The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-09

| istrations. The usefulness and the iustic
| of any system for the distribution of pen
| sions depend upon the equality and uni
formity of its operation. 1t will be seeI
from the report of the Commissions
that there are now paid by the government 13
different rates OF pension. Estimates from
the best information that can be obtained
show that nine thousand of those who have
served in the army and navy of the United
States are now supported, in whole or ir
part, from public funds or by organized
charities, exclusive of those in soldiers
homes, under the direction and control OF
the government. Only 13 per cent of those
are pensioners, while of the entire number
like 20 per cent, including their widows
and relatives, have been or now
are in the receipt of pensions. The
American people, with patriotic and CRATE
full regard for our ez-soldiers, too broad and
too sacred to be monopolized by any special
advocates, are not only willing. but anxious
that equal and exact justice should be done
to all honest claimants for pensions. In
their sight the friendless and destitute sol
dier, dependent on public charity, if other
wise entitled, has precisely the same right
to share in the provision made for those who
fought their country's battles as those better
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 service, and in every instance of the
many in which pensions are increased on
other grounds than the merits of the CLAIM
work an injustice to the brave and crippled,
but poor and friendless soldier, who IS en-
tirely neglected, or who must be content
with the smallest sum allowed under the
general laws. There are far to, many
neighborhoods in which are found glaring
cases of inequality of treatment in the
matter of pensions; and they are largely due
to yielding in the. Pension Bureau
to importantly on the part of those other
than the pensioner especially interested, as
they arise from special acts passed for the
benefit of individuals. The men who fought
side by side should stand side by side when
they participate in a grateful nations kind
Every consideration of fair
ness and justice to our ex-soldiers and the
protection of the patriotic instincts of our
citizens from perversion and violation point
to the adoption of pension system broad
and comprehensive enough to cover every
and which shall make un-
necessary an Objectionable volume of
special legislation. As long as we
adhere to the principles of granting pen
sions for service and disability as the result
of the service, the allowance of pensions
should be restricted 10 cases presenting
these features. Every patriotic heart re-
spends to d tender consideration for those
who, having served their country long and
well, are reduced to destitution and depen-
dence, not as an incident of their service,
but with advancing age, or through sickness
or misfortune. We are all tempted
by the contemplation of such a 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
cannot rid myself of the
that if these ex-soldiers are to be
they and their cause are entitled to
the benefit of an enactment, under which re-
lief may be claimed as right, and that such
relief should be granted under the sanction
Of law, not in evasion of it; nor should such
worthy objects of care, all equally
entitled, be remItted to the un-
equal operation of sympathy, or the
tender mercies OF social and political influ-
snce with their unju discrimination. The
discharged soldiers and sailors of the coun-
Try are our fellow citizens and interested
" 18th us in the passage and faithful execu-
ion of wholesome laws. They cannotbe sew
cred from their duty of citizenship by art
'ul appeals to their spirit of brotherhood,
BORN of common peril and suffering, nor will
hey exact as test of devotion to their wei
are willingness to neglect public duty in
heir behalf.
Patent Office Business.
On the 18th of March, 1885, the current
business of the Patent Office was on an aver
Ige five and a half months behind At the
lose of the last fiscal year such current
work. was but three months in arrears, and
t is asserted and believed that in the next
ew months the delay in obtaining an exam
nation of an application for a patent will
,e but nominal. The number of applica-
ions for patents during the last fiscal
ear, including reissues, designs
and labels, equals 4O,67S, |
Fhich is considerable in excess |
t the number received during the preceding |
ear. The receipts of the Patent Office dur |
ng the year aggregate 81, ,205, 167. 80, enabling
he office to turn into the Treasury a surplus |
evenue, over and above all expenditures, of |
bout $163, 1000. The number of patents |
ranted during the last fiscal year, including |
eissues, trademarks, designs, and labels, |
-as 25,619, number also quite |
argely in excess of that of any
receding year. The report of the |
shows the office to |
lcreasing in its business. No increase of |
'rce is asked for. The amount estimated
Or the fiscal year ending June 80, 1886, was
S90,760. The amount estimated for the
ear ending June 80, 1887, was 1858, 800.
he amount estimated for the fiscal year
ndlng June ~, 1883, is S71S,71O.
Pacific Subsidized Railroads.
The Secretary of the Interior suggests
nange in the plan for the payment of the
ldebtedness of the Pacific subsidized roads
} the government. His suggestion has the
unanimous Endorsement. of the persons Sc
cted by the government to act as directors
those roads and protect the interests of
lie United States in the board of direction.
4 considering the plan proposed the sole
atters which should be taken into account,
| my opinion, are the situation of
lrest way to secure the payment of the
rincipal and interest of its debt. By re-
mt decision of the Supreme Court of the
nited States it has been adjudged that the
ws of the several States are imperative to
,gulate rates of transportation upon rail-
'ads, if such regulation interferes with the
tte of carriage from one State into another.
his important field of control and regulation
aving been thus left entirely unoccupied,
lie expediency of federal action upon the
inject is worthy of consideration.
Relation of Labor to Capital.
The relation of labor to capital and of Ia
'ring men to their employers are of the ut
ost concern to every patriotic citizen.
hen these are strained and distorted un-
stifiable claims are apt to be insisted upon
7 both interests, and in the controversy
hich results the welfare of all and the
rosperity of the country are jeopardized.
ny nyinterventiono of the General Government,
thin the limits of its constitutional authori-
to avert such condition, should be will
gly accorded. In special message, trans
itted to Congress at its last session, / sug-
,sted the enlargement of our pres
It labor bureau and adding to its
esent functions the power of arbitration
cases where differences arise between
nployer and employed. When these differ
Ices reach such a stage as to result in the
terruption of commerce between the States,