Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-07

commutatiOn or provision for speculative
REIMBURSEMENT. I also recommend the
repeal of desert land laws, unless it shall
be the pleasure of congress to so amend
these gains as to render them less liable to
abuse. As the chief motive for an evasion
of the laws and the principal cause of their
result in land accumulation in void of land
distribution is the facility with which
transfers are made of the right intended
to be secured to settlers II may be advis-
able to provide by legislation some guards
and checks upon the alienation of home
stead rights and lands covered thereby IN
til patents are issued Last year al eyecu
tive proclamation was issued directing the
removal of fences which enclosed the pub
tic DOMAIN Many of these were removed
in obedience to such order. That much of
the public land still remains within the
lines of these unlawful fences, the in
genious methods resOrted to in order to
continue these trespasscs and the hardi-
hood of pretenses, by which in some cases
such Enclosures are justified, are fully de-
tailed in the report Of the secretary OF the
interior The removal OF the fences still
remaining which inclose public lands will
be enforced 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.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commissioner of pen
sions contains "a detailed and most satisfac-
tory exhibit of the operations of the pen
sion 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 the previous year in every division
On the Both day of June, 1886, there were
300, 1873 pensioners on the rolls of the
bureau. Since 1861 there have been l, 10S
735 pension applications filed, of which
Is, S34 were based upon service in the war
of 1912. There were 62l, 154 Of these APP
plcations allowed, including go. l7S to the
soldiers of 1912 and their widows. The
total amount paid for pensions since 1861
IS sos. 624. S11 81. The number of new
pensions allowed during the year ended
June 80, 1886 is 1887. a larger number
than has been allowed in any year
save one since 1861 The names of 2, 229
pensioners which had been previously
| dropped from the rolls, were restored dur
| ing the year. and after deducting those
| dropped within the same time for various
causes a net increase remains for the year
OF %, 65S names From January lSt 1851,
to Decemb Der 1st, 1885, 1867 private pen
sion acts had been passed. Since the last
mentioned date, and during the
last session of congress, GA
such acts became laws. II seems that
no one can imagine our pension establish
ment and its operation without being con-
WINGED that through its fundamentally
Justice can be very nearly done to all who
are entitled, under the present laws, TO the
pension bounty of the government but it
is undeniable that eases exist well entitled
to relief in which the pension bureau is
powerless to relieve The really worthy
cases of this class are such as only lack by
misfortune the kind or quantity of proof
which the law and regulations of the bur
eau require, or which though their merits,
apparent for some other reason cannot be
Justly 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 override the deliberate and careful
determination of the pension bureau on the
merits or to secure favorable action when
it could not be be expected under the most
liberal execution Of general laws. it must
be admitted opens the doors TO the allow
ance of Questionable claims and presents to
the legislative and executive branches Of
the government applications conceededly
not within the law and plainly devoid of
merit, but so surrounded by sentiment
and patriotic feeling that they are hard to
resist suppose il will not be denied that
nanv claims for pensions are made with
out merit, and that many have been al
lowed upon fraudulent representations.
This has been declared from the pension
bureau not only in this but in prior admin
istrations The usefulness and the justice
of anv system for the distribution of pen
sions depends upon the equality and ami
formitv Of its operation. 1t will be seen
from the report Of the commissioner that
there are now paid by the government 13l
different rates Of pension.
Estimates from the best Information be
can obtain show that nine thousand OF
these who have served in the army aad
navy of the United States are now sup
ported in whole or il part from public
4 funds or by organized charities. EXclu
sive of those in soldiers homes under til,
direction and control of the government,
only Is per cent. of these pensioners, while
of the entire number Of men Furnished
from the late war something like 20 pei
cent. including their widows and relatives
have been or are now in receipt of pen
siunS.
The American people with a patriotic
grateful regard for our eX-soldiers too
broad and too sacred to be monopolizei by
any special advocates are not only willing
but anxious that equal and exact justice
should be done 10 all honest claimants foi
pensions In their sight the friend!ess and
destitute soldier, dependent upon public
charity if otherwise entitled had precisely
the same right To share in the provision
made for those who fought their country,
baille, Is those better able through frend'
and Influence to push their claims Ever,
pension that Is granted under our present
plan upon any other grounds
than actual service and injury
or disease incurred in such service and
every instance of the many in which pen
.ions are increased on other grounds thai
the. merits of the claim so * AL injury Il
the brave and crippled. but poor anc
frieaIl-,s soldier who Is entirely neglected
or who must b,. content with the smailrs
sum allowed under general laws Their
j, are far too many neigh Dornonds in whlci
are found glaring cases Of inequality q
! treatment in the matter Of pensions, an
| they are largely due 10 yielding IN IN
= pension bureau to importantly Ga the par
. # those other than the pensione
, who are specially interested, ar they aTis'
/. from special acts passed for the benefit o
r individuals The mea who fought s.Ae %
side should stand side bv side when the,
, participate IL grateful nati'Cs KIND re
nemhrauce Every cOn,ldrratI''n OF farncs
l and Justice - OUT ex-soidlers ana the pro
! trcIipa Of the patriotic instincts OF ou
; citizens from pey'ersion and violation
70 point to the adoption o. pension system