Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06

be justly dealt with through general laws These
gress and special enactments. But rssorf 10 the
congress for special pension act TO override the
deliberate and Careful determination OF the Pen
SION Bureeu on the merits or 10 secure favorable
action when II could not be expected under the
most liberal execution OF general laws Il must be
admitted, opens the door 10 the allowance OF
questionable claims and presents TO the legtsla-
tive and executive branches OF the Government
applications concededly not within the law and
plainly devoid OF merit, but 50 surrounded by SEN
tment and patriotic FEELING that they are hard TO
resist suppose IL will not be denied that many
claims for pension are made without merit and
representations This has been declared from the
tension Bureau, not only in this but In prior ad-
The usefulness and the justice OF any system for
the distribution OF pensions depend upon the
equality and uniformity OF It's operation
s,dne w,t, oe seen rom the report OF the Commits
sioner that there are now paid by the Govern
ment one hundred and thirty different rates
fie estimates from the best Information he can
obtain that nine thousand OF those who have
served In the Army and Navy OF the United states
are now supported, I'm whole or In part, from pub
NC FUNDS or by organized charities, exclusive OF
those In soldiers homes under the direction and
controi OF the government. Only l3 per cent OF
OF men furnished for the late war sometbing ike
20 per cent. Including their widows and relatives
nave been or now are In the receipt of pensions.
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL PENSION CLAIMANTS.
The American people, with apatriotfr and CRATE
sacred to be monopolized By any special advo-
cates-are not only willing but anxious that equal
and exact justice should be done to all honest
claimants for pensions In their sight the friend.
less and destitute soldier, dependent on public
charity, II otherwise entitled, has precisely the
who fought their countryS battles as those belter
able, through friends and influence, TO push their
claims Every pension that is granted under our
present plan upon any other grounds than actual
service and injury or disease Incurred In such ger
vice, and every instance OF the many In which
pensions are increased on other grounds than the
merits or the claim, work Injustice TO the brave
and crippled, but poor and friendess soldier, who
Is entirely neglected or who must be content with
the smallest sum allowed under general laws
There are far too many neighbOrhoods I'm which
are found glaring cases OF inequality OF treatment
In the matter OF pensions; and they are largely
due TO yielding fin the Pension Bureau to impof-
tunity on the part OF those, other than the pen
sioner, who ere especially interested, or they
arise from special acts passed for the beneht OF in
The men who fought side by side should stand
side by side when they participate In a grateful
nations Kind remembrance.
Every consideration OF fairness and justice TO
our eXSoldier and the protection OF the patriotic
Instinct OF our citizens from perversion and VIOLA
ton, point to the adoption OF a pension system
broad and comprehensive enough to cover every
contingency, and which shall make unnecessary
an Dn On Ws volume OF special legslaton
Ing pensions Tor service and disability as the re-
suit Of the service, the allowance OF pensions
features.
THE RELIEF OF DESTITUTE VETERANS.
Every patriotic heart responds to tender con-
sderatOn for those who, having served their coun-
try long and well, are reduced to destitute and
dependence, not as an incident OF their service,
but with advancing age or through sickness or
misfortune. We are all tempted by the contem-
plation OF such condition to supply relief and
are often impatient OF the Limitations OF public
duty. Yielding to no one In the desire TO indulge
this feeling OF consideration, cannot rid myself
OF the conviction that IL these soldiers are TO e
relieved, they and their cause are entitled to the
benefit OF an enactment, under which relief may
be claimed as right, and that such relief should
be granted under The sanction OF law, not In eva
sion OF IL; nor should such worthy objects OF care
all equally entitled, be RENTED to the unequal
social and political influence with their unjust
determinations.
The discharged soldiers and sailors OF the coun.
try are our fellow-citizens, and Interested with
| in the passage and faithful execution OF whole
some laws. They cannot be swerved from their
duty OF citizenship by artful appeals TO their
spirit OF brotherhood born OF common peril and
suffering, nor will they exact test OF devotion
to their welfare willingness to neglect public
duty i'm their behalf.
THE PATENT OFFICE CATCHING uP WITH ITS WORK
On the 4th OF March, 1885, the current business
Of the Patent Office was. on an average, five and
half months in arrears, and in several divisions
more than twelve months behind. At the close OF
the last fiscal year such current work was but
three months in arrears, and IL Is asserted and De-
| lieved that In the next few months the delay In
obtaining an examination OF an application Tor q
patent VIII be but nominal.
The number OF applications for patents during
the last fiscal year, including reissues, designs
| trademarks and labels, equals 4O67s which is
considerably I'm excess or the number received
during any preceding year.
The receipts OF the Patent ONCE during the year
aggregate 81 205 1870, enabling the Office to turn
into the Treasury surplus revenue, over and
above all expenditures. OF about sl63, 1000.
The number OF patents granted during the last
fiscal year, including reissues, trademarks de-
signs and labels, was % 6Is-a number also quite
largely I'm excess of that OF any preceding year.
The report OF the Commissioners shows the OF.
increasing in its business No increase OF force Is
asked for.
The amount estimated for the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1856. was $500, $50. The amount es-
tmated for the year ending June 30, 1887, was
$3.50 $50. The amount estimated for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1888, is S77S,TQ
THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS.
The Secretary OF the Interior suggests a change
in the plan for the payment OF the Indebtedness
the Pacific subsidized roads to the Government.
His suggestion has the unanimous endorsement OF
the persons selected by the Government to act as
directors OF these roads and protect the interests
of the United States in the board Of direction.
which should be taken into account, in nv
opinion, are the situation OF the Government a
creditor, and the surest way to secure the pay
BY recent decision OF the Supreme Court OF TIE
United States 1t has been ad1udged that the laws
OF the several states are imperative to regulate
rates OF transportation upon railroads. II such reg
uatiOn interferes with the rate OF carriage from one
state into another. This important field OF con-
troll and regulation having been thus left entirely
unoccupied, the expediency OF Federal action upon
the subject is worthy OF consideration.
FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN LABOR TROUBLES.
The relations OF labor to capital and OF laboring
men to their employers are OF the utmost concern
to every patriotic citizen. When they strained
and distorted, unjust1iable claims are apt to be
insisted upon by both interests and In the con-
tOversy which results the welfare OF all and the
prosperity OF the country are je0pardZed. ANY
Intervention OF the general government within
the limits OF its constitutional authority, TO avert
such a condition, should be willingly accorded.
In special message transmitted 70 the Congress
al its last session suggested the enlargement OF
our present labor bureau and adding its present
functions the power OF arbitration In cases where
differences arise between employer and employed.
When these differences reach such a stage as to
result in the interruption OF commerce between
the states the application OF this remedy by the
general government might be regarded as entirely
within its constitutional powers. And l think We
might reasonably hope that such arbitrator IL
carefully selected and III entitled TO the confidence
OF the parties to be affected would be voluntarily
called to the settlement OF controversies OF less
extent and not necessarily within the domain of
federal regulation.
am OF the opinion that this suggestion Is
worthy the attention OF the Congress.
But after all has been done by the passage OF
laws either Federal or State to relieve situation
full OF sOicitude, much more remains TO be accom-
pliShed by the reinstatement and cultivation OF
true American sentiment which recognizes the
equality Of American citizenship. This In the
light Of our traditions and In loyalty 70 the spirit
or our institutions, would teach that hearty CO
path TO national greatness and the ha ppness oY