those who fought their country's bat
ties as those better able, through friends and in
duence, to push their claims. Every pension
that Is granted under present
plan upon any othsr grounds than actual service
and INJURY, or disease incurred in such service,
and every instance of the many in which pen
sions increased on other grounds than the
merits of the claim, work injustice to the brave
and crippled, but poor and friendless soldier,
who is entirely neglected, or who must be con-
tent with the smallest sum allowed under the
general laws. There are far too many neighbor-
hoods in which are found glazing cases of me-
quality of treatment in the matter of pensions
and they are largely due to yielding in the
Pension Bureau to importantly the part of
those other than the pensioner who is especially
interested, or they arise from such acts passed
for the benefit of individuals The men who
fought side by side should stand
in grateful nations kind remembrance Every
consideration of fairness and justice to our ex-
soldiers and the protection of the patriotic IN
stincts of our citizens from persecution and vio-
lation, point to the adoption of pension system
broad and comprehensive enough to cover every
contingency, and which shall make unnecessary
an Objectionable volume of special legislation
AS long as we adhere to the principle of grant
ing pensions for service and disability as the re-
suit of the service, the allowance of pensions
should be restricted to cases presenting these
features. Every patriotic heart responds to q
consideration for those who. having served their
country long and we'll, are reduced to restitution
and dependence. not as an incident of their
service, but with advancing age, or through
sickness or misfortune. We are all tempted by
the contemplation of such condition to supply
relief and are often impa Aant of the limitations
of public duty. Yielding to no one
in the desire to indulge in this
feeling of consideration, cannot rid
myself of the conviction that if these ex-sodiers
are to be relieved. they and their cause are emit