The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09

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,sorious and immediate attention of con-
1ress. The energies of the land depart
t11ant have been devoted during the press
ant administration to remedy the defects
and correct the abuses in the
mublic land service. The results
IF these efforts are SO largely
IN the nature of reforms in the meth
dds of a public system as to prevent ade-
mate estimates. But it appears by
Compilation from the reports of the com
missioner of the general land Office that
an immediate effect on leading cases,
which have come to a definite termina-
t;on has been the restoration to the mass
Of public lands of 2,750,000 acres; that
two million, three hundred and seventy
thousand acres are embraced in investi-
cations now pending before the
Separtment, or the courts, and
that action has been asked to
effect the restoration of two million seven
hundred and ninety thousand acres addl-
tional, besides which four million acres
have been withheld from reservation and
the rights of entry thereon maintained. l
recommend the repeal of the presumption
and timber culture acts, and that the
homestead laws be so amended as to bet
fer secure compliance with the require
ments of residence, improvement and Gull
tivation for the period of five years, from
the date of entry, without continuation or
provision for speculative REIMBURSEMENT.
I also recommend the repeal of the desert
land laws, unless it shall be the
pleasure of the congress to so amend
these laws as to render them less liable to
abuse. AS the chief motive for an evas-
ion of the laws, and the principal cause
of the result in land accumulation, instead
of land distribution, is the facility with
which transfers are made of the right in
tended to be secured to settlers, it may
be deemed advisable to provide by legis-
lation some guards and checks upon the
alienation of homestead rights, and lands
covered thereby, until patents issue.
REMOVAL OF FENCES.
Last year an executive proclamation
was issued, directing the removal of
fences which enclosed 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 in
gen1ous methods resorted to in order to
continue these trespasses, and the hardi-
hood of the pretenses by which, in some
cases, such enclosures are justified, are
fully detailed in the report of the secre-
tary of the interior. The removal of the
fences still remaining, which enclose
public land, will be enforced with all tho
authority and means with which the ex-
ecutive branch of the general government
is, or shall be invested by the congress
for that purpose.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commits
sioner of pensions contains a
detailed and most satisfactory exhibit 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 organization of the bureau, and
it has been at less cost than during
previous year in every division.
On the Both day of June, 1856, there
were 1856, 1888 pensioners on the rolls OF
the bureau. Since 1881 there have been
1,O18,735 applications for pen
1874 were upon service in the war of 1917
There were 621754 of these apPiica-
tions allowed, including 6O,l7o to the SOL
diers of 1912 and their widows. Inc TO-
tai amount paid for pensions since 1861, Is
$SOS, 624,S11,57. The numbers OF new
pensions allowed during the ended
June, 80, 1886, Is 4o,oo''
larger number than year
save one. Since 1881, the names of 2,229
pensioners, which had been previously
dropped from the rolls, were restored dur
ing the year, and after dedueting those
drOpned within the same time for various
causes net increaseire remains for the year
of 2O.678 pames. From January l, 1861, TO
December l, 1885, 967 private pension
accounts had been passed since the ias6
mentioned date, and during the last ses-
sion of congress GA such accouaCs
became laws. 1t seems to me tna'
no one could examine our pension es
tablishment, and its operations wi1nou'
being convinced that through lts lnsVru-
mentality Justice can be very nearly zone
to all who are entitled under present laws
tn the nension bounty of the government;
bnt Il !. nndeniable that cases exist wen
ent;tled to relief in which the pension Du-
rear ia nowerless to relieve. The reaily
worthv cases of this class are such as
only lack by misfortune the KIND ana
quantity of proof which the law ana reg gu u
lations of the bureau require, or which,
thonoh their merit is apparent Ior
some other reason can noG oe
dealt with through general laws. ln ts .
conditions fully justify application Do DO '" .
CONGRESS- for special euactments' Blu:
resort to congress for a special pension
act To overrule the deliberate ana care
fnl determination of the pension bureau
ON its merits. or to secure favorable ac-
t;on when Il could not be expected unoer
the most liberal execution OF genera
laws II must be admitted, opens tne uoolo
90 10 allowance of questionable claims
ond presents to the legislative and execu-
tive branches of the government s sp
nl;cat;ons concededly not withln the Jaw
and plainly devoid OF t iueaIV,
ant % surrounded by sentiment
nnS nstriotic feeling that they are haro
4 tn resist. suppose it will not be denls 5a
that many claims for pensions are i haon
Then, 18th merit, and that many have neen
W una mon fraudulent representations
This has been declared from the Pensiodh
hnrean not only in this, but in prior a aSa
Illustrations. The usefulness ana !ne
ntinioS &c INV svstem, for the distributor