The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-16
THE MESSAGE.
President Cleyeland's Annua /
Suggestions to Congress.
The national Indebtness.-The Laboring
Glasses Recognized = The Army, the
Navy and the Postal Service-The In
dians-PubIic Lands Civil Service
Reform.

Navy and the Postal service-The In
dams Public Lands Civil Service
Reform.
[CoNcLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.
The sum paid upon the public debt during
the fiscal year ended June so, 1886, was
| S44, 551 ,043. SO.
During the twelve months ended Oct. 81,
1886, per cent bonds were called for redemp-
ton amounting to 1927 ,2S3. 100, of which
| $50, 643, 200 called to answer the re-
| quirements of the law relating to the sinking
| fund and SAG, 639, 900 for the purpose of re-
| ducing the public debt by application of a
part of the surplus in the treasury to that
| object. Of the bonds thus called S102, 269 40
/ became subject under such calls to redemp-
! ton piIur to Nov. 1, 1885, The remainder,
i nmountin-; to S25, 013, $50, matured under the
| calls after that date.
In addition to the amount subject to pay
ment and cancellation prior to Nov. 1, there
were also paid before that day certain of
these bonds, with the interest thereon,
amounting to So, or, $50, which were antici-
b as d to their hn 81 wh si
had been actually applied prior to Nov: l,
1885, to the extinguishment of bonded
and interest bearing debt, leaving On that
! day still outstanding the sum of 81, 153, 43, ia
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
! The affairs of the postal service show
marked and gratifying improvement during
| the past year. The reduction of the rate of
letter postage in 1888 rendering the postal
revenues inadequate TO sustain the eXpendl-
| lures, and business depression also cOntr1bu-
| ting, resulted in excess of cost for the
ifs al year ended June 30, 1888, of eight and
one-thrd millions of dollars An additional
check upon re, eip;s by doubling the measure
| of weight III rating sealed correspondence
and diminishing one-half the charge for news
paper carriage, imposed by legislation
| which took effect with the beginning of the
past fiscal year; while the constant demand
of our territorial development and growing
population, for the extension and increase of
! mail facilities and machinery, necessitateS
| steady annual advance in outlay; and the
| careful estimate of q year ago upon the rates
OF expenditure then existing contemplated the
unavoidable augmentation of fhe def
! cheney in the last fiscal year by nearly 81,
| 100000 The anticipated revenue for the last
| year failed of realization by about $4,000,
| but proper measures of economy have SO sat
| isfactoriy limited the growth of expenditure
| that the total deficiency, IN fact, fell below
| that of 1885. At the close of the last fiscal
year the expense of transportation on star
routes stood at an annual rate of cost less by
over $500, 600 than at the close of the previ-
| Gus year. and steamboat and mail messenger
service at nearly 100000 less. The service
has been in the meantime enlarged and ex-
tended by the establishment of new offices, in
crease of routes of carriage, expansion of car
rier delivery conveniences and additions to TIL
| railway mail facilities, in accordance with the
growing eXigenCies of the country and the
| long established policy of the government.
The differences which arose during the year
with certain of the steamship companies have
terminated by the acquiescence of all in the
policy of the government approved by the
congress in the postal appropriation at its
last session; and the department now en- joys
the utmost service afforded by all vessels
which sail from our ports upon either ocean
of intercourse Petitions have, how
ever, been presented to the department by
numerous merchants and manufacturers for
the establishment of direct service to the
A lie fOIC
patches to the empire of Brazil; and the sub
ject is commended to your consideration. 1
suggest that as distinguished from grant or
subsidy for the mere benefit of any line of
trade or travel, whatever outlay may
be required to secure additional postal
service, necessary and proper and
regarded as within the limit of
legitimate compensation for such service.
The extension of the free delivery service as
suggested by the postmaster general has here
hoped a suitable enactment may soon be
agreed upon. The request for an appropria-
ton sufficient to enable the general inspection
of fourth class offices has my appreciation.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commissioner 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 done at less cost than
during the previous year in every division. On
the Both day of June, 1ss6, there 365.7S3 pen
sioners on the rolls of the bureau Since IsU1
there have been 1,o:s.735 applicants for pensions
filed, of which rs. s34 We're based upon service in
the of 1912. There were 6-I.154 of these ap
plications allowed including CO. rs to the soldiers
Of 1912 and their widows The total amount paid
year ended June 80, 1855, is 40, s57A larger mum
Der than has been allowed in any year save one
since 1861: the names of 1929 pensioners which
had been previously dropped from NE rolls We're
ing those dropped within the same time fol
various causes, a net increase remains for the
year of 20,65S names. From Jan. !, 1861, to Dee
/, 1885, 1897 private pension acts had been passed
Since the last mentioned date, and during the
last session of the congress, 644 such became
laws 1t seems to that ex
anime our pension establishment and it
through its instrumentality justice can '- b,
very nearly done to all who entitled
government. But it is undeniable that cases eX
ist, well entitled to relief in WeisA the pension
cases of this class are such as only lack by mis-
fortune the kind of quantity of proof which the
which, though their merit is apparent for som,
other reason cannot be justly dealt with through
general laws. These conditions fully justify ap
plication to the congress and special enactments
But resort to the congress for a special pension
act to overrule the deliberate and careful deter
mination of the pension bureau the merit
or to secure favorable action when it could no
be expected under the most liberal execution o
general laws. it be admitted, opens tn
door to the allowance of questionable claims AM
presents TO the Legislative and executive branche
within the law and plainly devoid sf merit bu
so surrounded by sentiment and patriotic fee
ing that they are hard to resist. l suppose
will not be denied that many claims for pensio
made without merit and THAI Alany hay
been allowed upon fraudulent representation
This has been declared from the pension bureau
not only in this, but in prior Administrations
The usefulness and the Justice OF system for tn
distribution of pensions depend upon the eaualit
and uniformity OF its operation 1t will be see
from the report of the commissioner that there ar
now paid by the government 131 different rates c
of pension. He estimates from the best nformi
ton he obtain that 1000 OF thsse who hav
served in the army and havy of the United State
are supported, in whole in part, frou put
lie funds or by organized charities, exclusive
those in soldiers homes under the direction an
X control of the government. Only I3 per cent. {
these pensioners, while of the catire nuInbe
of men furnished for the late something lk
20 per cent. including their widows and relative
have been are in the receipt of pensions