The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-10


conditions fully justify application to the Con-
greAs and special enactments. but resort to tho
Congress for special pension act to over-rule
the deliberate and careful determination of the
Pension Bureau ON the merits, to secure
favorable action when IL could not be expected
under the most liberal execution of genera
laws, 1t must be admitted opens the door to
allowance OF questionable CLAIMS, and presents
to the legislative and executive branches Of
the Government applications concededly not
within the law and plainly devoid OF
merit, but so surrounded by sentiment and
patriotic feeling that they hard to resist.
FRAUDULENT PENSION CLAIMS.
suppose 1t will not be denied that many
claims Tor pension 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
administrations The usefulness and the justice
OF any system for the distribution Of pensions
depend upon tho equality and uniformity Of its
operation. II will be seen from the report OF the
Commissioner that there now paid by the
government i3l different rates Of pension.
The Commissioner estimates, from the bost
information he can obtain that 3, 90 OF those
who have served in the army and navy of tho
Onltsd States are now supp rted in whole o. in
part from public funds or by organized chari-
ties, exclusive OF those in soldiers home under
the direction and control of the Government.
Only 13 por cent. OF these pensioners, while,
of the entire number Of men furnished for tbs
late war, something like 20 per cent, including
their widows and relatives, have been now
are III the receipS OF pensions
The American people, with q patriotic and
grateful regard for our ex-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 thor sight
the friendless and destitute so der dependent
on public charity IL otherwise entitled, has pre-
cisely the same right to share in the provision
made for those who fought their country's bat
ties. 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, injury,
or disease incurred In such service, and
every instance Of tho many in which PEN
sions are increased on other grounds than the
merits Of the claim, work an injustice to the
brave and crippled, but poor and friendlees, SOL
dier who il neglected, who must be content
with the smallest sum allowed under general
laws There are far too many neighborhoods
in which are found glaring cases of inequality
OF treatment in the matter of pensions and
they are largely due to a yielding in the Pen
sion Bureau to importantly on the part
of those other than the pensioner,
who are especially interested, or they arise from
special acts passed for the benefit Of individuals.
The men who fought side by 81 10 should stand
side by side when they participate in a grateful
nations kind remembrance. Every considera-
ton Of Of fairness and justice to our ex-soldiers:
and the protection of the patriotic instincts of
our citizens from perversion and violence, point
to the adoption of q pension system broad and
comprehensive enough to cover every contin-
gency, and which shall make unnecessary
nm Objectionable volume of special legisla-
ton. As long as We adhere to the prin-
ciple OF granting pensions for service,
and disability as the result of the service the
allowance OF pensions should DO restricted to
cases presenting these features. Every pa
triotic heart responds to tender consideration
for those who, having served their country long
and well, are reduced to destitut on and de-
Pendence, not as an incident of their service,
but with advancing age, or through sickness,
or misfortune. We are all tempted by tho
contemplation Of such q condition to sup
limitations of public duty. Yielding to
no one in the desire 10 indulge this
feeling OF consideration, can not rid
myself of the conviction that IL these ex-soldiers
are to be relieved they and their cause are
entitled to the benefit OF IN enactment under
which relief 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 unequal operation Of sympa-
thy, or tho tender mercos OF social and politi-
cal influence, with their unjust determinations
The discharged soldiers. and sailors of
int With ARE us our in tho @nd
faithful execution Of wholesome law. They can
not be swerved from their duty of citizenship
by artful appeals to their spirit of brotherhood
born of common peril and suffering, nor will
they oxact a test of devotion to their welfare
willingness to neglect public duty in their be-
half.
THE Talent OFFICE.
On the Attn of March, 1885, tho current bust
ness OF the Patent Office was on an aver
At the close Of the last fiscal year
such current work was but three months in
tho next few months the delay in obtaining an
be but nominal The number of applications
for patents during the last fiscal year, inolud-
equal 40,67S which Is considerably in excess Of
the number received during the preceding year.
year aggregate ST., $50, $780, enabling tho
Office to turn into the Treasury, over and
above all expenditures, about tio3, 70l.73
The number Of patents granted during the last
fiscal year, including reissues, trademarks, do
signs. and labels, was 29,610-a number a 80
quite largely in excess Of that of any preceding
a nf (fnrttu1 taat pftAr ol.Ovvo
the Office to be in a prosperous condition, and
consequently increasing in its business. No in
mated for the year ending June 80. 1887, was
$3.50, 800. The amount estimated for the fiscal
year ending June 80 1883, is S17s,779.
THE SUBSIDIZED nAILRoADs.
The Secretary of the Interior suggests change
In the plan for the payment of the indebtedness
OF the Pacific subsidized roads to theGovernment.
His suggestion has the unanimous Endorsement
OF the persons selected by the Government to
act as Directors of these roads md protect the
interests Of the United States in tho board of
direction. In considering the plan proposed, the
sole matters which should DO taken into nc
count, in my opinion, are the situation of the
Sovernme anu as creaitor, anu ine snress way
terest of its debt.
. INTERSTATE TRAFFIC..
BY recent decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States it has been adjudged that
the laws of the several States imperative to
regulate rates Of transportation upon railroads.
IL such regulation interferes with the rate OF
carriage from one State into another. This i'm
portant field of control and regulation having
been thus left entirely unoccupied, the OK
pediency Of Federal action upon tho subject is
worthy Of consideration.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The relations OF labor to capital and Of labor
ing men to their employers are of the utmost
concern to every patriotic citizen. When these
are strained and distorted, unjustifable claims
apt to be insist I'd upon by both interests,
and in the controversy which results the well
fare Of all and the prosperity Of the country are
ieopardzed. Any intervention OF the Gen
eral Government, within the limits OF
its constitutional authority, to avert such
q condition should be willingly accorded.
In special message transmitted to Con-
gress at it's last session 1 suggested the
enlargement of our present Labor Bureau and
adding to its present functions tho power of
arbitration in cases where differences arise be-
tween employees and employers. When these
differences reach such a stage as to result in the
Interruption OF commerce between the States
che application Of this remedy by the General
Government might be regarded as entirely
within its constitutional powers and think
we might reasonably hope that such arbitration
commission, II carefully selected and If 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. I
am OF tho opinion that this suggestion