Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-07


S1enlable haI cases exist well entitled to re-
llef IN which the Pension Bureau is powerle.s
10 hIu. The really worthy cases OF tins class
are such as only lack by misfortune the KIND
oIquantlty OF proof which the law amt regu-
laClon- OF the bureau require or which
though their merit ts apparent, for some other
reason cannot be justly dealt with through
general laws.
APPLICATIONS TO CONGRESS.
.. THESE conditions fully Justify application to
Ine congress and special enactments, but the
resort TO the Congress for Il special pension
Set To overrule the deliberate and careful
denomination of the Pension Bureau on the
merits. or to secure favorable action whom it
coulu not be expected under the most liberal
executive Of the general laws, it must be
admitted. opens the door to the allowance of
questionable claims aud presents to the tegis-
lAtlVe and executive branch OF the Govern
meut applications concededIy not within the
raw ana plainly deVold of merit.
but so surrounded by sentiment
ano patriotic feeling that they are hard to
resist. suppose II will not be denied that
many claims for pensions are made without
merit and that many have been allowed upon
frauds. This has been declared from the
rension Bureau. not only in this nut IN for
M ADMINISTRATIONS. The usefulness and
tne Ju~llce OF any system for the distribution
OF pensions depends upon the equality and
uniformity OF its operation. 1t Will be seen
from the report of the Com missioner that
lhere are now paid by the govern
ment l3l different rates of pension. lie
estimates, from tho best info rmation he can
OBTAIN, that 1900 of those w no have served in
the army and navy of the United States are
now supported in whole or in part from the
puollc funds or by organ zed charities. eX-
elusive of those in soldiers homes under the
direction and control of the government,
THE LATE WARS PROPORTION.
only Ii per cent. of these are pensioners,
while of the entire number of men furnished
Tor the ate war something like 70 per cent,
inciuulng the widows and relatives, have
been or now are in the receipt of pensions.
Inc American epple with q pttrlOtiG and
grateful regard for our ex-soldi,rs. too broad
ana sacred To be mOnopOlIZed by any special
adVo ates, are not only willing. but anxious.
that equa! and exact justice should be done IT,
alihoncst claimants for pensions. In theirsight
the Ir1endlc~s ana destitute so dier, depend
ent on public charity, IL otherwise emitted.
has precisely the same right to share in the
provision made for those who fought their
counlry's battles as those better lie through
friends and influence to push their ella ms.
Every pension that is granted under
our present plan, upon any her
grounds Than actual service and injury
or I'll ease incurred in such service, and every
instance or the many IN which pensions arc
Increased on other grounds tn the merits Of
the claim, WORK an injustice to the brave ana
crippled hut poor and frlendless soldier who
is only neglected or who must be content with
The smallest sum allowed under the genera
laws There are too many heighborho0ds in
which are found glariug cases of inequality Of
treatment IN the III after OF pensions, and they
are largely due to a yielding in the Pension
Bureau t. I'm portunity on the part of those
other Than pensioners who are especially in
tere~Ied, or they arise from special acts pass
ed for the benefit of individuals.
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.
The men who fought side by side should
stand side by side when they participate IL
grateful nations kind re embr nee, every
consideration OF fairness and justice to our
ex-s0ldicrs and the protection of the patriotic
ms met OF our citizens from pervorsion ami
violation point to the adoption OF pension
system broad and comprehensive enough to
cover every contingency, and which shall
make unnecessary an Objectionable volume
of special legislation. AS long as we adhere 10
the prlnclpie of granting pensions for service
and disability as the re- ult of the service, the
allowance of pensions should be re tricted to
cases presenting these features. Every patrl-
otto heart responds to tender consideration
for those who nave served their country long
and well, reduced 10 restitution and depend
eDce, not as an incident of their service. but
with advancing age, through sickness or m s.
fortune. We are all tempted by the contem-
platsOn of such 4 condition 10 supply relief
and are often impatient of tho limia-
tIons of public DUTY. Yielding to no
one IN the desire to indulge this feel
ing of consideration, 7 cannot rid
m yself of the conviction that ii these eX-
soldiers are to be relieved they and their
cause are entitled to the benefit of an enact
ment under which relief may De claimed as q
right, and that such relief should be granted
under the sanction of the law, not In evasion
of il, nor should such, mostly objects of care
all equally entitled, be RENTED to the un-
equal operation OF sympathy and the tender
mercies OF social and political influence with
their unjust determinations. The discharged
soldiers and sailors of the country
are our follow citizens and interested
with us IN the passage ant
faithful execution OF wholesome avs. They
cannot be swerved from their duty of citizen
sh D by artful appeals to their splr Is of broth
ernood. of common merit and suflerings, nor
will they exact as tesC of devotion to their
welfare q willingness to neglect public duty
in their behalf.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On March 4, 1855, the current business Of the
Patent ONCE was, on an average, five and d
half mon rs in arrears, and in several divs-
ioos more than twelve months behind. AT
the close of the last fiscal year such
current work was but three months IN
arrears, and it is asserted and believed that
IN the next few months the delay in obtaio-
ing an examination of an application for a
patent will be but nominal. The number Of
a plications tor patents during the last fiscal
year, intending reissues, design trade marks
and labels, equals 40,d'S. which is considera-
Div in excess Of the number received during
Patent Oflice during the year aggre-
gate $l21, 0lO.1S0, enaUllng the ollco to /, IN
iuto the Treasury a surplus revenue over
add above all expenditures OF aboutS l6,31l ,G30
The numDef Oh patents Rldhttu uuiluE the
last fiscal year. including reissues, trade
marks, desgns and labels was 25.6ls, num-
Der a So quite largely In excess OF that of any
pteceding year. The report OF the COmmis-
siouer shows the office to BE- in a prosperous
condition and constantly increasing in its
business. No increase OF force Is asked for
The amount estimated for the fiscal year end
ing june 80 1856, was $3.50. 100. The amount
estImatei for the year ending June s., 1887
was $3.50, 800. The amount estima ell for the
fiscal year ending June 60 1883, Is S77S,71O.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The Secretary OF the Interior suggests a
change in the plan for the payment of The in
deb. e,lnese of the Paci tic subsidized roads ,
the government. His suggestion has the
unanimous lndorsement of the persons Sc
lrctpd by the government to act a. directors
of these roads and TO protect the Interests OF
tho United states in the board Of directors. In
considering the plan proposed the sole matter
which should be taken into account, in my
opinion, is the situation of the government as
a creditor, and the surest way to secure the
payment of the principal and Interest OF its
debt.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Bvar recent decision of the supreme Court OF
the United States IL has been ajJudged that
tho laws ~ the several states are imperative
In regulate rates Of trausp rtation on rail
roads. il such regulations interfere win the
rate OF carriage from one state into another.
This important field of control and regula-
ZION having Tins been left entirely unoccupled
The eNpediency OF Federal action on the sub
icct is worthy OF consideration.
LABOR TROUBLES.
The relations OF labor to capital and
81 Gloves sAOT are of 'V the utmost concern
- a,,arv uatriotic citizen. When these are