The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-09
THE MESSAGE.
Coafinnef ~ 80 Paae.

tive proclamation was issued directing
the removal of fences which en-
closed the public domain. Many
OF ttnese have been removed
the public land still remains within the
lines OF these unlawful fences. The in
Renious methods resorted to In order to
continue these trespasses and hardihood
of the pretenses by which In some cases
such Enclosures are justified are fully de-
tailed in the report " the secretary Of the
interior. The removal Of the fences still
remaining which enclose public lands
VIII be enforced with all the authority
and means with which the executive
branch of the government Is or shall be
invested BY the congress for that pur-
pose.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commissioner Of PEN
sions contains . detailed and most salts
factory exhibit Of the operations Of the
pension bureau during the last fiscal year.
The amount OF work done was the largest
In any year since the Organization of the
bureau, and II has been at less cost than
during the previous year in every diVIs-
ion. On the 30th day Of June, 1886, there
were $685. pensions on the rolls
OF the bureau. Since 1861 there
for pensions fled. of which
rs. s34 were based upon service in the
war Of 1872. There were Gil ,754 Of these
applications allowed, including 90, I7s to
the soldiers OF 1872 and their widows
The total amount paid for pensions since
1861 is SS,C05, 624 Sll Sly. The number
Of pensions allowed during the year
ending June 80, 1886, is &C, S57, Q larger
number than has been allowed any year
save one since 1861. The names Of D.
800 pensioners, which bad been previous
~ dropped from the rolls were restored
during the year, and after deducting
those dropped within the same time for
various causes, a net increase remains
for the year Of 20,65S names from Janu-
airy i, 1861, TO December l, 1885; ,967
private pension Acts had been passed
since the last mentioned date, and during
the last session Of congress ga such acts
became laws. IL seems that
no one can examine our pension eetab-
lishment and its operation without bein z
convinced that through its instrument
tality justice Can be very nearly done to
all who are entitled under the present
laws 10 the pension bounty Of the gov
eminent. But IL is undenlable that cases
exist well entitled to relief In which the
pension bureau Is powerless to relieve.
The really worthy cases OF this class
are such as only lack by misfortune the
kind OF quantity OF proof which the Law
and regulations OF the bureau require, OF
kAAOhAu NuGAA 1DDDAIG0B
Tor some other reason cannot be
justly dealt with through the general
laws. These conditions fully justify ap-
plicahon 20 the congress and special en-
Actments. But resort 20 the congress
for special pension act to oVerrule the
deliberate and careful determination OF
the pension bureau on the merits or tC
secure favorable action when IL could moi
be expected under the most liberal exc
RnflOn of ORnHral Ii mar hn ID Tod
opens the doors 10 the allowance of ques-
tionAble claims and presents to the legis-
lative and executive branches OF the gov
eminent applications conceededlY moi
within the law and plainly devoid OF
merit, but 40 surrounded by sentiment
and pAtrioic feeling that they are hard
10 resist suppose IL will not be de-
MED that many claims for pensions are
made without merit, and that many have
been allowed upon fraudulent represen-
tRtions. This has been declared from the
pension bureau, not only in this but In
prior administration. The usefulness
and the justice OF any system for the dis
tribuiion OF pensions depends upon the
equality and uniformity of its operation
it viii be seen from the report
that there are now paid by the
government l3l different rates OF pension
Estimates from the best information OBJ
tainAble show that nine thousand OF those
who have served in the army and navy
OF the United States are now supported
In whole or in part from public funds, OF
by organic sd charities, exclusive Of those
In soldiers homes under the direction and
control OF the government Only l3 per
cent. OF these are pensioners, while OF
the entire nHmber of men furnished from
the late war something like 20 per cent.
Including their widows and relatives,
have been or are now in re-
ceipt OF pensions. The Ameri-
can people with patriotic and
grateful regard for cur ex-soldiers too
broad and too sacred to be monopolIzed
by any special advocates are not only
willing but anxious that equal aud eXNcI
justice should be done 10 all honest
claimants ior pensions. In their sight
the trenches and destitute soldier de-
pendent upon public charity, II otherwise
entitled, had precisely the same right &c
share In the provision made for those
who fought their cOuntry's battles a
those better able through friends and in.
Il lence TO push their claims. Every
pension that is granted under ourIpresen
plan upon any other grounds
Than actual service and injury
or disease incurred in such service AnC
every Instance Of the many In which pen.
sions are Increased on other grounds
than the merits Of the claim works an In.
jury to the brave and crippled, but poo
and frienuless soldier, who IL entirely
neglected or who must be content will
tine smallest sum allowed under the gen
eral laws. There are far too many neigh
borhoods in which are found glazing
cases OF inequality of treatment In thu
matter Of pensions, and they are largely
due 10 yielding in the pension
bureau TO opportunity on the par
OF those other than the pensioner
who are especially interested or theJ
arise from special acts passed for tn
benefit OF individuals. The men wht
fought side by side should stand side bl
side when they participate in a grateful
nations kind remembrance. Every
consideration of fairness and Justice 4
our eX-soldiers and the protection OF tbs
patriotic instincts OF our citizens from
perversions and violation point to the
adoption OF pension system broad anC
comprehensive enough to cover every
contingency, aud which shall make I'M
necessary an Objectionable volume OF
legislation as long as we adhere to the
principle OF granting pensions for service
and disability as the result Of the service.
The allowance Of pensions should be re-
stricted to cases presenting these fea-
lures. Every patriotic heart responds to q
tender consideration for those who, hay
ing served their country long and we'll,
are reduced 70 destilution and depend
ence, not as an Incident of their services,
but with advancing sge or through sick
ness or misfortune. We are all tempted
by the contemplation OF such q condition
10 supply relief, and are often impatient
at the limitations Of our public duty.
Yielding to no one in the deslre to Indulge
this feeling Of consideration, / cannot rid
myself OF the conviction that IL these ex-
soldiers are TO be relieved they and theiI
cause are entitled to the benefit OF an en-
actment under which relief may be
claimed as right, and that such relief
should be granted under the sanction oi
law, not in evasion OF IL, nor should such
worthy objects of care, all equally
entitled, be subject to the unequal oper-
atiOns Of sympathy, nor the tender mer-
cies of social and political influence
with their unjust determinations
The discharged soldiers and sail
ors of the country are our fellow citizens
and interested with US in the passage and
faithful execution OF wholesome laws
They cannot be swerved from their duty
az eifiZ anahin hv arfY,,l anDaata 20 t6,af,