The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-15

once receive Congressional action. Nor
than one Of these institutions might b
erected and BY employing the prisoner
in the manufacture Of articles needed io
use by the Government, quite lsrs,
pecuniary benefit would be realized. il
partial return for the outlay Of eonstruc
ti0n He indorses the recommendation.
Of the Attorney General for change il
the Federal judicial system % obyiate the
delays necessarily attending the present
conditien Of Affairs in our courts
THE PENSIONS.
The report Of the commissioner ofPen-
sions containsa detailed AMI most satisfle-
tory exhibit Of the operations Of the
Pensions Bureau during the last fiscal
year. The amount of work done Was
the largest in any year since the organ
izatiol Of the Bureau. and il has been
done at les Gust than dnring the previ-
Gus year in every division. On the thir-
teenth day of june, IsS8. there were 500
7S3 pensioners on the rolls of the Bureau
since lS6l there have been LOSSES ap-
plicstons for pensions filed. Of which IS
81 were based upon service in the war
of ISL There were 62i,75+ of these ap-
plicatoas allowed. iucluding 60I7s to
the soldier Of 1872 and their widows
The total amount paid for pensions
since 1861 Is ssOS. .624.sII.57. The num-
Der Of new pensions allowed during the
year ended June 80. lSS6 l. o.Sj7 ltrseT
number than mas been allowed in any
year save one. since ISsI. The n mes Of
322g pensioners which had been preyi-
Jusly irupped from the rolls were restor-
ed during the wear. After deducti NJ
those dropped within the same time for
various causes an increase remains Tor
the year Of p, ,j6s NAMES From January
/, 1851 to December j, ISS5, ], ,e5l private
pension acts had been passed since the
last mentioned date and during the last
session OF the Congress 644 such acts be-
came laws
SPECIAL LE6!SLATION NEEDED
1t seems % Iae that no one can exam
inc our pension establishment and it,
operations without being convinced that
through its instrumentality justice can
De very nearly done 70 all who are enti-
tied under present laws % the pension
bounty Of the Government. But ir j.
undrniaDie that eases exist Well entitled
% relief in which the Pen SION Bureau is
powerle-- % aid. Really worthy cases
Of this class ara such a. only lack hv
misfortune the kind of quantityof proof
which the law and regulations Of the
Bureau require. OF which. though their
merit J. apparent for some other reason.
cannot 5e justly dealt with through gen
eral laws. Thee conditions fully justify
application 20 the Congress and special
enaeuuent>- But resort % the Congress
for special pension act To Oyerruie the
Deliberate and careful determination Of
the Pension Buren on the merits or o
secure favorable action when II could not
be expected under the most liberal exc
cution 0f general laws, IL must b~ admit
ted. opens the door 20 the allowance Of
questionable claims. and presents to the
legislative and Executive branches Of
the Governments applications conceded
ly not within the lav and plainly devoid
Of merit, but - surrounded by sentiment
and patriotic feeling that they are harl
to resist. I suppose It viii 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 ad-
minie,rltions. The usefulness and justice
Of any system for he distribution Of pen
sions depend upon the equality and uni
formity Of il operation. It viii BE- seen
from the report Of the Commissioner that
there are now paid oy the Government
one hundred and thirty-one different
rates Of pensions. He estimates from the
best information be can obtain that a0JJ
Of those who have served IN the army
and navy Of the United State are now
supported ia whole Or In part frou pub
De- funds or By organized charities. exclu-
sive Of those in soldiers homes underline
directiOn and control of the Government.
Only IS per cent. Of these are pensioners.
while of the entire number of men, fur
nished for the late var something ike -
per cent including their widows and
relatives. have been or now are in the
rece. .p- Of pensions. The America peo-
pie. with a patriotic, -reatful regard 1rr
our ex-soldiers too broad and tgo sacred
to be Donopolized by any special adyo-
cate-. are not only willing but anxious
that equal and exact justice should b.
done to the honest claimants for pen
-ions n their sight tine friendless and
destitute soldiers dependent on public
charity, II otherwise entitled. has pre-
ciseiy the same night 70 share in the pro-
visions made for those Who fought their
cUuntrv'- battles a. those better able
through friends and influence 20 push
their clzim7. Every pension that !
granted under our present plan upon any
other grounds than actual service and IN
jury or disease incurred in such service.
and every instance Of the many in which
pen-ions arr increased on ether grounds
than tn. merits Of the claim work an IN
justice % the brave and crippled, but
poor and frieniless ildier- who l. en-
tireiy neglected, ar who mnst b. content
with The smallest sum allowed under
gen eril laws.
There arr Gir too many ueiehhorhood-
in which ar found rlaring CASES II inc
quality Of treatment Of the matter II pen
sion. and they are laTgly tue % a yield
ing IN the Pension Bureau to importantly
on the part Of tho-e other than the pen
sioner who are especially interested OF
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 .,re4tlIi
nsti0n'- kind remembrance Every
consideration Of fairness and justice to
cur ex-soldiers, md the protection Of
the patriotic instinct Of cur citizens frcm
deSecration and violation, point 70 the
adoption Of a pension system broad
and comprehensive enough q cover