Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-09

dCl1Ou VI COuSToSS mas O6en asked TO-
effect the restoration of two million sevl
en- hundred and ninety thousand acres
additional besides which four million
acres have been withheld from reserva-
tan and the rights of entry thereon
maintained. L recommend the repeal of
the presumption and timber culture acts
and that the homestead laws be SCI
amended as to better secure compliance
with and cultivation for the period of five
years from date of entry without COM
munlcation or provision for speculation
REIMBURSEMENT. l also recommend the
repeal of the desert land laws unless it shall
be the pleasure of congress to so amend
the laws as to render them less liable to
abuse. As the chief motive for the evasion
of laws and the principle cause of their
result in land accumulation instead of
land distribution, is the facility with
which transfers are made of the right to
be secured to settlers, it may be deemed
advisable to provide by legislation some
guards and checks on the alienation of
vested rights and lands covered thereby
until patents can be issued. Last year, an
executive proclamation was issued direct
ing the removal of fences which in
closed the public domain. Many
of these have been removed
q
the public land still remains within the
lines of these unlawful fences, the ingen-
ious methods resorted to in order to con-
tinue these trespasses and the hardihood
of the 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 by which the executive branch
of the government is or shall be invested
by the congress for that purpose.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PEN
sIoNs
contains detailed and most satisfactory
exhibit of the operations of the 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 18th day of June, 1886, there were
36O,764 pensioners on the rolls of the bu-
reau. Since 1861 there have been 1,01S,740
applications for pensions filed, of which
1884 were based upon service in the
war of 1912. There were 621, 754 of these
applications allowed, including COLTS to
the soldiers of 1872 and their widows.
The total amount paid for pensions since
1861 is $S08, 624, 911.57. The number OF
new pensions allowed during the year
ended June 80, 1886, is 40,S57, larger
number than has been allowed in any year
save one, since 1861. The names of 1929
pensioners which had been previously
dropped from the rolls, were restored
during the year, and after deducting
those dropped within the same time for
various causes, net increase was render
ed for the year of 20,608 names. From
Jan. 1, 1881, to Dec, 1885, 1867 private
pension acts had been passed since the
last mentioned date, and during
the last session of the congress GA such
acts became laws. It seems to me that
no one can examine our pension estab-
hshment and its operations without being
convinced that through its instrumental
lty jus tlce can be very nearly done to ali
who are entitled under the present laws
I'D the pension bounty of the government.
But it is undeniable that cases exist. we'll
entitled to relief, in which the pension
bureau is pOWerless to relieve. The really
worthy cases of the class are such as only
lack by misfortune the kind of quantity
tons of the bureau require, or
which though their merit is apparent,
for some other reason Cannot be
justly dealt with through the general laws.
These conditions fully satisfy appli-
cation to the congress and special en-
actments, but the appeal to the congress
for special pension act to overrule the
deliberate and careful determination of
the pension bureau on the merit or to
secure favorable action when it could not
be expected under the most liberal execu-
ton of general laws, it must be admitted
opens the door to the allowance of ques-
tlonable claims and presents TO the legis-
lative and executive branches of the gov
eminent, cOncededly not within
the law and plainly devoid of
merit, but so surrounded by sentiment
and patriotic feeling that they are hard
to resist. [ 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 adj
ministratiOns. The usefulness and the
justice of any system for the distribution
of pensions depends upon the equality
and uniformity of it's operation. 1t will
W OOO1A ALOI4A OliO 1OpOIU VI buS
sloner that there are now issued by the
government 131 different rates of pensions.
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 arc now
supported in whole or in part from pub
lie funds, or by organized charities, ex-
elusive of those in soldiers homes under
the direction and control of the govern
ment. Only 13 per cent. of these are
pensioners, while of the entire number OF
men furnished for the late war some
thing like 20 per cent, including their
widows and relatives, have been or
are now in receipt of pensions. The
American people with a patriotic and
grateful regard for our ex-soldiers
too broad and too sacred to be monopo-
liked by any special advocates are not
only willing but anxious that
equal and exact justice should be
done to all honest claimants
for pensions. Destitute soldiers
dependent on public charity, if
therWiSe entitled. have DreciseIv the same