The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-15


tenn Of agencies standing alone IS inadequate
for the accomplishment OF an object which
has become pressing in its importance-ths
more rapld transition from tribal organiza-
ton 70 citizenship of such portions Of the
Indians as are capable OF civilized life. and
hence the necessity for supplemental agency,
a commission Of SIX intelligent persons-shres
from the arlny-chargei with the manage
nleat Of such matters Of detail rs cannot
with the present organization, De properly
and successfully conducted The time is
ripe, the president tells congress, for the
work OF such an agency.
The president recommends the repeal Of the
prs-emptiOn AMI timber culture acts, and
that the homestead law be 50 amended as to
better secure cosnpliance with their require
ments OF residence, Improvement and culti-
walton for I've years from date OF entry,
without communication or provision for specu-
lative rslinquishmenE Referring 70 the sat
is59ctory exhibit Of the operations Of the
pension bureau during the last fiscal year,
and 10 pension matters generally, the preSi-
dent says the usefulness and the justice Of
any system for the distribution of pensions
depends uron the equity and uniformity Of
its operations, and as long as we adhere to
the principle Of granting pensions for SER
vice and disability as the result OF service,
/ TO cases presenting these features
Tbs 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 organization of the bu-
reau, and it has been done at less cost than
during the previous year in every division
On the 18th day of June. 1856, there were
/ 3 is. 5SS pensioners on the rolls of the bureau
Since 1861 there have been LOIS. .35 applica-
tions for pensions filed, Of which =. So were
/ based upon service in the war Of 1872 There
1 were 62I, 1a4 Of these applications allowed,
4 including 90, lis 20 the soldiers of 1872 and
/ their widows
The total amount paid for pensions since
/ 1861 is SS1S, ga SJl.57 The number Of new
/ pensions allowed duriue the year ended June
/ 81, ;SSd, Is 81. So, larger number than has
+ been allowed in any year, save one. siuca
I 1861, the names of @.259 pensioners which
had been previously dropped from the rolls
I were restored during the year, after deduct
T ing those dropped within the same time for
+ various causes, a net increase remains for
/ the year Of 20,65S names. From January 1,
! 1851, TO December ], 1885, 1,965 private pen
! son acts had been passed. Since the last
named date, and during the last session Of
congress GA such acts became laws
/ Il seems to me that no one can examine
{ our pension establishmt 10 and its operations
( without being convinc, that through its iu-
strumentalty justice can he very nearly
/ done to all who are entitled under present
laws to the pension bounty of the govern
ment
+ But it is uudeniable that cases exist, well
/ entitled to relief, which the pension bureau
{ -.
! cases of this class are such as only lack by
+ misfortune the kind of quantity Of proof
I which the law and regulations Of the bureau
/ require, or which, though their merit is ap-
/ parent. for some other reason cannot justly
/ be dealt with through general laws.
/ These conditions fully justify application
! to the congress and special enactments. But
/ resort to the congress FOR a special pension
act to overru,e the deliberate and careful
I determination OF the pension bureau on the
merits, or to secure favorable action when it
] could not be expected under the most liberal
execution Of general laws, it must be ad-
mtted, opens the door to the allowance of
questionable claims, and presents Co the
! legislative and executive branches of the gov
/ erument applications concededly not within
| the law, and plainly devoid of merit but so
/ surrounded by sentiment and patriotic feel
ing that they are hard to resist.
| I suppose it will not be denied that many
/ claims for pensions 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 use
fuIness and ths justice Of any system for the
distribution Of pensions depend upon tbs
| equality and uniformity of its operation. il
81. 81.
! sioners that there are now paid by the gov
ernment l3l different rates Of pension.
Estimates from the best information W,
can obtain show that . 900 OF those who have
served in the army and navy OF the United
| States are now supported, in whole or il
part, from public funds or by organized
| charities, exclusive Of those in soldiers
homes under the direction and control of tn,
government. Only 13 per cent Of those are
pensioners while of the entire number o.
men furnished for the late war something
like % per cent, including their widows anC
relatives have been or now are in receipt o
pensions. The American people with pa
triotic 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 jtstice
should be done to all honest claimants fol
pensions.
"Every patriotic heart, he says. "respondi
to a tender consideration for those who, hav
| ing served their country long and well, arr
reduced to destitution and despondence, no
as an incident OF their service but with adj
vanclng age and misfortune We are al
tempted by the contemplation Of such con
dition TO supply relief and are often impa
tient Of the limitations of public duty
Yielding to no one in the desire to indulg'
this feeling Of consideration, I cannot rid
myself Of the conviction that IL these ex
soldiers are TO be relieved, they and the
cause are entitled to the benefit of an enact
ment under which relief may be claimed as
right and that such relief should be grantec
under the sanction Of law, not in evasion o
it: nor should such worthy objects Of care
all equally entitled, be RENTED to the un
equal operation Of sympathy, or the tendel
nercies Of social and political influence with
their unjust discrimination.
On the 4th Of March, 1855. the current bu
siness Of the patent Office was. on an average
FIVE and a half months behind At the clos
of the last fiscal year such current work wa
| but three months in arrears, and it is as
| serted and believed that in the next few
| months the delay in obtaining an examina
ton Of application for patent will b
but nominal The number Of application
for patents during the last fiscal year. includ
ing reissues, designs trademarks and labels
equals 40 G1s. which is considerably in exces
OF the number received during any preceding
year. The receipts Of the patent office durin
the year aggregated S1,2i5, 1919, enabling
the Office to turn into the treasury a surplu
revenue, over and above all expenditures, o
about Sl63 7l0.33
{ The numbtr Of patents granted during I'll
, I las a. inc alS az
| marks, designs aud labels, YVES 25.6l9-a nun
Der also quite largely in excess Of that Of an
: preceding year. The report Of ths commits
sioner shows the Office to be in a prosperou
, condition and constantly increasing in il
} business. No increase Of force Is asked foI
: The amount estimated for the fiscal year end
! ing June 80 1885, was $500 40. The amour
estimated for the year ending June 30, l5Sl
z was sSz3 9o0. The amount estimated for tn
fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. IS s77s, az
OF the Pacific railroad debt extensio
proposition, he says, that congress IN cor
/ sideriug the plan suggested by the secretar
of the interior, and endorsed by the board G
. I government directors, the sole matters whic
: should be taken into account are @the situs
8 ton of the government as creditor and ii
. surest way % secure the payment OF th
Z principal and interest Of its debt %
. OF interstats commerce he says that
' q recent decision Of the supreme court Of th
! United States, it has been adjudged that th
laws Of the several states are imperative {
/, regulate rates Of transportation upon raj
: roads if such regulation interferes with tt
, rate Of carriage from one state into another
> This important field of control and regult
! tion having been thus left entirely unoccl
. pied, the expeiiency Of Federal action upo
/ the subject Is unworthy of consideration